The Lab of Viruses and Molecular Genome Engineering is focusing on seeking creative and outstanding individuals for research and studying on innovative CRISPR-related technologies and the molecular mechanisms of virus-host interactions. Our lab aims to elucidate the biological functions of new types of CRISPR-Cas systems with potential applications in genome engineering, focusing particularly on RNA-associated CRISPR systems and molecular memory formation and applications related to CRISPR adaptation. Additionally, we are investigating the mechanisms of genome replication and transcription, as well as immune interactions of acute and chronic infectious viruses. We conduct groundbreaking and challenging researches using single-molecule biophysics and various molecular cell biology, biochemistry, and bioinformatics methodologies, eventually contributing research fields of genetic technologies and human healthcare.

• ㆍMolecular mechanisms of CRISPR adaptation and applications for molecular recorders
• ㆍDevelopment of RNA-protease-based CRISPR screening tools and applications
• ㆍSingle-molecule mechanism and improved engineering of CRISPR-transposase systems
• ㆍSingle-molecule and super-resolution imaging of RNA-related proteins in acute RNA viruses
• ㆍSingle-molecule-level high-throughput peptide/protein screening technology
• ㆍMolecular identity of glycoRNA

• ㆍSungchul Kim, Yong-geun Choi, Kirsten Janssen, Christian Büll, Bhagyashree S. Joshi, Adam Pomorski, Vered Raz, Marvin E. Tanenbaum, Pascal Miesen, Zeshi Li, Chirlmin Joo, N-glycosylated molecules as contaminants in RNA purification, BioRxiv, 03/2024,
• ㆍGyeong-Seok Oh, Seongjin An, and Sungchul Kim, Harnessing CRISPR-Cas adaptation for RNA recording and beyond, BMB Reports, 01/2024
• ㆍSungchul Kim, LncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks in skin aging and therapeutic potentials, Frontiers in Physiology, 10/2023
• ㆍHyejun Kim, Jae Won Yun, Gayun Baek, Sungchul Kim, Mihn-Sook Jue, Differential microRNA profiles in elderly males with seborrheic dermatitis, Scientific Reports,12/2022
• ㆍJi-Seon Lee, Seongchan Kim, Sungchul Kim, Kwangseog Ahn, and Dal-Hee Min, Fluorometric Viral miRNA Nanosensor for Diagnosis of Productive (Lytic) Human Cytomegalovirus Infection in Living Cells, ACS Sensors, 03/2021
• ㆍKwang-Hyun Park, Sungchul Kim, Su-Jin Lee, Jee-Eun Cho, Vinod Vikas Patil, Hyung-Nam Song, Woo-Chan Ahn, Chirlmin Joo, Seung-Goo Lee, Victoria Shingler and Eui-Jeon Woo, Tetrameric architecture of an active phenol-bound form of the AAA+ transcriptional regulator DmpR, Nature Communications, 06/2020
• ㆍSungchul Kim, Luuk Loeff, Sabina Colombo, Slobodan Jergic, Stan J.J. Brouns, and Chirlmin Joo, Selective prespacer loading and processing for precise CRISPR adaptation, Nature, 03/2020
• ㆍSungchul Kim, Daekwan Seo, Dongwoo Kim, Yujin Hong, Hyeshik Chang, Daehyun Baek, V. Narry Kim, Sungwook Lee, and Kwangseog Ahn, Temporal Landscape of MicroRNA-Mediated Host-Virus Crosstalk during Productive Human Cytomegalovirus Infection, Cell Host & Microbe, 06/2015 "Featured Article"
• ㆍJeongmin Ryoo, Jongsu Choi, Changhoon Oh, Sungchul Kim, Minji Seo, Seok-Young Kim, Daekwan Seo, Jongkyu Kim, Tommy E White, Alberto Brandariz-Nuñez, Felipe Diaz-Griffero, Cheol-Heui Yun, Joseph A Hollenbaugh, Baek Kim, Daehyun Baek, Kwangseog Ahn, The ribonuclease activity of SAMHD1 is required for HIV-1 restriction, Nature Medicine, 07/2014 "Cover Feature Article"
• ㆍSanghyun Lee, Jaewon Song, Sungchul Kim, Jongkyu Kim, Yujin Hong, Youngkyun Kim, Donghyun Kim, Daehyun Baek, Kwangseog Ahn, Selective Degradation of Host MicroRNAs by an Intergenic HCMV Noncoding RNA Accelerates Virus Production, Cell Host & Microbe, 06/2013 "F1000 Prime"
• ㆍYoungkyun Kim, Sanghyun Lee, Sungchul Kim, Donghyun Kim, Jin-Hyun Ahn, Kwangseog Ahn, Human cytomegalovirus clinical strain-specific microRNA miR-UL148D targets the human chemokine RANTES during infection, PLoS Pathogens, 03/2012
• ㆍSungchul Kim, Sanghyun Lee, Jinwook Shin, Youngkyun Kim, Irini Evnouchidou, Donghyun Kim, Young-Kook Kim, Young-Eui Kim, Jin-Hyun Ahn, Stanley R Riddell, Efstratios Stratikos, V Narry Kim, Kwangseog Ahn, Human cytomegalovirus microRNA miR-US4-1 inhibits CD8+ T cell responses by targeting the aminopeptidase ERAP1, Nature Immunology, 09/2011 "F1000 Exceptional"

• ㆍB.S., Seoul National University, Korea (2007)
• ㆍPh.D., Seoul National University, Korea (2013)

• ㆍ2024-Present : Assistant Professor, Department of Life Sciences, POSTECH, Korea
• ㆍ2021-2024 : Principal Research Scientist/Young Scientist Fellow (YSF), Center for RNA Research (at SNU), Institute for Basic Science, Korea
• ㆍ2018-2021 : Marie Sklodowska-Curie Experienced Researcher, Department of Bionanoscience, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Netherlands
• ㆍ2016-2018 : NWO-FOM Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Bionanoscience, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Netherlands
• ㆍ2013-2015 : Postdoctoral Researcher, School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Korea

• ㆍ2021 : Young Scientist Fellowship (YSF), Institute of Basic Science (IBS)
• ㆍ2019 : Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Young Investigator Research Award
• ㆍ2017 : Marie Sklodowska-Curie Action, Individual Fellowship (IF)
• ㆍ2016 : Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF)