Bio

Biology 

UAC Courses: BIOL 1010 – Biology in the 21st Century, BIOL 1030 – Human Biology

Email: hyejoo.kwon@utah.edu
Office Location: U725

Dr. Hye-Joo Kwon is an associate professor of Biology at the University of Utah Asia Campus. Dr. Kwon graduated from Seoul National University, where she obtained a B.S. (summa cum laude) in Biology, an M.A. in Science Education, and a Ph.D. in Biological Science (with a focus on developmental genetics). She went on to her first postdoctoral research at Ewha Womans University in the area of brain and cognitive sciences, and she was a postdoctoral scholar at Texas A&M University in the field of sensory organ development. Dr. Kwon took a faculty position at Princess Nourah University (PNU) in 2010 and taught courses in genetics and molecular biology at the graduate and undergraduate levels. At PNU, she also served as a biology coordinator for the foundation year program for health colleges. Right before arriving at the University of Utah Asia Campus, she was a medical geneticist at 3billion, a biotech company specializing in rare genetic disease diagnosis working with AI. Her recent research interests include the role of vitamin D receptor signaling in development and the gut-brain interplay (e.g., antibiotic-induced behavior changes). Living and working in various cultures around the world, she embraces interdisciplinary approaches to education and research. She loves music and enjoys playing both classical piano pieces following tradition and contemporary music by ear. She is also interested in baking fancy desserts, watching all kinds of sports, and learning foreign languages.