Dr Min-Kyeung Choi

About me:

Postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Exeter, based on Living Systems Institute (LSI), investigating how early-life stress shapes adult brain function through genomic and epigenomic mechanisms.

During my Ph.D., I transitioned from a focused role in animal genomics in mammals during my PhD to a multidisciplinary expertise encompassing neurobiology, epigenetics, and bioinformatics in zebrafish.

Developmental exposure to glucocorticoids (dGCs), critical stress hormones regulating homeostasis, has been linked to long-term health issues, including neurodegeneration, neuropsychiatric disorders, and accelerated ageing. Despite its importance, the molecular mechanisms driving these outcomes remain poorly understood. Emerging evidence highlights genomic dysregulation, disruptions in both the genome integrity and epigenetic landscapes, as a critical factor connecting early-life stress to adult health risks.

My research utilises zebrafish models to explore cortisol-induced molecular stress responses, hypothalamic development, and behavioural changes using single-cell level multiomics and histological analysis.

Interests:

• Genomic and epigenetic mechanisms for primed alterations leading to adulthood health problems following early life stress exposure.
• Genomic dysregulation, disruptions in both the genome integrity and epigenetic landscapes, established by developmental stress hormone exposure in the brain.
• Transgenerational effects following early life stress exposure.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D., Genomics (Animal Biotechnology), Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.
• B.Agr., Animal Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea