Skip to content
CIFAR header logo
fr
menu_mobile_logo_alt
  • About
    • Our Story
    • CIFAR 40
    • Awards
    • Partnerships
    • President’s Message
    • Publications & Reports
    • Careers
    • Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
  • News
  • People
    • Fellows & Advisors
    • CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars
    • Canada CIFAR AI Chairs
    • AI Strategy Leadership
    • Solution Network Members
    • Staff Directory
    • Leadership
  • Programs
    • Research Programs
    • Pan-Canadian AI Strategy
    • Next Generation Initiatives
    • Global Call for Ideas
    • Action on Covid-19
  • Events
    • Public Events
    • Invitation-only Meetings
  • Support Us
  • fr
  • Home
  • Bio

Follow Us

post_content

Hyun Youk

Appointment

  • CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2018-2020
  • Molecular Architecture of Life

Connect

Website

About

What determines when an organism dies and whether there are mechanisms, as yet unknown, to revive an organism after death are captivating questions that force us to examine what distinguishes the living from non-living matter.

Driven by these questions, Hyun Youk’s laboratory investigates the principles and molecular mechanisms that enable various cells to autonomously and collectively determine how they grow, live, die and revive themselves. Youk is particularly interested in molecular mechanisms inside cells and communication among cells that regulate their genes and, in turn, cause a cell to transition between life and death. For this research, his team performs experiments on naturally existing and genetically engineered bacteria, baker’s yeast, and embryonic stem cells. To help interpret their experiments and provide a framework to understand their data, the team builds mathematical models and new physics-inspired frameworks for living systems. Through an interplay between the theories and experiments, they ultimately hope to productively address a basic question: “What does it mean to be living or dead?”

Awards

  • International Union of Physics and Applied Physics (IUPAP) Young
  • Scientist Prize in Biological Physics, 2017
  • Dutch Science Organization (NWO) Vidi Award, 2016
  • European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant, 2015
  • Damon Runyon Fellowship Award, 2011
  • Finalist, American Physical Society's (APS) Best PhD Thesis in Biological Physics, 2010

Relevant Publications

  • Olimpio, E.P., Y. Dang and H. Youk. “Statistical dynamics of spatial-order formation by communicating cells.” iScience (2018).

  • Doganer, B. A., L. K. Q. Yan and H. Youk. “Autocrine signaling and quorum sensing: Extreme ends of a common spectrum.” Trends in Cell Biology (2016).

  • Maire, T. and H. Youk. “Molecular-level tuning of cellular autonomy controls the collective behaviors of cell populations.” Cell Systems (2015).

  • Youk, H. and W. A. Lim. “Secreting and sensing the same molecule allows cells to achieve versatile social behaviors.” Science (2014).

  • Youk, H. and A. van Oudenaarden. “Growth landscape formed by perception and import of glucose in yeast.” Nature (2009).

Institution

  • University of Massachusetts

Department

Department of Systems Biology

Education

  • PhD (Physics), Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • MSc (Astronomy and Physics), Johns Hopkins University
  • Hon BSc (Mathematics and Physics), University of Toronto

Country

  • United States

Support Us

CIFAR is a registered charitable organization supported by the governments of Canada, Alberta and Quebec, as well as foundations, individuals, corporations and Canadian and international partner organizations.

Donate Now
CIFAR header logo

Subscribe

Stay up to date on news & ideas from CIFAR.

MaRS Centre, West Tower
661 University Ave., Suite 505
Toronto, ON M5G 1M1 Canada

Contact Us
Media
Careers
Accessibility Policies
Supporters
Financial Reports
Subscribe

  • © Copyright 2022 CIFAR. All Rights Reserved.
  • Charitable Registration Number: 11921 9251 RR0001
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to collect information about how you interact with our website and allow us to remember you. We use this information in order to improve and customize your browsing experience and for analytics and metrics about our visitors both on this website and other media. To find out more about the cookies we use, see our Privacy Policy.
Accept Learn more