Lab members

Hyemi received her Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from Yonsei University College of Medicine in 2018. Under the supervision of Prof. Jaemyeon Lee, her doctoral research focused on virus-mediated therapeutic mechanisms in Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC). She joined Prof. Kihyuck Kwak’s lab in 2021, where she is working on evaluating vaccine efficacy and developing novel immunological assessment methods. Outside the lab, she enjoys staying active—especially by playing golf. 

Inhyuk received his undergraduate degree in Bio-Convergence from Underwood International College, Yonsei University in February 2023. His research interests lie in autoimmunity, B cell activation, and immune tolerance. He joined the KiLab as an undergraduate intern from March 2022 to March 2023, and continued in the lab as a master's student from March 2023 to August 2025. In August 2025, he obtained his Master's degree (Thesis: Stress induced hormone drives humoral immunity toward autoantibody production). His current research focuses on how psychological stress influences humoral immunity, particularly B cell function. Outside the lab, he enjoys running and playing soccer. 

Seungyong majored in Biotechnology during his undergraduate studies. Since joining the Ki lab, he has been involved in Piezo1-related research projects, aiming to elucidate how B cells interpret mechanical signals via Piezo1 to regulate antigen discrimination and maintain self-tolerance. His work focuses on how differential activation of Piezo1 by membrane-bound versus soluble antigens influences B cell fate and downstream immune responses. During free times, he enjoys taking photos of nature.

Minhee majored in Microbiology as an undergraduate before joining the Ki Lab. She studies how cytoskeletal dynamics shape B cell tolerance, how aging impacts immune regulation, and investigates immune dysregulation in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). She is interested in how B cells integrate structural and signaling cues to maintain tolerance, and what happens when that balance is lost. In her free time, she mostly stays home and rests, enjoying the quiet and not doing much.

With a background in Systems Biotechnology from his undergraduate studies, Hanseok became fascinated by the mechanisms that drive long-lived plasma cell (LLPC) formation and how they contribute to sustained antibody responses. At the Ki Lab, he is currently investigating LLPC induction across various vaccine platforms, aiming to identify biomarkers predictive of antibody durability through immunological and multi-omics approaches. Outside of the lab, he enjoys quiet moments listening to music or reading, and often finds comfort in spending time alone.

Ara graduated from Yonsei University College of Medicine and is a board-certified Otolaryngologist. She has an interest in immune responses in diseases such as allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis. Currently, her research focuses on how BAFF influences B cell immune responses and contributes to the development of autoimmune diseases. She enjoys spending weekends with her two beloved cats and is passionate about both playing and watching tennis.