Seunghwan Choi

Watching the many players of the brain — neurons, astrocytes, cerebrospinal fluid, blood vessels and immune cells — is my great pleasure.

In vivo two-photon microscopy in the living mouse, where they can be seen at work in the brain.

Academic roots & interests

I have been trained under the mentorship of Dr. Sun Kwang Kim at Kyung Hee University, Korea for several years starting from my undergraduate. I am proud of being a part of the great neuroscience academic lineage in Korea and Japan.

On the basis of their scientific contribution, I have interests in in vivo two-photon imaging, astrocyte-centered neurobiology, stroke, chronic pain, and neuromodulation (acupuncture, transcutaneous electrical stimulation, vagus nerve stimulation, and focused ultrasound stimulation).

What I want to do as a scientist

My critical mind as a scientist is that science has a great power of problem-solving potential in the real world. In my undergraduate and master’s courses, neuropathic pain was my main interest. That was from my father’s uncontrolled neuropathic pain in his face.

At the starting point of my PhD course, my grandmother had a stroke attack. Although she survived, she had suffered from cognitive impairment (vascular dementia). That was my motivation for research in stroke and vascular cognitive impairment (at that time, she had severe cognitive impairment and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia).

Again, I believe that science has a power to solve the problems.

Favorites

Idyllic · Serene · Aesthetic · Still · Contemplative · Intimate

Nine things I keep coming back to, outside the laboratory. They are the same instincts I bring to research: look closely, wait for the moment, and keep the people around you close.

Me within a team

As a member, colleague and friend in the research group, I have sought to cultivate a strong sense of belonging, solidarity, and connection within the team, thereby contributing to stronger teamwork.