Professor

Cécile Segonzac, PhD

Professor 

 

Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Bioresources

 

+82 (0)2-880-2229 

 ORCID 0000-0002-5537-7556

RESEARCH EXPERTISE

Molecular mechanism of plant immune receptor complex activation and regulation

Genetic basis of plant immunity

Plant molecular physiology

EDUCATION

2003-2006 PhD, Plant Molecular Physiology, Institut Agro Montpellier, France

2002-2003 MSc, Plant Adaptation and Development, Institut Agro Montpellier, France

1997-2001 BSc, Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Université Paris-Saclay, France

PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS HELD

2015-2016 Research professor, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Korea

2013-2015 Post-doctoral fellow, Massey University, New Zealand

2007-2013 Post-doctoral fellow, The Sainsbury Laboratory, United Kingdom

TEACHING

Plant-Environment Interactions (UG, Spring)

Molecular Plant Cell Signalling (PG, Spring)

Plant Cell Biology (UG, Fall)

Topics in Cell Biology (PG, Fall)

Senior Researcher

Wanhui Kim, PhD

Senior Researcher

ORCID 0000-0002-9622-1355

I studied Agricultural Biology as an undergraduate at Korea University and earned my PhD. in Plant molecular and cellular biology from Université Paris XI (now Université Paris-Saclay) in France.

During my PhD., I investigated the epigenetic regulation of plant development. I then conducted postdoctoral research at Korea University, where I studied how ambient temperature is sensed through microRNA-mediated pathways to regulate flowering time in plants.

Since 2017, I have been a Senior Researcher at Seoul National University. My current research focuses on identifying plant NLR immune receptors that recognize root-knot nematode effectors and elucidating the underlying mechanisms of disease resistance.

Outside the lab, I enjoy singing in a choir, painting with watercolors, reading, watching crime dramas, and taking walks in nature.

Graduate Students

Injae Kim, Msc

PhD candidate

ORCID 0009-0002-6027-9640

Hi, I’m Injae Kim. I received my BSc in Biology from Jeonbuk National University.

My research interests lie in protein–protein interactions. Currently, I am investigating the molecular mechanism underlying the activation of the Nicotiana benthamiana immune receptor RRS-Y and how it recognizes the Ralstonia solanacearum effector RipY.

Outside the lab, I enjoy climbing to unwind. 

Yuxuan Wu, Msc

PhD student

–

Nawon Song

MSc student

 

Hi, I’m Nawon!! I received my BSc in Horticultural Biotechnology from Kyung Hee University.

These days, my research focuses on studying the recognition determinant of a R. solanacearum effector in N. benthamiana.

I personally enjoy collecting cute things and loafing at home while watching Netflix series

Hojin Jo

MSc student

 

I received my BSc in biotechnology from Korea University.

Since joining this lab in 2025, I have been studying plant physiology, with a particular focus on plant resistance to biotic stresses. My research focuses on identifying plant immune receptors that recognize Xanthomonas and Ralstonia effectors in N. benthamiana and investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying their recognition.

Outside the lab, I enjoy keeping reptiles and collecting Haworthia. I also enjoy reading, watching movies, and visiting museums and exhibitions.

Soomin Jung

MSc student

 

Hi, I’m Soomin Jung. I received my BSc in Horticultural Biotechnology from Kyung Hee University.

My research focuses on identifying plant immune receptors that recognize M. oryzae effectors in N. benthamiana.

Outside the lab, I enjoy trying new foods and listening to music. 

Alumni

PhD – Boyoung Kim (2023.8), Hyelim Jeon (2025.2), Jihyun Choi (2026.8)

MSc – Hyelim Jeon (2019.2), Yonghua Tian (2019.8), Jeongu Lee (2021.2), Laura-Christina Llanes-Melgoza (2021.2), Injae Kim (2024.8), YoungWoo Koh (2025.8)

BSc – Sookyeong Lee (2018.2), Hyeongsub Jeong (2018.8), Minhue Jeong (2020.2), Yeonjun Kim (2020.8), Hyein You (2021.8), Eunji Kim (2022.2), Jonghwi Kim (2022.2), Kyeongmi Kim (2023.2), Bomi Seo (2023.2), Geonhui Cho (2023.2), YoungWoo Koh (2023.8), Junho Lee (2024.2), Eunhui Lee (2025.2), Ziwon Lee (2025.2), Haeun Cho (2026.2), Joonyoung Jo (2026.2)