Education

• Research associate, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Molecular Metabolism, Boston, MA; Nora Kory lab, 2022 – 2026
• Postdoc & Research Assistant Professor, Seoul National University Hospital, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Young Min Cho lab, 2017 – 2025
• Military Service; Research Institute and Hospital of National Cancer Center, Division of Clinical Research, Goyang, Korea; Ho Jin Kim Lab, 2015 – 2017
• PhD, Yonsei University, Department of Endocrinology, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Eun Jig Lee Lab, 2011 – 2015

Research

• Mitochondrial biology and metabolism in aging and age-related diseases NAD⁺ metabolism and mitochondrial function, with a focus on the mitochondrial NAD⁺ transporter SLC25A51 (MCART1)
• Cellular senescence and β-cell aging in diabetes and metabolic disorders
• Mitochondrial-derived peptides (MOTS-c) as therapeutic regulators of aging and immuno-metabolism
• Mechanisms of mitochondrial quality control, redox homeostasis, and integrated stress responses
• Development of therapeutic strategies targeting mitochondrial dysfunction to improve metabolic health and healthy aging

Overview

Byungsoo Kong, PhD, is a mitochondrial biologist and gerontologist whose research seeks to define how mitochondrial metabolism regulates aging, cellular senescence, and metabolic diseases. He received his PhD in Endocrinology from Yonsei University and subsequently conducted research at the National Cancer Center of Korea, Seoul National University Hospital, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, where he currently serves as a Research Associate in the Department of Molecular Metabolism. His research combines animal models, multiomics technologies, computational biology, and functional genomics to uncover molecular pathways that drive age-associated tissue dysfunction and diabetes. His work has identified critical roles for mitochondrial-derived peptides and mitochondrial NAD⁺ transport systems in regulating cellular metabolism, stress adaptation, and cell fate decisions during aging. As an independent investigator, Kong aims to establish a research program that integrates systems-level and mechanistic approaches to elucidate how mitochondrial signaling networks govern organismal aging and chronic disease progression. His laboratory seeks to develop a comprehensive framework linking mitochondrial metabolism, aging, and age-related diseases across multiple tissues and organ systems, ultimately enabling the discovery of novel therapeutic strategies to promote healthy longevity and metabolic health.