Professor Lee Daehan, a POSCO Science Fellow, was first selected for the fellowship in 2012, receiving research support during his doctoral studies, and was again awarded support in 2025 as an early-career faculty POSCO Science Fellow. Currently a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Sungkyunkwan University, he leads the Evomics Lab, where his research is grounded in evolutionary developmental biology (Evo-Devo), a field that bridges evolution and development. His work explores fundamental questions such as the origin of animals and the evolution of multicellularity. Drawing motivation from the trust and encouragement he received through the POSCO TJ Park Foundation Fellowship, Professor Lee continues to share the value and joy of basic science both within and beyond academia, while actively engaging with society. We present his story below.

 

 

Q. Please introduce yourself.

Hello. My name is Lee Daehan, an evolutionary biologist. Since 2023, I have been teaching at the Department of Biological Sciences at Sungkyunkwan University, where I also run the Evomics Lab. In our lab, we study biological evolution using a wide range of model organisms—including Caenorhabditis elegans, fruit flies, jellyfish, pandas, and choanoflagellates—by applying advanced omics technologies.

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The countless organisms that form Earth’s community of life have emerged through approximately four billion years of evolution. Humans are one of them. To fundamentally understand why we look the way we do, why we have become so intelligent, and why we age and develop diseases, we must examine this evolutionary history. For example, the human brain did not suddenly appear out of nowhere; it emerged through the evolutionary history of animals, as nervous systems first arose, then became centralized, increasingly complex, and quantitatively expanded. Human aging and lifespan are also evolutionary products. Depending on the conditions faced by each species, some age rapidly, while others experience almost negligible aging and appear nearly immortal.

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Q. Could you explain your research field and its core significance?

My specialization within evolutionary biology is evolutionary developmental biology, or Evo-Devo. Although evolution and development may appear to be distinct disciplines, they share a fundamental commonality in that both deal with “time.” Developmental biology examines the temporal process of an individual growing from a fertilized egg into an adult, while evolutionary biology examines the temporal dynamics of populations and lineages—how species arise and disappear. These two processes are intrinsically connected, as development itself is a product of evolution.

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How an organism develops from a fertilized egg into a multicellular organism depends on the evolutionary history experienced by its lineage. Humans are human and fruit flies are fruit flies because their developmental programs, inherited from a common ancestor, have diverged through different evolutionary histories. My research seeks to uncover how these developmental programs evolved at the genetic level by applying cutting-edge life science technologies.

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Recently, I have begun to focus not only on how animals evolve through diversification of development, but also on the origins of “animals” and “development” themselves. This line of inquiry—on the origin of animals and the evolution of multicellularity—is the research topic selected under the POSCO Science Fellowship. The first animals are estimated to have evolved approximately 600 to 800 million years ago, yet how they emerged from unicellular protist ancestors remains largely unknown. Because the evolution of animals is also the evolution of development, I study choanoflagellates—organisms that are the closest living relatives of animals and possess intermediate characteristics between animals and protists—to explore this profound evolutionary transition.

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Q. Please share your research journey leading up to your appointment as a professor.

While preparing for this interview, I revisited the research proposal I submitted in 2011 when I applied for the third cohort of the POSCO Science Fellowship as a doctoral student. In the proposal, I described my desired research field as follows:

Fifteen years later, this field—now often referred to as Neuro Evo-Devo—remains largely unexplored, yet it has begun to develop rapidly. Although neither my doctoral lab at Seoul National University nor my first postdoctoral lab at Northwestern University specialized in this area, these experiences enabled me to concretely plan how to pursue Neuro Evo-Devo research. With the advent of technologies such as single-cell sequencing, I was able to begin full-scale research in this field during my second postdoctoral appointment at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland.

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When I started my postdoctoral research in Switzerland in 2020, I vividly remember the excitement of finally pursuing, in earnest, the research I had proposed to the POSCO TJ Park Foundation nearly a decade earlier. While in Switzerland, I shifted from studying C. elegans to investigating the more complex nervous systems of fruit flies.

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After returning to Korea, rather than moving toward increasingly complex organisms similar to humans, I redirected my research toward more fundamental questions—specifically, the origin of the nervous system. As Darwin’s On the Origin of Species suggests, “origins” are central to evolutionary biology. To understand the origin of the nervous system, one must trace back to the origin of animals themselves and even examine their protist relatives.

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Evolutionary biology remains a relatively marginal field in Korea, making life as a researcher challenging at times. Nevertheless, I am deeply grateful to have continued this journey guided by curiosity, without significant compromise. Receiving fellowship support from the POSCO TJ Park Foundation on two occasions provided immense encouragement and strength along the way.

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Q. What values or principles do you consider most important in your research?

If I had to identify a core principle, it would be “openness.” Researchers must maintain an open attitude toward how nature and life operate. While hypotheses are essential, we should never force nature to conform to them. Life often functions in ways far more profound and creative than we can imagine. Careful observation and an unbiased approach are essential to uncovering its mysteries.

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Openness is equally important on a human level. Science is not conducted in isolation; it thrives on collaboration. Colleagues may interpret phenomena differently, revealing aspects we may have overlooked. Collaboration among researchers with diverse expertise often leads to deeper and more impactful discoveries. I emphasize this strongly to my students, encouraging them to become good people first, and to grow together through cooperation rather than competition.

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Another value I hold dear is “joy.” Research is not a path of constant success; failure is far more common than confirmation. It is also not a route to immediate material reward and often involves prolonged uncertainty. What sustains researchers through this journey is the joy of discovery. Research remains the most enjoyable activity I have ever pursued—so much so that I stopped playing video games after beginning my research career. I hope my students experience this same joy and become naturally immersed in their work.

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Finally, I have recently been reflecting deeply on the value of “accumulation.” Science advances by building upon accumulated intellectual traditions—the “shoulders of giants.” Today, I find myself more moved by the long, courageous journeys that senior researchers undertook to build their work than by individual results alone. While keeping up with new trends and technologies is important, steadily building one’s own body of work may be even more vital. Although Korea’s research environment, with its constant emphasis on new keywords and funding opportunities, makes this challenging, I aspire to pursue this path with conviction.

 

 

Q. You are also active in science communication through media appearances. What does public engagement mean to you as a researcher?

I have a strong humanities inclination, influenced by both my parents—who met as literature students—and my upbringing. Although I pursued science, I spent two formative years as a reporter for The SNU Press, which gave me confidence in writing and became a foundation for my later involvement in science communication.

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Public engagement holds multiple meanings for me. While such activities may not directly benefit an academic career and can even attract criticism in Korea, I continue them for several reasons. First, I myself am a beneficiary of science communication. I did not become a scientist by reading papers as a child, but by reading popular science books and attending public lectures. I am now passing on what I once received.

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Moreover, as a basic scientist funded by public resources, I believe it is our responsibility to communicate the significance and outcomes of our research. While my personal motivation is joy, basic science contributes to the expansion of human knowledge and ultimately benefits society. History shows that while not all wealthy nations excel in basic science, all nations strong in basic science are wealthy.

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Basic science resembles farming—preparing the soil and sowing seeds rather than immediately harvesting fruit. Therefore, public communication plays a crucial role in fostering understanding and support for basic science. On a practical level, such engagement also benefits my research by encouraging broader perspectives and helping identify overlooked yet important questions.

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​Q. As the POSCO TJ Park Foundation marks its 55th anniversary, how has the Foundation’s support contributed to your research?

My connection to the Foundation is deeply personal. I grew up near the Pohang steelworks, cheering for the Pohang Steelers and gazing at the steelworks’ night skyline. Becoming a fellow of the Foundation established by Chairman Park Tae-joon was a great honor. The Foundation’s support enabled stability during my graduate studies and helped me establish my lab as a young faculty member. Beyond material support, the psychological encouragement for pursuing basic science—often undervalued—has been invaluable.

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I am also deeply grateful for the annual POSCO Science Fellow networking meetings, which provide opportunities to learn from and connect with inspiring colleagues. These gatherings feel like festive reunions and serve as powerful motivation to continue growing as a researcher.

 

 

Q. Finally, could you share your long-term research goals and vision?

I have two major long-term research programs. The first aims to uncover the evolutionary origins of animals and their key traits, such as nervous systems and aging. To this end, my lab has established research infrastructure for jellyfish and choanoflagellates. Jellyfish, with their primitive nervous systems and unique aging properties, offer crucial insights into how complex nervous systems evolved. Later this year, I will conduct a research sabbatical at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in the UK to further explore methodologies for studying nervous system origins.

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The second program focuses on evolutionary biology in the context of climate change. As global warming accelerates into what is now termed “global heating,” wild organisms face unprecedented risks of extinction. Using experimental evolution with C. elegans, I aim to understand how organisms adapt—or fail to adapt—to rapid temperature changes. Recently, my team succeeded in evolving nematodes that remain fertile under high temperatures, marking an important step forward. Given the long timelines required for experimental evolution, this research will proceed steadily over the long term.

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