Dongwan Kim
Postdoctoral Scholar

Dongwan is a postdoctoral researcher in the Nakauchi Lab. Originally from Korea, he earned his Ph.D. from Seoul National University, where he studied the mechanisms of cellular components involved in RNA stabilization. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he expanded his expertise into virology, which sparked his interest in translational research. Inspired by the groundbreaking concept of generating transplantable organs, Dongwan joined the Nakauchi Lab. While refining his skills and exploring new scientific fields at the University of Tokyo, he also enjoyed discovering local cuisine—especially tsukemen—with fellow lab members. Now based at Stanford University, his research focuses on overcoming xenogenic barriers between evolutionarily distant species to enable the creation of transplantable organs. Outside the lab, he enjoys California’s beautiful weather, as well as its diverse food and wine culture.

Selected Publications:

• The architecture of SARS-CoV-2 transcriptome Kim, D.,  et al., Cell, 2020, 181(4), 914-921.

• Viral hijacking of the TENT4–ZCCHC14 complex protects viral RNAs via mixed tailing Kim, D.*, Lee, Y. S.*, Jung, S. J.*, Yeo, J.*, et al., Nature structural & molecular biology, 2020, 27(6), 581-588.

• Mixed tailing by TENT4A and TENT4B shields mRNA from rapid deadenylation Lim, J.*, Kim, D.*, Lee, Y. S.*, et al., Science, 2018, 361(6403), 701-704.