Sang-Ji Lee: Plant Physiology First Author

Sang-Ji Lee, first author of “Natural alleles of CIRCADIAN CLOCK ASSOCIATED1 contribute to rice cultivation by fine-tuning flowering time”

Current Position: Ph.D. Student in Department of Crop Science and Biotechnology, Seoul National University, South Korea

Education:
Master of Science in Department of Crop Science and Biotechnology, Seoul National University, South Korea (2020)

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Horticulture, University of Seoul, South Korea (2018)

Non-scientific Interests: Animals, fishkeeping, gardening, cooking, climbing, yoga, and traveling

Brief bio: I started to study plant biology at the Dept. of Environmental Horticulture at the University of Seoul. I had to write a thesis for my bachelor’s degree, so I learned how to conduct research on plant biology. This was the first time I got to use flowers as one of my experimental materials and my research has used flowers ever since. For my bachelor’s thesis, I studied whether calcium chloride treatments improved the hardness of cell wall in stem of Gerbera, a flower. During that time, I wondered if we could make a Gerbera that has intrinsically stronger stems without any supplemental treatments. So, this thought naturally made me interested in genetics. Specifically, I wanted to study crop science because I hoped that my research could help people. Fortunately, I met Prof. Nam-Chon Paek, and he gave me a valuable opportunity to study whatever I want to know. I am currently focusing on how rice regulates its flowering time in response to environmental conditions, and always try to keep finding value in my research to get deeper insights into plant biology.