My story

“Restoration ecologist with over 15 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 25 and 5,300 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 competitions 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, which is a personality type that many excellent scientists belong to. 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%). Recently, a paper about H. radicata has been submitted to and under review in Ecological Applications (SCIE, IF: 4.3, JCR top 15.5%).

(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 two papers based on the dataset from the National Environment Survey of Korea on Korean plant diversity’s patterns and mechanisms and the diversity-invasion paradox and submitted it to Global Ecology and Biogeography (SCIE, IF: 6.0, JCR 9.5% in Ecology) (Under review) and Science Advances (SCIE, IF: 12.5, JCR 7.41%) as the lead 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 8 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) 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 organization, Bird Korea (Director: Dr. Nial Moores) and LandAura company (CEO: Ms. Han-na Oh; an ecological landscaping company) 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.

(7) Supervision excellence: I successfully supervised several graduate students and participated in one of their publications in Journal of Applied Ecology (SCIE, IF: 4.8, JCR top 8.2%) and another one is under major revision in Biological Invasions (SCIE, IF: 2.6, JCR top 38.5%) as a corresponding author. All of them were also hired as regular researchers in the National Institute of Ecology and a company. This demonstrates that I am qualified as an excellent educator, not just a researcher.

“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.”