Trainee Tuesday – Kyuhyun Choi

Here at the Autism Spectrum Program of Excellence (ASPE), we take pride in our leading team of clinicians, scientists, and trainees. Our trainees include a multi-disciplined group of Postdoctoral Fellows, Undergraduate and Graduate Students, Clinical Research Coordinators, Data Analysts, and Research Specialists. 

At ASPE, not only do our trainees have the opportunity to apply what they are learning to meaningful scientific research, but they are also encouraged to explore professional and scientific opportunities to lead them to successful scientific careers at both Penn and beyond.  

Our trainees do not go unnoticed for their exceptional achievements, ongoing commitment to ASPE, and substantial contributions made to the research community. 

Welcome to Trainee Tuesday! This feature will act as a space to recognize and celebrate our exceptional trainees.

For our next Trainee Tuesday, meet Kyuhyun Choi – Research Associate in the Fuccillo Lab!

For the past three years, Kyuhyun has been a member of the Fuccillo Lab here at ASPE. During this time, he has collaborated heavily with many different labs within ASPE.

Now, he is about to start a new chapter as faculty in the physiology department at Hallym University School of Medicine in South Korea. Best of luck, Kyuhyun!

Continue reading to learn about the exciting research that Kyuhyun has been a part of over the years here at ASPE!

1. How many years have you been with ASPE? Under what role/s?  

3 years, from 2022 to 2024.

2. What ASPE lab/s are you a part of?

My scientific habitat in the Fuccillo lab spans CRB rooms 215 and 230, adapting to the task at hand. Room 230, adjacent to Marc’s office, serves as my electrophysiology hub. This proximity is a double-edged sword – great for quick consultations with Marc, but I sometimes worry about disrupting him with frequent questions. It’s also where I engage in stimulating discussions with our grad students: Luigim, Jamie, Evan, and Sarah. We often find ourselves bouncing ideas off each other, creating a vibrant atmosphere of scientific exchange.

When it’s time for behavioral data analysis, my habitat shifts to room 215. This space holds fond memories of both scientific breakthroughs and personal connections. It’s where I’ve formed bonds with lab mates like Edgar, Nathan (who’s now with the Ben Prosser lab), and Myra (currently at NYU). We’ve spent countless hours here, our conversations seamlessly blending scientific discourse with personal anecdotes.

Overall, the Fuccillo lab has evolved into a thriving ecosystem. We’ve cultivated an environment that strikes a perfect balance between productivity and camaraderie in our shared scientific habitat. It’s this unique blend that makes our lab not just a workplace, but a true scientific home.

3. Tell us a bit about your responsibilities as a Research Associate at ASPE.  

My research focuses on the synaptic pathophysiology of ASD, leveraging my expertise in electrophysiology using acute brain slices. Currently, I’m involved in two main projects:

In collaboration with the Erica Korb lab, I’m investigating the role of Zswim6 (zinc finger SWIM-type containing 6) in striatal excitatory synaptic inputs. This gene is associated with both ASD and SCZ, making it a valuable target for understanding these neurodevelopmental disorders.

I’m also leading a project examining the KMT2C gene (Lysine Methyltransferase 2C), which is involved in epigenetic regulation. This work is being conducted in partnership with Zhaolan Zhou’s lab. KMT2C’s role in modifying gene expression makes it a promising candidate for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying ASD.

These projects combine my electrophysiological skills with cutting-edge genetic and epigenetic approaches, aiming to unravel the complex neurobiological underpinnings of ASD and related disorders.

4. What made you join the ASPE team?

As a member of the Fuccillo lab, which focuses on striatal development, I became intrigued by striatal function early in my postdoctoral work. Over time, my interest has evolved towards studying striatal circuit-related aspects of neurological disorders. One of our key hypotheses is that striatal circuits play a significant role in autism.

Many autism studies have shown insufficient correlation between synaptic phenotypes and behavioral outputs. Recognizing this gap, I realized that my graduate specialty in synaptic pathophysiology could be advantageous in advancing autism research. To leverage this expertise, I requested to join the ASPE (Autism Spectrum Program of Excellence) team. This collaboration allows me to both contribute to and benefit from ASPE resources: I can provide support to other projects within the program while also receiving valuable assistance for my own research.

This approach enables me to apply my specialized knowledge in synaptic function to the complex field of autism research, potentially uncovering new insights into the relationship between synaptic abnormalities and behavioral manifestations in ASD.

5. Can you share a bit about your educational background, and any future academic or professional plans?

I earned my biology degree from Kyung Hee University in Seoul, South Korea, in 2009. My academic trajectory took an exciting turn in my junior year when I encountered Dr. Ki Soon Shin’s “ion channel” class. It was so captivating that I couldn’t resist joining his lab for graduate school.

My graduate research focused on the role of HCN channels in Pavlovian fear memory. I discovered that presynaptically localized HCN channel 4 regulates a presynaptic form of long-term potentiation by maintaining membrane potential. I also studied circuit-level modulation of rhythmic entrainment in the medial habenula neuronal population, orchestrated by both ionotropic GABAA and metabotropic GABAB channels. This background has proven invaluable in my current work on synaptic pathophysiology in ASD mouse models for the ASPE program.

Exciting changes are on the horizon! This September, I’ll be starting a new chapter as faculty in the physiology department at Hallym University School of Medicine in South Korea. I’ll be teaching medical students and running my own lab – a thrilling step up from juggling patch pipette!

I’m looking forward to maintaining connections with ASPE after this transition. Who knows? You might even see me back at Penn someday, sharing tales of my latest neuroscientific adventures.

6. What’s been the most interesting thing you have gotten the chance to work on at ASPE?

While investigating Kmt2c cortical functions in autistic behavior, I stumbled upon something truly exciting that isn’t quite ready to share with the world yet. But rest assured, this discovery has got my scientific gears whirring. Now, I’m on the edge of my lab stool, eager to see how gene recovery data will look when we better understand this discovery. It’s like waiting for the finale of your favorite science show. We might be on the brink of unraveling a key mystery in autism research. Fingers crossed!

7. What was the most valuable thing you learned during your time at ASPE?

The ASPE team is a treasure trove of collaborative possibilities – don’t let them slip by! Be proactive and reach out; there’s likely someone in the network who can boost your project. Remember, in research, the early bird catches the worm!

Don’t sleep on these chances. Put yourself out there and start connecting with your ASPE colleagues. You never know what brilliant collaborations might spark from a simple conversation!

While I’m still discovering ASPE’s full potential as a research program, one thing’s clear: if we all keep grabbing these opportunities, ASPE could become the world’s leading ASD research hub. Let’s seize the day and make it happen!

8. Fun fact you’d like to share?

I am not going to be in US when you read this (?!).