Wonmuk Hwang

Wonmuk Hwang is a Professor at Texas A&M University with joint appointments in Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, and Physics & Astronomy. As Principal Investigator of the Hwang Laboratory, he leads research in computational biophysics and molecular biomechanics. His lab focuses on understanding how biomolecules move, interact, and assemble to drive biological phenomena, with applications in therapeutic development and bio-inspired engineering.

His research program spans four interconnected domains: Multiscale Modeling (water dynamics, biofilament mechanics, supramolecular assembly), Kinesin Motor Proteins (ATP-driven motility mechanisms), T-Cell Receptor Mechanobiology (force-dependent immune recognition), and Bioimage Analysis (computational tools for complex imaging datasets). The lab develops advanced algorithms including the Computer-Aided Feature Extraction (CAFE) platform for biological structures.

Analysis of 15 recent publications (2021-2025) reveals dominant research threads: 1) Computational methods for electrostatic interactions and molecular dynamics (CHARMM enhancements, GLST cubature), 2) TCR mechanobiology exploring force-dependent discrimination mechanisms, 3) Viral protein dynamics (influenza NS1, HIV MPER), and 4) Developmental biophysics (zebrafish neurodevelopment). This reflects Hwang's dual focus on method development and biological applications.

Professor Hwang mentors an active research group including 3 graduate students (Sofiya Bettencourt, James Gonzales, Yue Qiu) and 3 undergraduates (Nithanial John, Jomi Olufemi, Elaine Wu). His alumni hold positions at Vanderbilt University, IBM Research, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and academic institutions worldwide. The lab maintains extensive collaborations with experimental groups including those at NIH, Harvard, and Seoul National University.