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HYoo Lab
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT

 

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MEMBERS

Heejin Yoo, Ph.D.

Principle Investigator

Assistant Professor, Oklahoma State University (2019-)

Postdoctoral Associate, Duke University (2014-2019)

Ph,D., Purdue University (2008-2014)

B.S., Seoul National University (2004-2008)

heejin.yoo@okstate.edu

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Kelsey Crutison

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Hello, I am an undergraduate student at Oklahoma Student University. I am a junior student. I changed my major from computer science to plant biology: pre-pharmacy. I joined Yoo lab as an undergraduate research assistant in September of 2019. I’m excited to start doing research in Yoo Lab. I enjoy playing golf, and my future goals is to be able to practice pharmaceuticals.

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Zoe Siebert

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Hello, I am an undergraduate student at Oklahoma State University. I am a freshman majoring in Plant Biology: Pre-Pharmacy and minoring in Spanish. I joined Yoo lab as an undergraduate research assistant in September of 2019. I received the Freshman Research Scholars scholarship which has allowed me to become apart of and help conduct research in Yoo Lab.

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Hello, I am an undergraduate student in the Department of Integrative Biology at Oklahoma Student University. I am a junior majoring in biology with a minor in microbiology. I joined the Yoo lab in the Spring of 2020 and am looking forward to working in the lab and learning more about plant biology. After graduation, I’m hoping to pursue a career in pathogenic research.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Emma Philbin

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Stephanie C. Stephenson

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Hello, I am an undergraduate student at Oklahoma State University.  I joined Yoo lab in the Fall semester of 2020.

MEMBERS

Ph.D. student since 2023 May

School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah

Lorenzo Mena

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Jiyeon Hyun

Ph.D. student since 2023 May

School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah

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Amanda Navodani 

Rabia Ahuja

Master student since 2021 Spring

Department of Plant Biology, Ecology, and Evolution, Oklahoma State University

Master student since 2021 Spring

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*Research Assistant during the 2023 Summer

at the University of Utah

*Research Assistant during the 2022, 2023 Summer

at the University of Utah

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Alyssa Marie Curtis

Undergraduate researcher since 2022 Spring

School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah

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Akila Chalapathi

Undergraduate researcher since 2022 Spring

School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah

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Janint Camacho

Undergraduate researcher since 2022 Fall

School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah

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Haley Welker

Undergraduate researcher since 2023 Spring

School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah

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SRI Undergraduate researcher since 2023 Spring

Ella Smith

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SRI Undergraduate researcher since 2023 Spring

Kara Nicola

Mariana Lico De Freitas

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Yu-An (Andy) Chan

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SRI Undergraduate researcher since 2023 Spring

SRI Undergraduate researcher since 2023 Spring

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Yoo Family & Yoo Labs' key personnel

Main affilation: Ukids 

Aiden Jihoon Yoo

ALUMNI

Research Assistant

Postdoc Associate

Graduate Students

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Saborni Maiti, Ph.D.

2022.07-2023.04

Samuel Marston

Rotation students

Lauren Eads

Kate Christensen

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Jiyeon Hyun

​ School of Biological Sciences, UofU

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Molecular Biology Program, UofU

Lorenzo Mena

2022.08 - 2022.10

2022.10 - 2022.12

2022.10 - 2022.12

2022.10 - 2022.12

Undergraduate Students

PBEE, Okstate

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Zoe Siebert

2019.09 - 2021.12

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Kelsey Crutison

Rachel Crittell

2019.09 - 2021.12

2019.09 - 2020.05, 

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Stephanie C.

Ryan Lundy

Megan Adler

2021.01-05

2020.08 - 2021.05

2020.08 - 2021.12

2021.01-12

Stephenson

PBEE, Okstate

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 2020.08 - 12

Maddi Evans 

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2020.01 - 2021.05

Emma Philbin

2020.01 - 12

Eli Valentine 

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2021.10 - 12

Darci Peach

Claire Sailoung Palmer

Integrative Biology, Okstate

Nutritional Sciences, Okstate

SBS, UofU

2022.08 - 12

High School Students

Morrison High School

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Vanesa Bedolla

Kylie Spradling

2021.06-08

2021.09-12

Home: Lab Members

Heejin Yoo, Ph.D.

Principle Investigator

Assistant Professor, The University of Utah (2022.01-)

Assistant Professor, Oklahoma State University (2019.8-2021.12)

Postdoctoral Associate, Duke University (2014.8-2019.8)

Ph,D., Purdue University (2008.8-2014.5)

B.S., Seoul National University (2004.3-2008.2)

heejin.yoo@utah.edu

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Home: News & Resources

2019 Fall 

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2020 Spring 

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2020 Fall 

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2021 Spring & Summer 

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2021 Fall

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2022 Spring & Summer

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2022 Fall semester

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2023 Spring semester

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Home: Research

Research

Plant Metabolism and Immunity

We are interested in studying the dynamic regulation of plant metabolism and immunity for balancing plant growth and defense. Our research is focused on how plants coordinate metabolic pathways and defense mechanisms to optimize plant growth and defense. Since plants do not have specialized immune cells, plants need to allocate their energy and resource properly to either growth or defense depending on environmental conditions. Our research is to understand the underlying mechanisms through transcriptional and translational regulation, and metabolic dynamics during plant innate immunity. This research will ultimately enhance our knowledge of molecular mechanisms and interactions between defense signaling and metabolic regulation to optimize or maximize crop yield and disease resistance. Specifically, projects in our lab include; 1) Global translatome analysis using ribosome profiling during plant systemic immunity, 2) Functional analysis of metabolic pathways during plant immune response, and 3) the role helper NB-LRR for plant immune mechanisms.

Global Translatome analysis using ribosome profiling during plant systemic immunity

Functional analysis of metabolic pathways during plant immune response

 

The role of helper NB-LRR for plant immune mechanisms

Publications

January 17, 2022

Chu C, Huang R, Liu L, Tang G, Xiao J, Yoo H, and Yuan M. (2022) Plant, Cell & Environment

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August 17, 2021

Yoo H*, Shrivastava S*, Lynch JH*, Huang D, Widhalm JR, Guo L, Carter BC, Qian Y, Maeda HA, Ogas J, Morgan JA, Marshall-Colón A, and Dudareva N. (2021) The Plant Journal  *Co-first authors

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January 6, 2020

Yoo H*, Greene GH*, Yuan M*, Xu G, Burton D, Liu L, Marqués J and Dong X. (2020) Molecular Plant 

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May 17, 2017

Xu G*, Greene GH*, Yoo H*, Liu L, Marqués J, Motley J and Dong X. (2017) Nature 545:487–490 

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September 10, 2015

Widhalm JR, Gutensohn M, Yoo H, Adebesin F, Qian Y, Longyun G, Rohit J, Joseph HL, McCoy RM, Shreve JT, Thimmapuram J, Rhodes D, Morgan JA, and Dudareva N. (2015) Nat. Comm. 6:8142

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July 28, 2015

Zheng XY*, Zhou M*, Yoo H*, Pruneda-Paz JL, Spivey NW, Kay SA and Dong X. (2015) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 112:9166-9173 

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November 23, 2013

Yoo H, Widhalm J, Qian Y, Maeda H, Cooper BR, Jannasch AS, Gonda I, Lewinsohn E, Rhodes D, and Dudareva N. (2013) Nat. Comm. 4:2833

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January, 2011

Maeda H, Yoo H, and Doudareva N. (2011) Nat. Chem. Biol. 7:19-21.

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July 1, 2010

Ganguly A, Lee SH, Cho MS, Lee OR, Yoo H, and Cho HT. (2010) Plant Physiol. 153:1046-1061

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Home: Publications
Home: Open Positions
Home: Image

News

2023.04.11

Janint Camacho received the Summer 2023 semester Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) award. Congratulations!

2023.04.08

Amanda Navodani has received the 2023 Women's Faculty Council Student Research Award. Congratulations!

2023.01.10

Haley Welker Joins the lab as an ACCESS scholar. Ella Smith, Kara Nicola, Mariana Lico De Freitas, and Yu-An (Andy) Chan join the lab via SRI stream. Welcome to the HYoo lab!

2022.12.07

Akila Chalapathi, Alyssa Marie Curtis, and Janint Camacho received the Spring 2023 semester Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) award. Congratulations!

2022.10.24

Lorenzo Mena, Lauren Eads, and Kate Christensen Joins the lab as a Fall rotation student. Welcome to the HYoo lab! 

2022.10.13

Amanda Navodani has been selected as a winner of the 3MT competition from the College of Art & Science at Oklahoma State University. Congratulations!

2022.08.29

Jiyeon Hyun joins the lab as a Fall rotation student. Welcome to the HYoo lab! 

2022.08.22

Claire Sailoung Palmer and Janint Camacho join the lab as Undergraduate Research Assistants. Welcome to the HYoo lab! 

2022.08.16

Dr. Saborni Maiti joins the lab as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. Welcome to the HYoo lab! 

2022.08.03

Akila Chalapathi and Claire Sailoung Palmer received the Fall 2022 semester Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) award. Congratulations!

2022.07.11

Samuel Marston joins the lab as a Research Assistant. Welcome to the HYoo lab! 

2022.05.06

Zoe Siebert earned the Bachelor's Degree! Congratulations on your graduation!

2022.03.02

Akila Chalapathi joins the lab as an Undergraduate Research Assistant. Welcome to the HYoo lab! 

2022.02.16

Alyssa Marie Curtis joins the lab as an Undergraduate Research Assistant. Welcome to the HYoo lab! 

2022.01.01

Heejin Yoo lab is relocated to the University of Utah at Salt Lake City. Our lab is looking for postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduate students. 

2021.12.10

Kelsey Crutison and Megan Adler earned their Bachelor's Degrees!
Congratulations on your graduation!

2021.10.11

Darci Peach joins the lab as Undergraduate Research Assistants. Welcome to the Yoo lab! 

2021.09.13

Kylie Spradling joins the lab. She is a Morrison High School student and plans to do research in Yoo Lab during 2021 Fall semester. Welcome to the Yoo lab!

2021.06.29

Vanesa Bedolla joins the lab. She is a Morrison High School student and plans to do summer research in Yoo Lab. Welcome to the Yoo lab!

2021.05.08

Emma Philbin and Ryan Lundy earned their Bachelor's Degrees!
Congratulations on your graduation!

2021.04.08

Zoe Siebert has received the 2021 Women's Faculty Council Student Research Award. Congratulations!

2021.04.05

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Positions Available

***Important Notice*** - Please avoid the use of the 'Let's chat' / 'Contact Us' option. 

The laboratory of Dr. Heejin Yoo is seeking highly motivated postdoc, graduate and undergraduate students. The research in Yoo lab is to understand molecular mechanisms of how plants control translational regulation and metabolic dynamics during plant innate immunity. We will explore novel genes and defense mechanisms linked to the regulation of metabolic pathways, which will be applied to crop plants to improve disease resistance and yield. 

 

Main interested in the research on the regulatory mechanism of salicylic acids in plants and translational regulation during plant systemic immunity are encouraged to apply. Experience in CRISPR gene editing and bioinformatic analysis using RNA-seq and Ribo-seq is desirable for postdoc application. 

Postdoc associate

Please contact Dr. Yoo directly (heejin.yoo@biology.utah.edu) with the attachment of a CV and a statement of your research experience/accomplishment including Laboratory Experience and Skills.​​

Graduate students 

Anyone who is interested in HYoo Lab needs to apply through the Molecular, Cellular, & Evolutionary Biology (MCEB) program at the School of Biological Sciences or Molecular Biology (MB) of Bioscience Graduate programs. After admission, please contact Dr. Yoo ((heejin.yoo@biology.utah.edu) if you are interested in rotation.

How to apply for MCEB program: https://www.biology.utah.edu/graduate-admissions/

How to apply for MB program: https://bioscience.utah.edu/prospective/guidelines.php

Undergraduate Researchers

10-15 hours per week is expected for undergraduate research. 

Please contact Dr. Yoo directly (heejin.yoo@biology.utah.edu) with the attachment of a CV. 

 

Dr. Yoo has received the 2021 Arthur C. Neish Young Investigator Award from Phytochemical Society of North America (PSNA). Congratulations!

2021.04.01

Dr. Yoo has received the 2021 ICAR Early Career Award from The North American Arabidopsis Steering Committee (NAASC). Congratulations!

2021.03.26

Dr. Yoo’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Student Technology Fee proposal has been selected for funding from CAS, Oklahoma State University. This grant will be used to establish the Volatile Collection System to analyze volatile organic compounds from plants. Congratulations!

2021.03.24

Dr. Yoo's FY22 College of Arts and Sciences Research (ASR) Program proposal was selected for funding. Congratulations!

2021.03.03

Rachel Crittell has been awarded the PBEE Undergraduate Scholarship. Congratulations!

2021.02.28

2021.01.19

Rabia Ahuja and Amanda Navodani join the lab as the First Graduate Students. 
Ryan Lundy joins the lab as an Undergraduate Research Assistant.
Welcome to the Yoo lab! 
Rachel Crittell re-joins the lab as an Undergraduate Research Assistant. Welcome back! 

2020.08.17

Megan Adler, Maddi Evans, and Stephanie C. Stephenson join the lab as Undergraduate Research Assistants. Welcome to the Yoo lab! 

2020.05.08

Rachel Crittell has received Deacon Bill Dunbar Memorial Scholarship. Congratulations!
 

2020.04.07

Zoe Siebert has received Library Research Award. Congratulations!

2020.01.21

Emma Philbin joins the lab as an Undergraduate Research Assistant. Welcome to the Yoo lab! 

2020.01.13

Eli Valentine joins the lab as an Undergraduate Research Assistant. Welcome to the Yoo lab! 

2019.12.05

Dr. Yoo has received FY 2020 Spring Travel Award from the CAS, Oklahoma State University. Congratulations!

2019.09.13

Rachel Crittell and  Zoe Siebert join the lab as Freshmen Research Scholars. Welcome to the Yoo lab! 

2019.09.01

Kelsey Crutison joins the lab as the FIRST Undergraduate Research Assistant. Welcome to the Yoo lab! 

2019.08.16

First day of the Yoo lab!

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Contact Us

School of Biological Sciences
The University of Utah

Aline Skaggs Biology Building (ASB)
257 1400 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84112

Phone: 801-581-7882
Research Lab: ASB 460
Office: ASB 462A

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