Join Our Journey: 2027 Spring Semester Admission
Application Period (1차 원서접수): 2026. 6. 25. (Thu) ~ 7. 9. (Thu)
We are recruiting passionate M.S., Ph.D., and Integrated program students.
Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to contact Prof. Lee (jclee@dgist.ac.kr) prior to the application.
Welcome to the Cell Dynamics and Imaging Laboratory
"Seeing is believing!" Life at the cellular level is a highly dynamic and exquisitely regulated masterpiece. At our laboratory, we strive to decode these profound biological mysteries by observing the cellular universe in its truest form: living, and at the single-molecule scale.
We develop and apply state-of-the-art bioimaging and single-molecule biophysics techniques (e.g., super-resolution microscopy, in vivo single RNA imaging, smFRET, SiMPull, smFISH) to uncover the hidden rules of life. Our research illuminates how complex systems—such as biological liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), RNA dynamics, and protein quality control—orchestrate cellular fate.
To push the boundaries of life science, we bridge biology with advanced physical tools. But you don’t need to be an expert in both. You don’t need to be an expert in both. We are looking for Biologists who want to see the unseen, and Physicists /Chemist /Engineers who want to build the future of life sciences. Bring your strength in one, and we will help you master the rest.
For Biology & Life Science Majors
Your Role: Dive deep into complex biological mysteries, such as intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs), RNA transport mechanisms or how liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) regulates vital cellular processes.
What You Will Learn: No prior physics or coding background is required. We provide step-by-step training on everything from using microscopy to ImageJ/FIJI for quantitative image analysis and Bioinformatics.
For Physics & Chemistry & Engineering Majors
Your Role: Design and build the next generation of optical instruments. You will lead cutting-edge projects like developing our STED microscopy— a super-resolution optical microscopy to visualization of molecules in cells at nanoscale.
What You Will Learn: No advanced biological knowledge is needed to start. You will naturally learn the biological context through lab meetings and collaborations while working with our biologists.
News
[05/21/2026] We invited Prof. Taekjip Ha from Harvard University for a lecture in New Biology Distinguished Lecture Series and a lab tour. Many thanks TJ!
[04/30/2026] Jinkwang starts his new position at Johns Hopkins University / School of Medicine, USA, as a postdoc. Good luck!
[04/22/2026] Jinkwang was awarded the Young Biophysicist Award at Korean Physical Society. Congratulations!
[04/10/2026] Our lab was awarded a grant from Samsung Science and Technology Foundation for three years (2026-2029). Congratulations!
[03/03/2026] Heyung Seung joins our lab as an internship student.
[03/01/2026] Sejoo starts his new position at Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Sweden, as a postdoc. Good luck!
More News
[02/13/2026] Jinkwang and Sejoo officially become PhDs. Congratulations!
[01/30/2026] Changhyeok, Chaejung, Donghyeok, Jun Seok, Rinha successfully completed the winter internship.
[01/05/2026] Changhyeok, Chaejung, Donghyeok, Jun Seok, Rinha joins our lab as internship students during this winter. Welcome!
[11/19/2025] Jinkwang and Sejoo successfully defended their PhD dissertations. Congratulations!
[10/10/2025] Our work "The chloroplast-targeted long noncoding RNA CHLORELLA mediates chloroplast functional transition across leaf ageing via anterograde signaling" is published in Nature Plants. Congratulations!
[09/03/2025] Our lab was awarded a supporting grant for Human Frontier Science Program from NRF for two years (2025-2026).
[08/25/2025] Seon Woo joins our lab as a post-doctoral fellow. Welcome!
[08/25/2025] Hyeon Su joins our lab as a graduate student. Welcome!
[08/14/2025] Tae-Bin graduates as a Master of Science. Congratulations!
[07/19/2025] Our work "The chloroplast-targeted long noncoding RNA CHLORELLA mediates chloroplast functional transition across leaf ageing via anterograde signaling" is accepted for publication in Nature Plants. Congratulations!
[07/17/2025] Our lab was awarded a Sensorium Institute grant from DGIST for two years (2025-2026).
[07/05/2025] Our work "High-temperature induced FKF1 accumulation promotes flowering by dispersion of GI and degradation of SVP" is covered in Scienmag.
[07/04/2025] Our work "High-temperature induced FKF1 accumulation promotes flowering by dispersion of GI and degradation of SVP" is published in Nature Plants. Congratulations!
[06/10/2025] A consortium, [AI-Nano Convergence Initiative for Early Detection of Neurodegenerative Diseases], which our lab joins, was awarded a InnoCORE grant. Congratulations!
[06/20/2025] Our lab was awarded a High Risk High Return grant from DGIST.
[06/05/2025] Jinkwang receives Samyang Igeon Future Talent Scholarship. Congratulations!
[04/10/2025] Our work "High-temperature induced FKF1 accumulation promotes flowering by dispersion of GI and degradation of SVP" is accepted for publication in Nature Plants. Congratulations!
[03/17/2025] Hyeon Su joins our lab as a research participating student. Welcome!
[02/14/2025] Suuki graduates as a Master of Science. Congratulations!
[12/02/2024] Changhyeok joins our lab as a research participating student. Welcome!
[09/01/2024] Nayeon joins our lab as a research participating student. Welcome!
[04/01/2024] Our lab was awarded a grant from National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) for five years (2024-2029).
[12/19/2023] Our work "Pushing the Resolution Limit of Stimulated Emission Depletion Optical Nanoscopy" is published in International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Congratulations!
[10/24/2023] Our work "Simultaneously enhancing the resolution and signal-to-background ratio in STED optical nanoscopy via differential depletion" is published in Optics Express. Congratulations!
[10/09/2023] Our work in collaboration with Prof. Daeha Seo lab "Analysis of Phase Heterogeneity in Lipid Membranes Using Single Molecule Tracking in Live Cells" is published in Analytical Chemistry. Congratulations!
[09/01/2023] Sarmitha joins our lab as a post-doctoral fellow. Welcome!
[08/28/2023] Tae-Bin joins our lab as a graduate student. Shinji joins our lab as a research participating student. Welcome both!
[08/14/2023] Our lab went to International Conference on Biological Physics at Seoul.
[07/28/2023] Dongbin, Jinhui, Seonseop, Daewon, Eunseo, Tae-Bin and Rachel finishes their summer internship.
[07/10/2023] Rachel joins our lab as a summer internship student. Welcome!
[06/26/2023] Dongbin, Jinhui, Seonseop, Daewon, Eunseo and Tae-Bin join our lab as summer internship students. Welcome!
[06/21/2023] Sejoo takes off to Stockholm, Sweden as a visiting researcher for 6 months at Dr. Jerker Widengren's lab at KTH. Stay safe!
[03/01/2023] Dongbin,Youri, Jinhui, Jaeyoung, Seonseop and Youngwoo starts Undergraduate Research Program (UGRP) on liquid-liquid phase separation of FUS and UBQLN2.
[12/02/2022] Dongbin and Seongyeon won the Excellence Prize at DGIST-UNIST Collaborative Demo Day for IR pitching about STED super-resolution microscopy technology. Congratulations!
[09/19/2022] Jong-Chan, Jinkwang, Eunha, and Sejoo participated Methods and Applications in Fluorescence 2022 conference at Gothenburg, Sweden and International Workshop on Fluorescence Methods and Applications at Stockholm, Sweden. Eunha won the Poster Prize at MAF2022. Congratulations!
[08/29/2022] Sugarjav joins our lab as a graduate student. Welcome!
[07/29/2022] Donghyun, Yujin, Yeyoung finish the summer internship.
[06/27/2022] Donghyun, Yujin, Yeyoung join our lab as summer internship students. Welcome!
[06/07/2022] Jong-Chan's interview about Department of New Biology is released.
[06/01/2022] Our lab was awarded a grant from COMPA for one year (2022).
[05/04/2022] Seongyeon joins our lab as a research participating student. Welcome!
[03/11/2022] Jaeyong leaves to persue Korean military service. Stay safe!
[01/24/2022] Our lab went to KPS Biological division conference at Gangneung.
[12/22/2021] Our work “Fluorescent Probes for STED Optical Nanoscopy” is published in Nanomaterials!
[11/19/2021] Jaeyong finishes his M.S. defense. Congratulations!
[08/31/2021] Chaerin, Dongbin, Gwangmyeong finish their summer research participation.
[06/16/2021] Chaerin, Dongbin, Gwangmyeong join our lab as a research participating student. Welcome!
[05/15/2021] Our lab was awarded a grant from National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) for three years (2021-2024).
[01/27/2021] Our work “Biophysical underpinnings regarding the formation and the regulation of biomolecular condensates” is published in J. Korean Phys. Soc.!
[01/27/2021] Our work “Suppressing background noise in STED optical nanoscopy” is published in J. Korean Phys. Soc.!
[08/24/2020] Sunghee joins the ongoing UnderGraduate Research Program.
[08/01/2020] Hyoju joins our lab as a visiting scholar.
[07/01/2020] A consortium, which our lab joins, was awarded a Basic Research Laboratory (BRL) grant from National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF).
[05/15/2020] Our lab was awarded a grant from National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF).
[05/01/2020] A consortium, which our lab joins, was awarded a p-COE grant from DGIST.
[03/02/2020] Rupak joins our lab as a post-doctoral research fellow.
[03/02/2020] Eunha and Jaeyong join our lab as graduate students.
[03/02/2020] Sieun, Daewon, Minchan, Suhyeon starts UnderGraduate Research Program on quantitative single-molecule analysis of exosomes.
[11/25/2019] Our lab and e.role ISB Co. were awarded a grant from Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS).
[09/02/2019] Sieun joins our lab as a research participating student.
[06/25/2019] Our work “Accurate background subtraction in STED nanoscopy by polarization switching” is published in ACS Photonics!
[06/24/2019] Wonhee joins our lab as a graduate student.
[06/24/2019] Jaeyong and Yoonseong join our lab as a research participating student.
[05/15/2019] Our lab was awarded a grant from National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF).
[05/01/2019] Myongji joins our lab as a research participating student.
[03/15/2019] Our lab and Jerker Widengren lab were awarded a Korea-Sweden Research Cooperation grant from NRF-STINT.
[03/01/2018] Hosun joins our lab as a graduate student.
[02/08/2019] Yeongmin and Jieun finished their internship. Congratulations!
[01/02/2019] Yeongmin and Jieun started internship in our lab.
[11/16/2018] Our lab was awarded a High Risk High Return grant from DGIST!
[09/19/2018] Sejoo joins our lab.
[08/10/2018] Hosun and Eunha finished their internship. Congratulations!
[07/02/2018] Hosun and Eunha started internship in our lab.
[07/01/2018] SangMoon joins our lab.
[04/01/2018] Hosun, Jinkwang, and Gwanjin join our lab.
[03/30/2018] Our lab was awarded a grant from National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF).
[03/01/2018] Jong-Chan started working at DGIST