Rate My Professor Hyunwoo Jun

Hyunwoo Jun is a PhD candidate in the Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science at the University of Otago, Christchurch, within the Division of Health Sciences. His doctoral research focuses on developing low-risk potting mix products to protect gardeners from Legionnaires' disease caused by Legionella longbeachae. Supervised by Dr. Sandy Slow and Professor Steve Chambers, his investigations examine the incorporation of antimicrobial metals such as copper, zinc, and manganese into potting mixes to inhibit bacterial growth while assessing safety for plants and users. This work addresses a significant public health concern in New Zealand, where Legionella infections from potting mixes are prevalent.

Jun has published key research articles advancing this field. In 2023, he co-authored 'The inhibitory effect of copper, zinc, and manganese on Legionella longbeachae and other Legionella spp. in vitro' in Letters in Applied Microbiology. This was followed by 'The inhibitory effect of copper, zinc, and manganese on Legionella longbeachae in potting mix leachate' in 2024 in the same journal. In 2026, he published 'Effect of Copper Spiked Potting Mix on the Emergence and Growth of Viola and Cabbages' in HortScience, evaluating impacts on plant growth. He also presented 'The development of low-risk potting mix products to protect gardeners from Legionnaires' disease' as a poster at the 5th One Health Aotearoa Symposium in 2019. Earlier contributions include 'Chromatic Bacteria – A Broad Host-Range Plasmid and Chromosomal Insertion Toolbox for Fluorescent Protein Expression in Bacteria' (2018), studies on effects of sub-lethal concentrations of copper ammonium acetate, pyrethrins, and atrazine on Escherichia coli antibiotic responses (2019), and 'Copper and nanostructured anatase rutile and carbon coatings induce adaptive antibiotic resistance' (2022). His research is associated with the Infection Group and One Health Aotearoa.