Research Summary

Young-Wook Jun, PhD, is an Associate Professor and he is the Director of the Nano-Probing Single Biomolecule Dynamics Laboratory in the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS) at the University of California, San Francisco. He received his PhD from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in Seoul, South Korea, and he completed a postdoctoral from Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea, followed by a postdoctoral from the University of California, Berkeley.

Dr. Jun's research interests include nanoprobing systems to investigate the single molecule dynamics of biomolecules involved in cellular developments such as gene regulation, cell-to-cell communications, and neuron circuit formation. His research on "Nanocrystal-Molecules as Probes for Monitoring the Dynamics of Biomolecular Machineries at the Single Molecule Level" will contribute to a foundation of a new field by providing a comprehensive understanding of the nanocrystal molecules including the fabrication, surface chemistry, scaling laws of magnetic, plasmonic, and charge coupling, and their behaviors in cells.

Dr. Jun has been invited to speak both national and internationally. He has contributed to over 40 articles, and 5 book chapters.

Research Funding

  • March 1, 2020 - July 31, 2031 - Spatiotemporal interrogation of molecular mechanobiololgy at the cell-cell interface with nanotechnology tools , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R35GM134948
  • September 1, 2026 - August 31, 2027 - In vivo microparticle sensors to study mechanics during tumor development and differentiation , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R56EB037091
  • April 15, 2021 - March 31, 2023 - Notch1 and APP signaling in cerebral microvascular dysfunction , Co-Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R21AG072232
  • September 15, 2017 - July 31, 2021 - Nanomodules for interrogating chemical, spatial, and mechanical dynamics of cell surface receptors , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01GM126542
  • January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2019 - In situ Investigation of dynamic protein-protein interactions in live cells via Magnetic Co-concentration (MCoC) , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R21CA224364
  • August 1, 2014 - July 31, 2019 - Spatiotemporal Control of Dynamic Notch Signaling with Subcellular Resolution , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01GM112081
  • July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2019 - Interrogation of mechanotransduction ion channels via nanoruler force microscopy and mechanogenetic nanomodules , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: 1R21NS103240-01
  • September 1, 2014 - June 30, 2017 - Spatial Mutation of Membrane Protein Assembly Dynamics Using Nano-Actuators , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R21HL123329
  • March 1, 2014 - February 29, 2016 - Small, modular, and monovalent Quantum Dots for single molecule imaging of Notch , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R21EB018044
  • March 15, 2012 - February 28, 2014 - Single Molecule Imaging of Guided Axonal Development using Plasmon Nanorulers , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R21EB015088

Education

University of California, Berkeley, CA, Postdoc, 06/2010, Nanoscience
Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea, Postdoc, 06/2007, Nanochemistry
Korea Adv. Inst. Sci. & Tech., Daejeon, Korea, Ph.D., 02/2005, Materials Chemistry
Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea, B.A., 02/1999, Chemistry

Honors & Awards

  • 2005
    IUPAC Prize for Young Chemist: The Honorable Mention Award
  • 2010
    The Sandler Foundation New Innovator Research Award
  • 2011
    The Endowed Hemming Fellow
  • 2014
    The World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds
  • 2014
    Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researchers
  • 2014
    BayBRAIN Initiative Award
  • 2016
    The Sandler Foundation New Frontier Research Award

Selected Publications

  1. Kim M, Na K, Kim H, Jang E, Yoon SY, Lee C, Jun Y. Rab10 Promotes Atlastin-Mediated Endoplasmic Reticulum Membrane Fusion. FASEB J. 2026 Aug 15; 40(15):e72170. View on PubMed
  2. Liu X, Kerisit SN, Borrayo-Carrera C, Xie Z, Wang Y, Chou PI, Jun YS. Crystallization of Carbonates with a Core-Shell Structure: Insights into Cobalt-Iron Separation for Enhanced Critical Element Recovery. Environ Sci Technol. 2026 May 26; 60(20):14446-14455. View on PubMed
  3. An M, Yu R, Lin A, Jang J, Ohk J, Kim YJ, Jung H, Kwak M, Jun YW, Cheon J. MechanoMR microparticle (M3) sensors reveal dynamic stress loading as a driver of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. bioRxiv. 2025 Dec 13. View on PubMed
  4. Park DY, Cho JH, Park CS, Koh TK, Koo SK, Kim SW, Kim SJ, Kim YM, Kim JW, Kim JY, Kim HJ, Doo JG, Moon JW, Park MJ, Park SW, Park SI, Park S, Bae MR, Seo MY, Ahn SH, Yang HC, Lee KH, Lee SH, Lee YH, Lee EJ, Jun YJ, Jeon YJ, Chung YS, Chung J, Cho KS, Cho SW, Jo YS, Chae HS, Choi IS, Choi JH, Han SC. Changes in Prescription Patterns and Diagnostic Outcomes of Polysomnography After Insurance Coverage: A Multicenter Retrospective Study. J Rhinol. 2025 Nov; 32(3):155-161. View on PubMed
  5. Lin Z, Ngo W, Chou YT, Wu H, Susa KJ, Jun YW, Bivona TG, Doudna JA, Wells JA. Temporal photoproximity labeling of ligand-activated EGFR neighborhoods using MultiMap. Nat Chem Biol. 2026 02; 22(2):192-204. View on PubMed
  6. Kim D, Lee S, Jun Y, Lee C. Nir2 crystal structures reveal a phosphatidic acid-sensing mechanism at ER-PM contact sites. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Oct 28; 122(43):e2516849122. View on PubMed
  7. Chou PI, Gao Z, Shen A, Song M, Wen J, Jun YS. Abiotic manganese oxide formation induced by light and copper-driven Fenton chemistry. Water Res. 2026 Feb 15; 290:124845. View on PubMed
  8. Gao Z, Song M, Wang Y, Santino LM, D'Arcy JM, Jun YS. Photochemically Assisted Formation of Layered Manganese Oxide Nanosheets with High Pseudocapacitance for Potential Environmental Applications. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2025 Oct 08; 17(40):56054-56063. View on PubMed
  9. Ghim D, Jung M, Gupta P, Gao Z, Singamaneni S, Jun YS. Accelerated Nanopit Formation on MoS2 Nanosheets through Photo-Fenton Reactions. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2025 Oct 08; 17(40):56563-56574. View on PubMed
  10. Ko J, Kang M, Jun YJ. Deep learning-based allergic rhinitis diagnosis using nasal endoscopy images. Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 08; 15(1):24341. View on PubMed
  11. Gao Z, Jung GY, Chou PI, Borkiewicz OJ, Newville M, Mishra R, Jun YS. Photochemically Induced Co-oxidation of Aqueous Manganese and Cobalt and the Formation of Cobalt-Incorporated Manganese Oxides. Environ Sci Technol. 2025 Jun 03; 59(21):10455-10466. View on PubMed
  12. Zhu Y, Gupta P, Gholami Derami H, Huang YY, Singamaneni S, Jun YS. Chemical Functional Groups Regulate Ion Concentrations and pHs in Nanopores. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2025 May 07; 17(18):27310-27322. View on PubMed
  13. Zhu Y, McWest L, Steefel CI, Wang Y, Li Q, Gao Z, Yang J, Jun YS. Sulfate Promotes Compact CaCO3 Formation and Protects Portland Cement from Supercritical CO2 Attack. Environ Sci Technol. 2025 01 21; 59(2):1189-1197. View on PubMed
  14. Jung H, Lee B, Kim D, Gao Z, Chou PI, Jun YS. Three Distinctive Steps for Heterogeneous Nucleation of Tunnel-Structured Mn Oxide on Quartz under Light Exposure. Environ Sci Technol. 2024 Dec 03; 58(48):21200-21209. View on PubMed
  15. Piraner DI, Abedi MH, Duran Gonzalez MJ, Chazin-Gray A, Lin A, Zhu I, Ravindran PT, Schlichthaerle T, Huang B, Bearchild TH, Lee D, Wyman S, Jun YW, Baker D, Roybal KT. Engineered receptors for soluble cellular communication and disease sensing. Nature. 2025 02; 638(8051):805-813. View on PubMed
  16. Ilgen AG, Borguet E, Geiger FM, Gibbs JM, Grassian VH, Jun YS, Kabengi N, Kubicki JD. Bridging molecular-scale interfacial science with continuum-scale models. Nat Commun. 2024 Jun 22; 15(1):5326. View on PubMed
  17. White MJ, Jacobs KA, Singh T, Mayo LN, Lin A, Chen CS, Jun YW, Kutys ML. Notch1 cortical signaling regulates epithelial architecture and cell-cell adhesion. J Cell Biol. 2023 12 04; 222(12). View on PubMed
  18. Xu Z, Cao H, Yoon S, Kang PK, Jun YS, Kneafsey T, Sheets JM, Cole D, Pyrak-Nolte LJ. Gravity-driven controls on fluid and carbonate precipitation distributions in fractures. Sci Rep. 2023 Jun 09; 13(1):9400. View on PubMed
  19. Jeong S, Shin W, Park M, Lee JU, Lim Y, Noh K, Lee JH, Jun YW, Kwak M, Cheon J. Hydrogel Magnetomechanical Actuator Nanoparticles for Wireless Remote Control of Mechanosignaling In Vivo. Nano Lett. 2023 06 14; 23(11):5227-5235. View on PubMed
  20. Bañuelos JL, Borguet E, Brown GE, Cygan RT, DeYoreo JJ, Dove PM, Gaigeot MP, Geiger FM, Gibbs JM, Grassian VH, Ilgen AG, Jun YS, Kabengi N, Katz L, Kubicki JD, Lützenkirchen J, Putnis CV, Remsing RC, Rosso KM, Rother G, Sulpizi M, Villalobos M, Zhang H. Oxide- and Silicate-Water Interfaces and Their Roles in Technology and the Environment. Chem Rev. 2023 May 24; 123(10):6413-6544. View on PubMed

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