November 6^Mon - 8^Wed, 2023
International Convention Center (ICC) JEJU

D-Days

Chair: Jae Bum Kim, Ph.D. (Seoul National University, Korea)

Dr. Yoon Ki Kim is a Professor in the Dept. of Biological Sciences at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). He earned his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. degrees from Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), under the mentorship of Prof. Sung Key Jang. During his Master’s and doctoral studies, he investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying translation initiation mediated by the internal ribosome entry site. He then joined Prof. Lynne E. Maquat’s lab as a postdoctoral fellow and delved into the translation-coupled mRNA decay mechanism. During his postdoc, he uncovered a mechanistically unique RNA decay mechanism known as staufen1-mediated mRNA decay. In 2005, he started his own lab at Korea University. Since then, his research has been dedicated to the in-depth exploration of the molecular mechanisms underlying mRNA degradation, translational control, and protein aggregation. Since 2015, he has served as the director of the Center for Molecular Biology of Translation, a National Leading Research Initiatives in Korea. In addition, he is currently a co-CEO of RiboTech, a bio-venture company with a focus on developing therapeutic circular RNAs. In 2022, he moved his lab to KAIST and has since continued to conduct a variety of RNA-related molecular studies, including mRNA modification, circular RNA biogenesis, and translational control.