• 2012 - BS, Kinesiology, Korea National Sport University, Seoul, South Korea
• 2016 - MS, Exercise Physiology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
• 2020 - PhD, Nutrigenomics and Growth Biology, Washington State University, Pullman
• 2021 - Postdoc, Bioinformatics, Washington State University, Pullman

I received my Ph.D. in Nutrigenomics and Growth Biology from Washington State University Pullman, WA in 2020. I spent a year at the Washington State University as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate. I joined the faculty at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 2021 in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences as an Assistant Professor. In September 2026, I joined the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine as an Assistant Professor. I also have a secondary appointment in the Department of Pharmocology & Physiology as an Assistant Professor.

Mitochondrial Biology, Fetal neurodevelopment, Neuroinflammation, Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Maternal-fetal programming, Gut-Brain axis, Adipogenic/myogenic progenitor cells, etc.

Song Ah Chae, Ryan C. Riddle, Zhihua Jiang, Chaeyoung Shin, Min Du, Jun Seok Son (corresponding), "Maternal exercise rescues embryonic osteogenesis impaired due to POLG mutation through a potential apelin-ATF4 axis" Advanced Science 2026, Early view, e77029.

Jun Seok Son (corresponding), Song Ah Chae, Yoon Ha Chun, Hongyang Wang, Zhihua Jiang, Min Du, "High-calorie diet during pregnancy leads to muscular fibrosis and neuromuscular damage in offspring mice" Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle 2025, 16(5), e70027.

Jun Seok Son (corresponding), Song Ah Chae, Liang Zhao, Hongyang Wang, Jeanene M. de Avila, Mei-Jun Zhu, Zhihua Jiang and Min Du, “Maternal exercise intergenerationally drives muscle-based thermogenesis via activation of apelin-AMPK signaling” eBioMedicine 2022, 72, 103842.

Jun Seok Son, Liang Zhao, Yanting Chen, Ke Chen, Song Ah Chae, Jeanene M. de Avila, Hongyang Wang, Mei-Jun Zhu, Zhihua Jiang and Min Du, “Maternal exercise via exerkine apelin enhances brown adipogenesis and prevents metabolic dysfunction in offspring mice” Science Advances 2020, 6(16), eaaz0359. This paper was featured by NIH (https://www.nichd.nih.gov/newsroom/news/042320-pregnancy-exercise) and received wide news coverage.

My research focuses on mitochondrial biology, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) maintenance, and innate immune signaling in aging, metabolic dysfunction, and neurological injury. A major area of my current research investigates how mitochondrial dysfunction and mtDNA damage contribute to cGAS–STING activation, neuroinflammation, and neurological outcomes following spinal cord injury (SCI) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). I also investigate mitochondrial quality control, extracellular vesicle-mediated intercellular communication, and interactions between peripheral tissues and the central nervous system.

My research also examines how maternal obesity, exercise, and mitochondrial dysfunction influence placental function and fetal development, with particular emphasis on developmental programming of metabolic and neurological disorders. By integrating genetic mouse models with multi-omics approaches, including mitochondrial genome sequencing, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, I investigate molecular and cellular responses to mitochondrial dysfunction across development, aging, and neurological injury.

Recent Federal Grants (Active):

• Son, J. (mPI), Tee, S., & Mayer, D. NIH-NIA (R21AG084142), Longitudinal Imaging of Maternal Exercise and Exerkine Effects on Offspring Metabolism (09/01/2023 - 05/31/2027).

Published Multimedia

1. Mums-to-be who exercise may be more likely to have slimmer kids BBC Science Focus Magazine, Apr 16, 2019.
2. Science Update: Mouse study links exercise during pregnancy to lower risk of obesity in offspring NIH News, NICHD - Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (nih.gov). Apr 23, 2020

• Associate Editor, Frontiers in Reproductive Health (2026.02-present)
• Associate Editor, Journal of the Internatioanl Society of Sports Nutrition (2025.08-present)
• Guest Editor, International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2025.07-present)