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

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.

September 18, 2023
Scientists Take Next Big Step in Understanding Genetics of Schizophrenia
Led by Hyejung Won, PhD, UNC School of Medicine researchers and colleagues developed a new research model to glean a deeper understanding of the genetic variants implicated in schizophrenia, including how genes are turned on or off to affect health and disease.

September 11, 2023
Department of Genetics Publications for August 27th – September 9th, 2023
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 10 papers during August 27th - September 9th 2023.

August 28, 2023
Department of Genetics Publications for August 13th – 26th, 2023
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 11 papers during August 13th - 26th 2023.

June 28, 2023
Dr. Hyejung Won Promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure
Hyejung Won, PhD has been promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in the Department of Genetics, effective July 1, 2023.

April 14, 2023
Hyejung Won, PhD Receives Simons Foundation Award
Dr. Hyejung Won (Assistant Professor, Genetics) received a three-year grant from the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative 2022 Program: Genomics of ASD: Pathways to Biological Convergence and Genetic Therapies.

January 2, 2023
Department of Genetics Publications for December 18th – 31st, 2022
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 10 papers during December 18th – 31st, 2022.

January 2, 2023
Dr. Hyejung Won Receives UNC Computational Medicine Program Pilot Award
Hyejung Won, PhD (Assistant Professor, Genetics) received a pilot award from the UNC Computational Medicine Program together with J.S. Marron, PhD (Professor, Statistics and Operations Research).