If you are interested in joining the MEFE Lab, please read the information below carefully and contact Kiseok (kiseokkeithlee@gmail.com). We welcome people from diverse nationalities and research backgrounds, including biology, chemistry, ecology, microbiology, synthetic biology, engineering, (bio)physics, and AI. All communication in lab will be in English, so Korean fluency is not needed. We are looking for students and researchers who are genuinely curious about how natural microbial communities shape ecological and biological processes, or how we can harness/engineer microbial metabolism to address pressing global environmental and health challenges.
What you will gain from joining the MEFE Lab:
- Motivation to follow your curiosity: Doing research is a long and hard journey, because it does not always guarantee a job or money. But together, we will learn the ways to follow your own curiosity. Learning how to follow your curiosity will lead to the greatest happiness. You will become a true scientist.
- Experimental rigor and AI-driven computational skills: In a rapidly changing world, I believe scientists/engineers should be able to both generate high-throughput data with rigorous experiments (wet lab) and use computation and AI to understand their own data (dry lab). Wet + dry, hence the duck logo.
- Focus: We will together practice how to focus deeply on a single research question and follow it through uncertainty and setbacks. This immersive experience will teach you how to concentrate and solve any challenging problem you may encounter in the future.
- Effective communication in English: No one can work alone and collaboration is increasingly paramount. You will learn how to document, present, discuss, and communicate your scientific ideas and results clearly. We will work in English because we are dealing with global challenges. Even if your English is not perfect now, it is okay. It is part of the training. You'll get much better and will be able to work anywhere on the globe.
Open positions:
- PhD students (including Master + PhD Integrated) — MEFE Lab primarily recruits PhD students who have previously conducted research in the MEFE Lab (at least 1-2 months as an undergraduate researcher or post-undergrad researcher) or strong recommendation from trusted colleagues. This approach allows to assess mutual fit with the lab's research environment and culture. Email Kiseok (kiseokkeithlee@gmail.com) to ask for research opportunities with (1) your CV, (2) and your life story + why you want to join the MEFE lab.
- Master students — We are not actively recruiting Master's students at the moment, although exceptions may be considered. Prior research experience in the MEFE Lab will generally be expected.
- Undergraduate or post-undergraduate researchers — We strongly encourage freshmen(1st), sophomore(2nd), junior(3rd year) undergraduate students (from Yonsei and other universities) and post-undergrad students to gain research experience in the MEFE Lab through short-term or long-term research opportunities. No prior research experience required, since we will offer individual or team-based research training sessions during summer or winter vacations. If you are interested, please email Kiseok (kiseokkeithlee@gmail.com) to inquire about available research opportunities with (1) your CV, (2) and your life story + why you want to join the MEFE lab.
Application procedure:
- Initial email: To start the application process for any position, email Kiseok (kiseokkeithlee@gmail.com) anytime of the year with (1) your curriculum vitae (CV), (2) and your life story + why you want to join the MEFE lab. If you don't have the GPA or English proficiency information in the CV, I may ask for a transcript or English proficiency test result if you are comfortable sharing them. The transcript will provide one indication of diligence and background knowledge, while English proficiency is important because English will be the primary language of communication in the lab.
- First-round of screening: Because the lab won't have infinite amount of money, we expect to recruit 0-4 people annually. I will initially screen the email applications based on your interest/motivation level and the potential research fit with the MEFE Lab. I'll do my best to reply to every inquiry in a week or two, but a lack of response will either mean there is no available position or there is no strong mutual fit at this time. Please don't hesitate to send a gentle follow-up.
- Second-round interview: 2x to 5x selected candidates will be invited to a 1 hour interview. I will try to ask many questions to further decide if there is a good research and personality fit. If you are nearby, I would prefer to meet in person and chat over coffee. Additional conversations or interviews may be arranged if needed.
- Directed reading (5-10 weeks): Candidates who pass the interview stage will proceed to a directed reading period. Based on your interest, we will choose 5-10 papers to read together and meet every or every other week to discuss about the paper on Zoom. Through these discussions, we will explore potential research directions that you could pursue in the MEFE Lab. This is also an opportunity for you to decide whether the lab and its research are a good fit for you. You can choose not to continue at any point during this period.
- Final-round experimental training and rotation (1–2 months): After the directed reading, I will make an offer to those who can proceed with the 1-2 month experimental training and rotation period. During this period, we will conduct experiments together and learn how to analyze the resulting data using computational tools. Training a new researcher requires substantial time and effort from both the student and the PI, so this stage is intended to ensure that we are a strong mutual fit before making a long-term commitment. After the training/rotation period, I will make a final decision regarding admission to the MEFE Lab. Successful candidates may then join the lab as undergraduate researchers, post-undergraduate researchers, or PhD students, depending on the position and program.
- This process is designed to ensure mutual fit. I want to find researchers who will thrive in the MEFE Lab, but I also want applicants/candidates to have enough opportunities to decide whether the Lab is a good fit for them. The above process is not set in stone. So let me know if these timelines don't work for you.
Department of Systems Biology, College of Life Science & Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
