Hyunwoo Jung

I possess expertise in various areas, including human and primate evolution, evolutionary theory, human gross anatomy, primate comparative biology, morphometrics, and evolutionary quantitative genetics. My research contributes to interpreting the reasons and processes underlying the evolution of the skeletons in various forms among fossil hominins, modern humans, and other primates. Specifically, my research aims to contribute to the field of human/primate evolution by investigating (1) evolutionary processes (e.g., neutral evolution and/or evolution by natural selection) in skeletal morphology of fossil hominins, modern humans, and other primates; (2) the relationship between microevolutionary processes (e.g., constrained responses to selection due to trait correlations) and morphological evolution under certain adaptive landscapes; (3) functional skeletal morphology in relation to feeding or locomotor behaviors; and (4) the impact of evolutionary history on human skeletal health. For example, I am investigating the role of natural selection in shaping craniofacial morphology among Plio-Pleistocene fossil hominins, particularly in relation to feeding biomechanics.

I am also investigating ancient human individuals excavated from the Korean Peninsula and the skeletal morphology of modern humans from the perspectives of bioarchaeology and paleopathology. For example, I conducted a study to restore the lifestyle of a past society on the Korean Peninsula using the pathological traces observable in the skeleton. I am also developing a forensic anthropological technique using skeletal features, such as sex, age, ancestry, and stature estimation. Taken together, I have research interests not only in human variation and evolution but also in the real-life application of bioanthropological knowledge.