My story

“Ecologist with over 20 years of research experience applying ecological knowledge for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem function restoration. Specializes in invasive species management and biotic resistance of restored plant communities. Published extensively in top-tier journals. With an h-index of over 29  and over 6,000 citations, developing innovative approaches to ecological restoration.”

Educational Background

My passion for environmental science was sparked in childhood when I witnessed the pristine coastline of my small seaside village become polluted by factory wastewater. This experience ignited a lifelong commitment to understanding nature's resilience and ecological restoration. As a high-school student, I immersed myself in environmental literature, including Rachel Carson's 'Silent Spring,' and participated in a national environmental essay-writing contest. This early passion led me to the School of Biological Sciences at Seoul National University, where I built a comprehensive foundation in ecological studies through coursework in ecology, plant physiology, plant taxonomy, microbiology, environmental biology, evolutionary biology, soil geography, statistics, and experimental design.

Academic Trajectory

Master’s Research (Seoul National University, 2005–2007)

My Master's research focused on the ecological assessment of abandoned fields and their natural restoration into freshwater wetland ecosystems through plant succession. This work resulted in publication in the Journal of Ecology and Environment (Scopus). I also examined the effects of flooding on wetland plant growth and competition and published the results in Plant Ecology (SCIE, IF: 1.7, JCR top 65.5%).

Doctoral Research (McGill University, 2009–2015)

I was awarded full funding support of research assistantship (~3,000 USD/month) to pursue my Ph.D. at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. My research focused on ecological restoration of diverse plant communities to manage invasive alien species, particularly Phragmites australis. This work led to four high-impact publications:

• Two first-author papers in Journal of Ecology (SCIE, IF: 5.6, JCR top 10.0%) on functional groups/diversity and biotic resistance to invasion, with one recognized as the most highly cited paper by BRIC, the Korean biological community

• A first-author paper in Oecologia (SCIE, IF: 2.3, JCR top 47.5%)

• A first-author review paper in Biological Invasions (SCIE, IF: 2.6, JCR top 38.5%)

During my doctoral program, my advisors described me as being like a running horse. This nickname was given to me because I led research from the forefront.

While conducting ecological research, I have always been trained to think analytically in a comprehensive and systematic way. My personality type test (MBTI) result is INTJ, a personality type often associated with analytical and strategic thinking. In particular, I am proficient in statistical analysis. I have participated in several statistical workshops and learned cutting-edge statistical techniques.

Professional Experience

Postdoctoral Researcher (Seoul National University, 2015–2016)

As a principal investigator, I secured a National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant (25,000 USD) to apply advanced ecological technologies to invasive species management. This research on Ageratina altissima and Ambrosia trifida as typical Korean invasive species, produced two first-author publications in Ecology and Evolution (SCIE, IF: 2.3) and Journal of Plant Biology (SCIE, IF: 2.0). 

Postdoc/Research Professor (Yonsei University, 2017–2020)

I continued to demonstrate my research leadership by securing a substantial NRF grant (190,000 USD) as project PI for a 3-year program investigating invasive species (Sicyos angulatus, Ambrosia trifida, and Spartina anglica). This work resulted in three first-author publications in Ecological Engineering (SCIE, IF: 4.1 JCR top 18.0%) and Wetlands Ecology and Management (SCIE, IF: 1.6). My contributions were recognized with a Best Oral Presenter Award from the Korean Society of Ecology in 2017.

Assistant/Associate Professor (Gyeongkuk National University/Andong National University, 2020–present) 

In my current role, I have established myself as an independent researcher, educator, and scientific leader.

Research Accomplishments:

(1) Secured major funding: I obtained a 5-year NRF grant (500,000 USD) as project PI for "Seed mixtures-based restoration of native plants for invasive plant management and biodiversity conservation" (2022-2027).

I also secured funding (80,000 USD, 2024-2027) as project PI for “Application of optimal eradication and native plant restoration methods to control an invasive plant and improve native biodiversity in Umyeonsan Mountain, Republic of Korea”as a project PI from the Society of Ecological Restoration in partnership with Microsoft company. Recently, I secured additional funding (35,000 USD/135,000 USD, 2025-2028) for “Restoration of Taiga Bean Goose Wetland Habitat” as a responsible participant from the Society of Ecological Restoration in partnership with Microsoft company.

(2) Greenhouse experiments: I established a specialized greenhouse facility that has become a regional resource for invasive species research. I conducted several pot experiments testing various invasive alien species such as Sicyos angulatus, Ambrosia trifida, Ageratina altissima, Aster pilosus, Solidago altissima, and Hypochaeris radicata as well as alien species of concern (e.g., Muhlenbergia capillaris) through seed mixture-based ecological restoration of native plants. I proved my independent research capacity by publishing three articles as the sole author in Ecosphere (SCIE, IF: 2.9, JCR top 34.0%), Ecology and Evolution (SCIE, IF: 2.3, JCR top 47.5%), and Plant Ecology (SCIE, IF: 1.7, JCR top 65.5%). I also published the S. angulatus experiment as the first author in Oecologia (SCIE, IF: 2.3, JCR top 47.5%). 

(3) Field experiments: I also conducted several field experiments on invasive Sicyos angulatus, Ambrosia trifida, Solidago altissima, and Spartina anglica (e.g., near Nakdong River in Andong, Daejeo and Macdo Ecological Parks, Eulsukdo Island in Busan, and Ganghwado Island mudflats) to test various mechanical eradication methods and restore diverse native plants by sowing seeds in the field immediately after the removals. I published an article about the A.trifida field experiment in NeoBiota (SCIE, IF: 3.0, JCR top 23.2%). Two papers about S. angulatus and S. altissima were recently published in Journal of Environmental Management (SCIE, IF: 8.4, JCR top 8.29%), which is a top-tier journal in the field.

(4) Large scale field applications: The large-scale (>3 ha) restoration project aims to manage invasive Ageratina altissima along the roadside of trail paths and improve plant biodiversity in the Umyeon mountain in Gwacheon, with restoration activities involving more than 80 citizen volunteers in 2024. My experience successfully managing an ecological restoration project with many volunteers demonstrates my ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with diverse stakeholders. In particular, this research project has applied for a newly invented patent (Patent name: “Seed Flat, a multi-layered seed mixture coating complex for enhanced germination, stable seedling establishment and growth, and its application in ecological restoration technology”, Patent Application Number: 10-2025-0046655, Korean Intellectual Property Office) and is currently testing its effectiveness by directly applying it to ecological restoration.

(5) International collaborations: I collaborated with several professors (such as Prof. Karin Kettenring and Prof. Sylvie de Blois) in North America by leading international meetings and discussions and published a review paper in Ecological Engineering (SCIE, IF: 4.1, JCR top 18.0%). Recently, in cooperation with Prof. Jane Molofsky in the United States, I wrote three papers based on the dataset from the National Environment Survey of Korea on (1) Korean plant diversity’s patterns and mechanisms, (2) the diversity-invasion paradox, and (3) factors to predict plant invasion success, and submitted them to top-tier journals, as the first and corresponding author 

In addition, I have been a leading author of the invasive alien species assessment report from the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), which is an international organization, as a representative from the Republic of Korea since July 2019. Through this activity, I am communicating and interacting with many international scholars who manage invasive alien species, and I am trying to develop and apply international standard policies for better management of invasive alien species.

In particular, based on my experience of presenting 25 times at international conferences in 9 countries, I have built a solid global research network, and through this, I am researching the characteristics of Korean ecosystems in a global context.

(6) Journal Editing and Peer Review: I have been contributing to the advancement of ecological scholarship through editorial service at international journals. I serve as an Associate Editor for Journal of Ecology (SCIE, IF: 5.6, JCR top 10.0%), published by the British Ecological Society, and as a Subject-Matter Editor for Ecosphere (SCIE, IF: 2.9, JCR top 34.0%), published by the Ecological Society of America. I also serve as Board of Editors for Journal of Ecology and Environment, published by the Ecological Society of Korea.

I have also made extensive international contributions through peer review activities. To date, I have completed a total of 86 manuscript reviews for SCIE journals (verified via ORCID). The journals I have reviewed for span 38 titles, ranging from top-tier ecology journals to specialized outlets, including Nature (IF: 50.5), Nature Plants (IF: 15.8), Nature Communications (IF: 14.7), Ecology Letters (IF: 7.6), Journal of Environmental Management (IF: 8.0), and Journal of Applied Ecology (IF: 5.7). Notably, I have been repeatedly invited to review for key journals such as Ecological Engineering (15 reviews), Journal of Environmental Management (7 reviews), and Biological Invasions (7 reviews), which demonstrates that my expertise is internationally recognized in these fields. These editorial and review activities represent important scholarly service that enables me to stay abreast of the latest research trends and contribute to the academic community. In recognition of these contributions, I received the Reviewer of the Month award from Communications Biology.

(7) Industry-Academia collaborations: I focus on creating social value from academic research. Together with InvaLab Inc. (CEO: Dr. Wonhyup Shin), an ecological restoration startup company, I jointly developed and filed a patent for 'Seed flat', and signed a technology transfer agreement for the industrialization of this technology. I also joined an ecological restoration research project (title: Restoration of Taiga Bean Goose Wetland Habitat) by an NGO, Bird Korea (Director: Dr. Nial Moores) as a responsible participating researcher. This industry-academic collaboration experience will be greatly helpful in providing future students with practical research opportunities and career paths.

(8) Supervision excellence: I have successfully supervised several graduate students, with one student’s thesis published in Journal of Applied Ecology (SCIE, IF: 4.8, JCR top 8.2%) and another publication in Oecologia (SCIE, IF: 2.3, JCR top 47.5%) as corresponding author. All of my supervised students have been hired as full-time researchers at the National Institute of Ecology or ecological restoration companies. This track record reflects a commitment to both research mentorship and trainee career development.

“My goal is to be a researcher who contributes to solving environmental problems in society by not only achieving academic success but also practically applying research results. Through ecological restoration research, I will strive to lead the way in creating a sustainable future and dedicate myself to nurturing the next generation of ecologists.”