Jiseon Yang

Jiseon Yang, Ph.D.

Assistant Research Professor

Biodesign Center for Fundamental & Applied Microbiomics

Arizona State University

Space Research Background

About Me

I specialize in bacteriology and space life sciences, focusing on bacterial pathogenesis, genetic engineering, biofilms, space biology, vaccine development, and host-pathogen interactions. My work utilizes diverse human surrogate models, including 3D tissue cultures and animal models, to advance our understanding of microbial interactions within ecosystems. This research seeks to uncover the dynamics, persistence, and pathogenicity of microbial communities both on Earth and in space, contributing to life sustainability in extreme environments.

In addition to my expertise in microbiology, I am skilled in statistical analysis and modeling, which I apply to my research for data-driven insights and robust experimental design. I have held an Alfred P. Sloan Postdoctoral Fellowship to study the microbiome aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and have published extensively in the fields of genomics, microbiology, and space biology. Currently, I lead a NASA-funded project examining bacterial interspecies interactions in extreme environments, using integrated systemic approaches and multi-directional analyses, and advanced statistical modeling to explore complex microbial behavior.

My achievements include receiving the ASM Peggy Cotter Early Career Award and an Outstanding Teaching Award, reflecting my commitment to both cutting-edge research and education.

Research Interests

  • Mechanisms of bacterial infectious diseases and host-pathogen interactions
  • Bioengineering and molecular biology applications in microbial systems
  • Space life sciences and translational research for public health on Earth
  • Biofilm formation, multispecies interactions, and long-term microbial adaptation
  • Tissue regeneration and 3D tissue engineering
  • Statistical data analysis in biological research
  • Big data analysis and computational biology

Research/Teaching Experience

  • Oct 2019 – Present: Assistant Research Professor, Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics (CFAM), Biodesign Institute (BDI), Arizona State University (ASU), Tempe, AZ
  • June 2017 – Sep 2019: Alfred P. Sloan Postdoctoral Fellow, CFAM and Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy (CIVV), BDI, ASU, Tempe, AZ
  • July 2015 – June 2017: Postdoctoral Research Associate, CIVV, BDI, ASU, Tempe, AZ
  • April 2006 – Aug 2009: Assistant Research Technologist, Dr. Josephine E. Clark-Curtiss, CIVV, BDI, ASU, Tempe, AZ

Education

  • Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA - M.S., Statistics - Present
  • Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA - Ph.D., Microbiology - 2015
  • Pusan National University, South Korea - M.S., Microbiology - 2005
  • Pusan National University, South Korea - B.S., Microbiology - 2003