Sung-Joon Park

Dr. Sung-Joon Park is a Team Leader in the Medical Anthropology research group, focusing on the anthropology of epidemics and Science and Technology Studies (STS) with a regional focus on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). His work examines Ebola outbreaks, mobility, trust dynamics, and genomics, contributing to understanding Ebola virus ecologies. He also explores planetary health, analyzing how pathogens behave in degraded environments. His transdisciplinary approach integrates social sciences and life sciences to study epidemic escalation into social emergencies, emphasizing ethical reflections on science's role in global contexts.

Education: PhD in Anthropology from Martin-Luther-University, Halle-Wittenberg (2014), with prior research in Uganda, Sierra Leone, and South Africa.

Research interests include Ebola outbreaks, mistrust in healthcare systems, atmospheric and emotional aspects of disasters, and decolonial methodologies. His work critiques epistemic injustice and advocates for inclusive transdisciplinary collaboration. He has published widely on epidemics, global health governance, and the intersection of health and environmental crises.

His research group engages in critical analyses of health emergencies, including studies on DRC's Ebola responses, comparative analyses of Ebola and COVID-19, and the socio-economic dimensions of disease outbreaks. He currently leads projects exploring trust dynamics and planetary health frameworks in fragile ecosystems.