Shin Jung Kang

Shin Jung Kang is a Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology at Sejong University, Seoul, Korea. She received her B.S. and M.S. in Molecular Biology from Seoul National University and completed her Ph.D. in Neurobiology at Harvard University in 2001. After a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School (2001-2003), she joined Sejong University in 2003 where she has advanced to full Professor.

Her research focuses on neural stem cell regulation, mechanisms of cell death and differentiation, and protein regulation in neural physiology. Key research areas include:

• Regulation mechanisms of neural stem cell survival and differentiation
• Regulation mechanisms of tumor suppressors
• Functions of PARP-1 in neural stem cell physiology
• Protein stability regulation of HIPK2
• Neurodegenerative disease mechanisms

Analysis of her recent publications (2016-2025) reveals a strong focus on neural circuitry, particularly amygdala function in fear memory, and molecular mechanisms involving PARP-1, HIPK2, and HCN channels. Her work bridges basic molecular mechanisms with behavioral neuroscience and neurodegenerative disease models.

Her scientific achievements include:

• Identification of novel functions of PARP-1 in neural stem cell physiology and tumor suppression
• Elucidation of HCN channel roles in fear memory formation
• Characterization of HIPK2 regulation mechanisms involving TRAF2, p300, and SIRT1
• Development of neurodegenerative disease models for Parkinson's disease and ALS

Professor Kang maintains an active research laboratory focused on cell physiology, with ongoing work examining the molecular mechanisms of neural stem cell differentiation and neurodegenerative processes.