Hyunjoon Kong

Hyunjoon Kong is the Robert W. Schafer Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Illinois, with additional affiliations in Bioengineering, Pathobiology, and the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan (2001), completed postdoctoral work at the University of Michigan (2001-2004), and served as a Research Associate at Harvard University (2004-2006). His research focuses on developing active biohybrid materials for applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering, and environmental sustainability.

Research interests include:

• Bio-Inspired Materials
• Drug Delivery
• Cell Manufacturing and Therapy
• Tissue Engineering

Recent publications highlight work on:

• Stimulus-responsive hydrogels
• Self-propelling colloids
• Cell surface engineering
• Neurodegenerative disease therapies

Scientific honors include:

• IAMBE Fellow (2023)
• AIMBE Fellow (2017)
• NSF CAREER Award (2009)
• American Heart Association Scientist Development Grant (2008)

Prof. Kong advises graduate students in chemical and biomedical engineering and leads the Active bioHybrid Matter lab, which investigates dynamic interfacial systems for human health and sustainability.