Dr. Byungkook Lim

Professor

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Biography

Byungkook Lim received his Ph.D. in Molecular & Cell Biology from UC Berkeley under the supervision of Dr. Mu-ming Poo. He carried out postdoctoral training with Dr. Robert Malenka in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at the Stanford University School of Medicine. His research focuses on the basal ganglia and their interconnected cortical, amygdalar, and thalamic circuits, which are critical for reward-based learning, motor learning, and motivated behavior, as well as stress-related behaviors. His laboratory investigates the synaptic organization of these circuits using animal models of neuropsychiatric diseases such as anxiety, addiction, autism spectrum disorders, and major depressive disorders. Lim has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Kingenstein-Simmons Fellowship, the Searle Scholar Fellowship, and the NIMH Biobehavioral Research Awards Innovative New Scientists award. His lab applies various molecular strategies and electrophysiological approaches to explore the anatomical and functional properties of the basal ganglia circuitry.

Research Interests

Experience

Professor

2015-09-01 — Present

University of California, San Diego • La Jolla, CA

Leading research on the synaptic organization of brain circuits.

Awards

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Kingenstein-Simmons Fellowship

2014-01-01
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Searle Scholar Fellowship

2017-01-01
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NIMH BRAINS Award

2018-01-01

Requirements for University of California, San Diego

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Total
Required:85
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Duolingo
Overall Score
Required:120
Overall
Required:120
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in physical, biological, or earth sciences, mathematics, or engineering. Differential and integral calculus. One year of calculus-based physics with laboratory. One year of chemistry with laboratory.
Application Checklist
  • Statement of Purpose (max 2 pages)
  • Unofficial transcripts
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Application fee ($135 domestic / $155 international)
Specialization Notes

Administered by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Curricular groups include Climate-Ocean-Atmosphere (COAP), Geosciences (GEO), and Ocean Biosciences (OBP).