DANDRITE Alumnus: "DANDRITE has shown that neuroscience can be studied in many different and diverse perspectives"
During six formative years at DANDRITE as part of Nykjær Lab, Dongik gained deep interdisciplinary training and developed a broader scientific perspective. Skills that are now central to his role as a tenured assistant professor at Ghent University Global Campus Korea.
After completing his bachelor’s and master’s studies in South Korea, Dongik pursued his PhD at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry in Germany, where he investigated biomarkers for predicting antidepressant treatment response. Although his findings were clinically relevant, he was eager to explore the mechanistic underpinnings of psychiatric disorders—an interest that led him to Denmark and the Nykjær Lab at DANDRITE.
During six formative years at DANDRITE, Dongik gained deep interdisciplinary training and developed a broader scientific perspective. Collaborating with skilled colleagues, he expanded his knowledge and initiated research that bridged neuroscience with fields like parasite and microbiome biology. His time in Denmark also honed his skills in education and leadership—skills that are now central to his role as a tenured assistant professor at Ghent University Global Campus Korea.
In his current position, Dongik enjoys the freedom to design courses, lead outreach programs for students, and establish a new research lab from the ground up. He credits DANDRITE for instilling in him a collaborative spirit and a commitment to multidisciplinary science. Looking ahead, he envisions building a dynamic international research group focused on omics, systems biology, and neuroscience.
Dongik’s advice to future academics?
“DANDRITE and Danish institutions offer room to grow as a researcher while supporting a well-balanced life. The experience you gain there will be a lasting asset—wherever your career takes you.”