[Photo] (Left) CI KIM Jae Kyoung of IBS Biomedical Mathematics Group
(Right) HAN DaeHee, Postdoctoral Researcher, Learning and Memory Group at the IBS Center for Memory and Glioscience

The Institute for Basic Science (IBS) announced that KIM Jae Kyoung, Chief Investigator (CI) of the Biomedical Mathematics Group and Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at KAIST, along with HAN DaeHee, a postdoctoral researcher in the Learning and Memory Group at the IBS Center for Memory and Glioscience, have been selected for the prestigious Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP).

Often referred to as the “Nobel Prize fund” of the life sciences, HFSP is an international research funding program established in 1989 to support innovative and high-risk collaborative research. To date, it has supported more than 8,500 researchers across 73 countries, including 31 Nobel laureates, underscoring its global reputation.

CI Kim has been selected for the Accelerator Grant, a program that enables researchers to join and collaborate with outstanding international research teams. Beginning in July 2026, he will receive USD 100,000 per year for two years to conduct joint research with leading global scientists.

Meanwhile, Dr. HAN DaeHee has also been selected for HFSP funding and will receive approximately USD 60,000 per year for three years. He will conduct research at the University of California San Diego, focusing on the mechanisms of synaptic signal transmission during motor learning.

The selected project is titled: “Advancing the eco-epidemiology of tick-borne viruses under climate change: causal inference, machine learning, and non-Markovian modeling.” Through this project, Kim aims to develop an integrated analytical framework to uncover the mechanisms behind infectious disease outbreaks—now increasingly difficult to predict due to climate change—and to quantitatively forecast future risks.

CI Kim stated, “I am honored that research using mathematical modeling to uncover the causes of complex biological phenomena and predict future outcomes has been recognized on the global stage. Through this HFSP collaboration, I will strive to establish a mathematical biology framework that enables more precise prediction of infectious disease spread under climate change.”

Dr. Han added, “I am deeply honored to be selected for this prestigious funding that supports international collaborative research. Through this opportunity, I aim to actively explore cutting-edge research trends, strengthen my global research capabilities, and grow into an independent researcher capable of conducting transformative, paradigm-shifting research.”