Decoding Fear’s Chemistry: Professor Haejin Yoon Wins HFSP Accelerator Grant

Professor Haejin Yoon in the Department of Biological Sciences at UNIST has been selected for the Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) Accelerator Grant, a highly competitive international funding program in the life sciences, often referred to as the Nobel Prize fund. She is one of only two researchers in Korea chosen for the accelerator category this year, among a total of seven national awardees.

Established in 1989, HFSP supports interdisciplinary and cross-border collaboration in fundamental life sciences research. The program has funded more than 8,500 researchers from 73 countries, including 31 Nobel laureates. The HFSP Accelerator Grant specifically supports the expansion of existing international research teams, making it one of HFSP’s most competitive funding tracks.

Professor Yoon’s project examines how emotional states, such as fear are translated into chemical signals emitted from the human body. The research focuses on the formation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from the skin and the roles of skin microbiota and host metabolism in this process. Integrating approaches from metabolomics, microbiome science, and chemical ecology, the study aims to identify the biological pathways through which emotional signals are chemically expressed.

The project will be conducted in collaboration with research teams in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada, with funding of approximately $100,000 per year over two years.

“This research seeks to explain, at the molecular level, how emotions, such as fear are converted into chemical signals on the skin,” said Professor Yoon. “By connecting metabolomics, microbiome research, and chemical ecology, we aim to provide a new perspective on how emotional states are biologically transmitted.”

UNIST President Chong Rae Park noted, “This marks UNIST’s first selection for the HFSP program and reflects the growing global competitiveness of our early-career researchers. We will continue to support innovative research that advances fundamental science and contributes to the international research community.”

UNIST has also expanded its global research engagement through initiatives, such as Horizon Europe, including hosting National Contact Point briefings, inviting EU evaluators, and strengthening collaboration with European partners.