Overview

Changbong Hyeon works mostly on theoretical and computational studies of biological systems. The emergence of life from individual physicochemical processes of cellular constituents is a major outstanding question in biophysics. The research interests of this group lie in the dynamics of DNA, RNA, and proteins at the single molecule level, as well as in the interactions among these molecules in giant macromolecular complexes such as chromosomes. Studies towards understanding how the interactions between self-organized biopolymers contribute to the emergence of life at nonequilibrium in which energy is continuously injected in and dissipated out of the system are a long-term research goal. Major contributions have recently been made in areas such as: (i) the physical principles underlying molecular motors, (ii) the origin of heterogeneity in biomolecular processes, and (iii) nonequilibrium thermodynamics in living systems.