Research Interests
Keywords: Hi-C, Chromatin architecture, Neuropsychiatric disorders, Substance use disorder, Functional Genomics, Massively parallel reporter assay
We try to bridge the gap between genetic risk factors for psychiatric illnesses and neurobiological mechanisms by decoding the regulatory relationships of the non-coding genome. In particular, we implement Hi-C, a genome-wide chromosome conformation capture technique, to identify the folding principle of the genome in human brain. We then leverage this information to identify the functional impacts of the common variants associated with neuropsychiatric disorders.
Mentor Training:
- Bias 101
Training Program Affiliations:
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
- Genetics and Molecular Biology
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Publications
Hyejung Won in UNC Genetics News

February 6, 2025
Department of Genetics Publications for January 19th – February 1st, 2025
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 17 papers during January 19th - February 1st 2025.

January 23, 2025
Eight Psychiatric Disorders Share the Same Genetic Causes, Study Says
Building off previous groundbreaking research, a new study identifies specific genetic variants that have significant impacts on brain development and are shared across eight different psychiatric disorders. Targeting these variants could pave the way for treatments that address multiple conditions at once.

December 16, 2024
Department of Genetics Publications for November 24th – December 7th, 2024
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 17 papers during November 24th - December 7th, 2024.

June 10, 2024
Department of Genetics Publications for May 12th – June 8th, 2024
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 23 papers during May 12th - June 8th 2024.

March 17, 2024
Department of Genetics Publications for March 3rd – 16th, 2024
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 13 papers during March 3rd - 16th 2024.

December 11, 2023
UNC BCB and GMB Graduate Students Baran, Flores, McAfee, and Szymanski Volunteer as UNC Ambassadors in the Shadow a Scientist program
On November 29, UNC graduate students Kerstin Baran, JP Flores, Jessica McAfee, and Rachel Szymanski, volunteered their time and expertise for a Shadow a Scientist outreach event held on the UNC Chapel Hill campus.

December 4, 2023
Department of Genetics Publications for November 19th – December 2nd, 2023
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 18 papers during November 19th - December 2nd 2023.

November 16, 2023
Marielle Bond (GMB Graduate Student) Wins People’s Choice Award at Three Minute Thesis Competition
Congratulations to Genetics and Molecular Biology Graduate Student Marielle Bond in the labs of Doug Phanstiel (Cell Biology and Physiology) and Hyejung Won (Genetics), for receiving the “People’s Choice Award” at the 2023 Three Minute Thesis Competition!

November 5, 2023
Department of Genetics Publications for October 22nd – November 4th, 2023
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 9 papers during October 22nd - November 4th 2023.

September 25, 2023
Department of Genetics Publications for September 10th – 23rd, 2023
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 7 papers during September 10th - 23rd 2023.