Research
Research Projects
1. Evolutionary processes in fossil hominin skeletal morphologies
This research will test several complementary hypotheses on the role of natural selection in human evolution. The hypotheses will be tested using quantitative genetics (QG) methods designed to study the evolution of complex phenotypic traits. Existing QG methods will be applied to discriminate between directional selection and neutral evolutionary processes.
Example: Testing adaptive hypotheses of Plio-Pleistocene hominin craniofacial evolution using measurements of the skull that are informative about feeding biomechanics (PI: Dr. Karen Baab; Project collaborators: Drs. David Strait and Campbell Rolian).
1. Evolutionary processes in fossil hominin skeletal morphologies
This research will test several complementary hypotheses on the role of natural selection in human evolution. The hypotheses will be tested using quantitative genetics (QG) methods designed to study the evolution of complex phenotypic traits. Existing QG methods will be applied to discriminate between directional selection and neutral evolutionary processes.
Example: Testing adaptive hypotheses of Plio-Pleistocene hominin craniofacial evolution using measurements of the skull that are informative about feeding biomechanics (PI: Dr. Karen Baab; Project collaborators: Drs. David Strait and Campbell Rolian).
2. Morphological integration/modularity and its evolutionary consequences
The purpose of this project is to apply the theoretical framework of morphological integration and modularity to the axial skeleton. This project intends to overcome the limitations of previous studies on axial skeletal integration, such as the “cranium-centric” trend in primate studies and the narrow phylogenetic focus on particular taxa (e.g., hominoids).
Example: Morphological modularity in the anthropoid axial skeleton (Jung and von Cramon-Taubadel, 2022).
The purpose of this project is to apply the theoretical framework of morphological integration and modularity to the axial skeleton. This project intends to overcome the limitations of previous studies on axial skeletal integration, such as the “cranium-centric” trend in primate studies and the narrow phylogenetic focus on particular taxa (e.g., hominoids).
Example: Morphological modularity in the anthropoid axial skeleton (Jung and von Cramon-Taubadel, 2022).
3. The correlated evolution in axial skeletal morphologies using viability selection modeling
This research investigates the patterns and processes in simulations that how viability selection acting on selective regimes of specific axial skeletal regions/functional modules causes correlated evolution in other measurements.
Example: Evaluation of the correlated evolution in skull functional modules (Jung et al., in prep).
This research investigates the patterns and processes in simulations that how viability selection acting on selective regimes of specific axial skeletal regions/functional modules causes correlated evolution in other measurements.
Example: Evaluation of the correlated evolution in skull functional modules (Jung et al., in prep).
4. The relationship between locomotor behaviors and vertebral morphologies/formulae
For this research subject, I integrate functional morphological principles and (geometric) morphometric datasets with phylogenetic comparative approaches.
Example: Phylogenetic and functional signal in prezygapophyseal articular facet shape of the first post-transitional vertebra in anthropoids (Jung et al., 2022).
For this research subject, I integrate functional morphological principles and (geometric) morphometric datasets with phylogenetic comparative approaches.
Example: Phylogenetic and functional signal in prezygapophyseal articular facet shape of the first post-transitional vertebra in anthropoids (Jung et al., 2022).
5. Bioarchaeology in ancient populations in Korean Peninsula
I aim to reconstruct the socio-cultural aspects and standards of living of past populations in the Korean Peninsula based on human remains.
Example: Study of artificial cranial deformation (ACD) in Yean-ri site (4th-7th ACE) in Korea (Jung and Woo, 2017).
I aim to reconstruct the socio-cultural aspects and standards of living of past populations in the Korean Peninsula based on human remains.
Example: Study of artificial cranial deformation (ACD) in Yean-ri site (4th-7th ACE) in Korea (Jung and Woo, 2017).
6. Development of forensic anthropology techniques
I am working on developing forensic anthropology techniques using skeletal morphology.
Example: Evaluation of mastoid process as sex indicator in modern white Americans using geometric morphometrics (Jung and Woo, 2016).
I am working on developing forensic anthropology techniques using skeletal morphology.
Example: Evaluation of mastoid process as sex indicator in modern white Americans using geometric morphometrics (Jung and Woo, 2016).
Technical skills
Research Experience
2021 – Current: Postdoctoral Fellow
Collections-based research
- Statistical software: R, MATLAB, SPSS, PAST.
- Morphometrics software: 3D Slicer (Slicermorph), Landmark editor, MeshMixer, MeshLab, Avizo, Geomagic, MorphoJ, Morphologika, TPS.
- Hardware: Artec 3D scanner, HDI 3D scanner, NextEngine 3D scanner, MicroScribe digitizer.
Research Experience
2021 – Current: Postdoctoral Fellow
- Testing Adaptive Hypotheses of Plio-Pleistocene Hominin Craniofacial Evolution (PI: Dr. Baab, K).
- Collected 3D scans of fossil hominins, modern humans, and great apes and conducted statistical analyses and computer simulations.
- Morphological integration/modularity and its evolutionary consequences.
- Collected 3D scans of the anthropoid axial skeleton and conducted statistical analyses.
- Paleopathological identification of infectious diseases in human skeletal remains from ancient Korea. SNUF #200-20150031 (PI: Dr. Pak, S).
- Investigated infectious diseases in human skeletal remains and analyzed the diseases associated with their demographic backgrounds (i.e., age and sex).
- The study of cranial shape of Joseon Dynasty population, Korea, using geometric morphometrics. NRF #200-20140022 (PI: Dr. Pak, S)
- Collected coordinates data using MicroScribe G2X and conducted a statistical analysis using the geometric morphometric method.
- Database of skeletal remains from ancient burials in Korea. NRF #0524-20120019 (PI: Dr. Lee, J)
- Collected sex, age, metric/non-metric, and pathology data from skeletal remains and arranged information for data analysis.
- History written in bones: physical traits, paleopathology, and their social implications of the human skeletal remains from ancient burials. SNUF #100-20120138 (PI: Dr. Lee, J)
- Collected sex, age, metric/non-metric, and pathology data from skeletal remains and performed a statistical analysis to investigate the relationship between skeletal information and social status.
- Study of the relationship between dental pathologies and mortuary practices. (PI: Dr. Pak, S)
- Arranged dental pathology data for analysis.
Collections-based research
- 2021.10 – 2022.10: Center for Archaeology and Society Repository at the School of Human Evolution and Social Change at Arizona State University, AZ; Institute of Human Origins at Arizona State University, AZ; Field Museum of Natural History (Zoology), IL; Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (Mammalogy), Washington DC; American Museum of Natural History (Anthropology; Mammalogy), NY.
- 2019.01 – 2020.03 in USA: Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology (Mammalogy), MA; American Museum of Natural History (Mammalogy), NY; Cleveland Museum of Natural History (Anthropology), OH; Field Museum of Natural History (Zoology), IL; Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (Mammalogy), Washington DC; Forensic Anthropology Center at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN; Neil C. Tappen Primate skeletal collection at the Department of Anthropology at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN.
- 2016.07 in Thailand: Department of Anatomy (Physical anthropology), Medical School, Chulalongkorn University.
- 2012.11 – 2016.06 in South Korea: Yeungnam University Museum (Anthropology); Pusan National University Museum (Anthropology); Department of Archaeology at the Chungbuk National University; Department of Anthropology at the Seoul National University; College of Dentistry at the Yonsei University.