Sojung Kim earned her Bachelor’s degree in Food Science & Biotechnology from Sungshin Women’s University, where a pivotal experience at an academic conference inspired her to pursue a career in science. Driven by a profound interest in neurodegeneration, she went on to complete her Master’s degree at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) through the KIST-Korea University joint program, under the mentorship of Dr. Hoon Ryu (Link).

During her graduate studies, Sojung focused on investigating the molecular mechanisms of microglia in Alzheimer’s patients. Her research led to a comprehensive understanding of the critical role microglia play in maintaining brain homeostasis. Recognizing the vast potential of stem cell technology for both disease modeling and therapeutic development, she sought to expand her expertise and joined the Yoo Lab.

She is particularly interested in recapitulating the human brain environment through stem cell models to elucidate the complex interactions between microglia and other neural cells. Building upon this understanding, she aims to develop patient-customized treatments for neurodegenerative diseases using induced pluripotent stem cells.