Center for Relativistic Laser Science

[Biography]

◆ Educational Background

1990: Ph. D., Department of Psychobiology, University of California, Irvine

1979 - 1985: B.S. and M.S., Dept. of Zoology, Seoul National University

◆ Professional Career

2013 - Present: Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST.

1995 - 2012: Assistant, Associate, Full Professor, Ajou University School of Medicine.

1994 - 1995: Assistant Research Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, USA. 1990 - 1995: Post-Doc., Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, USA.

◆ Contact

Tel: +82-42-350-2612 (Office) / +82-42-350-2652 (Lab) Fax: +82-42-350-2610 Email:mwjung@kaist.ac.kr https://sites.google.com/site/systemsneurolaboratory/

[Research Areas]

◆ Decision making Decision making in a dynamic environment consists of multiple underlying processes such as representing values of potential choices, making choices based on these values, and updating the values based on the outcome of a choice. We investigate how these processes are implemented in the fronto-basal ganglia loop. We also investigate how multiple decision making systems (trial-and-error-based vs. deliberate control system) interact to yield a final action selection. To this end, we examine neuronal ensemble activity and manipulate neural activity in rodents, because they allow largesize neuronal ensemble recordings, use of genetically-modified animals, and relatively easy application of optogenetic techniques on top of that the nervous system is much simpler than that of the primate. We also conduct theoretical studies of reinforcement learning and neural network modeling.

◆ Event memory One of the central issues in cognitive neuroscience is to understand the neural basis of event memory. Although it is well known that the hippocampus plays a crucial role in encoding event memory, its underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear despite a long history of intensive investigations. We investigate how different types of information are integrated in the hippocampus during the formation of event memory (‘what happened’ ‘where’ and ‘when’) by conducting behavioral and neurophysiological experiments in rats. We also use genetically-engineered mice with specific disruptions in distinct sub-regions of the hippocampus (dentate gyrus, CA3 and CA1) to investigate functional roles played by each hippocampal sub-region in encoding event memory.

◆ Interval timing Time and space are fundamental dimensions for all living organisms. The ability to anticipate the timing of predictable events is critical for survival in many animal species including humans. In particular, time interval estimation in the range of a few seconds (interval timing) is involved in numerous behavioral processes. However, it is unknown how interval timing-related functions are implemented in the brain in large part because of the paucity of physiological studies. In order to investigate how the brain keeps track of the elapse of time, we record and analyze neuronal activity in different brain structures as rodents perform various time interval discrimination tasks. [Publication List]

◆ Publication List

1. Lee H, Ghim JW, Kim H, Lee D, Jung MW. (2012) Hippocampal neural correlates for values of experienced events. J. Neurosci. 32(43):15053-65. 

2. Lee JW, Kim WR, Sun W, Jung MW. (2012) Disruption of dentate gyrus blocks effect of visual input on spatial firing of CA1 neurons. J. Neurosci. 32(38):12999-3003.

3. Lee D, Seo H, Jung MW. (2012) Neural basis of reinforcement learning and decision making. Ann. Rev. Neurosci. 35:287-308.

4. Sul JH, Jo S, Lee D, Jung MW. (2011) Role of rodent secondary motor cortex in value-based action selection. Nature Neurosci. 14(9):1202-8

5. Sul JH, Kim H, Huh N, Lee D, Jung MW. (2010) Distinct roles of rodent orbitofrontal and medial prefrontal cortex in decision making. Neuron. 66(3):449-60.

Research Interests:

Leading efforts for CAPP’s first microwave Axion Experiment in an ultra-low temperature setup being launched at KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) campus in summer of 2015. Overseeing sub-projects including cryogenics, development of high Q-factor resonant cavity with frequency tuning system, and designing RF receiver electronics/DAQ system.

• Personal Data

Current position: Assistant Professor     

Institution: POSTECH            

Address:  77 Cheongam-ro, Nam-gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, South Korea 37673

Telephone and email: +82-54-279-2097, gilyoungcho@postech.ac.kr   

Website: https://sites.google.com/site/gilyoungchogroup/

• Education

2009-2013 Ph.D in Physics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, USA

2005-2009 Major in Physics, KAIST, Daejeon, South Korea

         Summa Cum Laude, the highest GPA ever in KAIST (4.27 out of 4.3)

• Research Experience

2018–present Assistant Professor, POSTECH, Pohang, South Korea

2018-present Associate Member, Korea Institute for Advanced Study, Seoul, South Korea           

2017-present Visiting Fellow, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Canada

2017−2018 Research fellow, KIAS, Seoul, South Korea        

2015−2017 Distinguished BK21 Postdoctoral fellow, KAIST, Daejeon, South Korea 

2013−2015 ICMT Postdoctoral prize fellow, Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA