Kwang Cheol Jeong

Kwang Cheol Jeong is a Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences and the Emerging Pathogens Institute at the University of Florida. His research focuses on bacterial pathogenesis, antimicrobial resistance, and microbiome analysis through a One Health lens. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and completed postdoctoral work at Washington University Medical School. Key areas of investigation include host-microbe interactions, ruminal microbiota, and development of mitigation strategies against antibiotic resistance.

Research projects span mitigating antimicrobial resistance in humans and animals, gut microbiome studies, nanotechnology applications, and AI-driven diagnostics. His interdisciplinary work addresses global challenges in food safety and animal health. The Jeong Lab collaborates internationally to advance solutions for pathogen control and sustainable livestock practices. He has pioneered the use of chitosan nanoparticles for antimicrobial delivery and developed novel probiotics for animal health. His lab also investigates methane reduction in ruminants using symbiotic bacteria.

Advances in metagenomics, whole-genome sequencing, and bioinformatics underpin his work, enabling high-throughput analyses of microbial communities. He has been instrumental in characterizing Legionella virulence factors and exploring the role of environmental reservoirs in pathogen transmission. Current efforts include tracing antibiotic resistance genes at wildlife-livestock interfaces and applying machine learning to probiotic screening and histopathological imaging.

Dr. Jeong's research has led to innovations in diagnostic tools, mitigation strategies for zoonotic pathogens, and sustainable agricultural practices. His lab operates from the University of Florida with a focus on translating basic science into practical solutions for animal and human health.