Hee-Sun Han

Dr. Hee-Sun Han is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, where she holds the Mark A. Pytosh Scholar position. She is also a faculty member of the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology and the Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology. Her research focuses on developing innovative bioanalytical technologies to study complex biological systems, particularly in the areas of neuroscience and virology.

Dr. Han received her educational training from prestigious institutions:

• B.S. in Chemistry, summa cum laude and as Valedictorian, from Seoul National University
• Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Postdoctoral training in Physics/Applied Physics from Harvard University

Dr. Han's research program centers on in situ single cell omics and spatial transcriptomics, with applications in neurobiology and cancer research. Her lab develops cutting-edge multiscale, multimodal imaging platforms and droplet microfluidics-based single-cell sequencing platforms to uncover the molecular and cellular mechanisms driving the ensemble behavior of complex biological systems. The group's work has particular relevance for understanding how different cell types are spatially organized in intact brains and how this organization relates to function in both healthy and diseased states.

Her recent publications showcase a strong trend toward developing and applying spatial omics technologies, particularly for neuroscience applications. The research spans from fundamental nanotechnology and microfluidics development to biological applications in brain mapping and viral genomics. There is a clear progression from her earlier work on quantum dot imaging probes to current focus on spatial transcriptomics and single-virus genomics.

Dr. Han has received numerous prestigious awards that recognize both her scientific contributions and teaching excellence:

• Johnson & Johnson WiSTEM2D Scholars Award for Science (2021)
• Mark A. Pytosh Scholar (2017)
• Amy L. Devine Award for commitment to student learning (2022)
• Representative of Korea in Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting (2006)
• Valedictorian, Summa Cum Laude, Seoul National University (2006)

As an advisor, Dr. Han has successfully mentored numerous graduate students to completion of their PhDs, including Alex, Thomas, Wenyang, and Ryan. Her lab has secured significant grant funding, including an R21 grant from NIH NHGRI for "Integrated experimental and statistical tools for ultra-high-throughput spatial transcriptomics," an NIH Maximizing Investigator's Research Award (~$2M) for a "Chemical Toolbox for Multiscale Integrative Imaging," and funding from CSL Behring for multiplexed biomarker detection in patient blood. The Han lab is known for its collaborative approach, frequently working with neurobiologists for in-depth biological studies.

The Han lab operates as a dynamic interdisciplinary team at the intersection of chemistry, engineering, and biomedical science. Located at UIUC, the lab has access to state-of-the-art facilities at the IGB, MRL, MNTL, and Biotechnology Center. Current research focuses on two main areas: Spatial Transcriptomics (using MERFISH platforms for brain and cancer research) and Microfluidics-based Single Virus Genomics (for influenza virology and ecology studies). The lab maintains an active presence at major scientific conferences and has established itself as a leader in spatial omics technology development.