Behind the Research: Meet Hyeryeong Park
Hyeryeong and her mother at Griffith Observatory in Summer 2025
If you’ve ever wondered how a complex research lab runs smoothly—with dozens of team members, layers of compliance, and critical timelines—there’s a good chance someone like Hyeryeong Park is working quietly, diligently behind the scenes.
As the lab manager and Senior Research Support Specialist at the FOXG1 Research Center (FRC), Hyeryeong plays a vital role in keeping everything running—from onboarding new researchers to managing lab inspections to coordinating the endless details that support cutting-edge science. And while her role isn’t directly at the bench, the impact of her work can be felt in every experiment.
“Even small oversights—whether in scheduling, compliance, or supply management—can have a ripple effect. I’ve learned to stay organized, anticipate challenges, and support our team so they can focus on the science.”
From Seoul to Buffalo: A Path Toward Purpose
Originally from Seoul, South Korea, Hyeryeong came to the U.S. in 2007 with her parents, settling in Philadelphia. She later moved to Buffalo to attend the University at Buffalo (UB), where she double majored in Psychology and Health & Human Services. What began as a move for school eventually became a deeper connection to the city.
“I actually like Buffalo more than Philly,” she said with a smile. “It’s smaller, and I’ve made some really great friends and memories here. I even prefer the long winters over long summers!”
After college, Hyeryeong worked as a patient navigator, helping Medicaid patients in Buffalo access care. But when she heard about an opening in the Lee Lab, she felt drawn to something more: a mission that combined science, impact, and care.
“I wasn’t looking for a lab job specifically, but I was really moved by what the FOXG1 team was doing,” she explained. “Supporting this kind of meaningful research felt important.”
A Day in the Life of a Lab Manager
No two days look exactly the same for Hyeryeong, but the goal is always clear: keep the lab running efficiently, compliantly, and ready for whatever’s next.
One of her core responsibilities is making sure that protocols are followed across the board—from safety and regulatory compliance to proper lab etiquette. She ensures that new lab members complete all required training, and that each person has access to the tools, resources, and clear guidance needed to work safely and effectively.
She’s also the key point of contact for coordinating with multiple departments and offices across UB. On any given day, she’s corresponding with HR, the procurement team, the grants office, and the Department of Biological Sciences—juggling administrative updates, purchasing needs, scheduling issues, and lab-specific questions that rarely overlap in topic, but are all essential to keep things moving.
For new international researchers, Hyeryeong prepares visa-related documentation and submits it to HR for further processing—an important step in making sure onboarding happens smoothly and within legal timelines.
She also coordinates lab inspections, orders and tracks lab supplies, and helps manage Dr. Soo Lee’s packed meeting schedule, particularly for internal and external collaborators.
Another key part of her role is managing the lab’s large mouse colony, including maintaining an internal inventory system that tracks each strain and helps the team plan future experiments. It’s a behind-the-scenes task, but one that plays a critical role in keeping animal studies running efficiently and ethically.
Whether she’s reviewing mouse request forms, troubleshooting equipment issues, or prepping for a surprise inspection, Hyeryeong approaches each day with adaptability and a long to-do list—making sure nothing falls through the cracks.
The Heart Behind the Work
When reflecting on her proudest accomplishments at the FOXG1 Research Center, Hyeryeong admits it wasn’t immediately obvious. But over time, she’s come to realize that her greatest contribution is also the most constant one: making sure the lab runs as smoothly as possible.
From overseeing onboarding and compliance to managing equipment, coordinating with university departments, and staying ahead of inspections, she supports both the PIs and researchers so they can focus fully on the science.
“If I can help prevent issues before they happen, or make someone’s workday easier, that feels like a real win. It means our team can keep moving forward without interruption.”
She’s also been involved in larger projects, including the launch of the FRC website and social media platforms. She helped coordinate the Center’s opening ceremony—a major milestone for the lab—but credits the UB Events and Marketing teams for making it a success. From logistics to design, their collaboration brought the event to life.
Finding Balance Outside the Lab
When she's not managing the constant hum of lab activity, Hyeryeong recharges in simple, grounding ways—driving, baking, and exploring new cafes. What began as a casual afternoon learning a cake recipe from fellow lab member Muhua has turned into a creative outlet she now shares with friends and colleagues.
She often takes short solo drives to Niagara Falls or Toronto when the pressure builds. Driving gives her quiet space to think—something she’s come to rely on during especially stressful weeks.
And the stress is real. Behind every smooth inspection, every stocked supply cabinet, every seamless onboarding process, there’s an unseen layer of urgency. Hyeryeong knows that even small operational issues—like a delayed order or a compliance hiccup—can create ripple effects in the research timeline. And those ripple effects matter. It’s that awareness, that quiet sense of responsibility to the families waiting on progress, that keeps her going.
She’s not at the bench, but she feels the weight of the work just as deeply. Every day, she stays focused not just for the team—but for the FOXG1 families whose lives may one day change because of what happens inside the lab.
As she reflects on her time with the Center, some of her favorite memories come from its earlier days, when the team was smaller and gathered outside of work to celebrate birthdays or grab dinner together. Today, even with a larger team, she treasures moments like the annual lab picnic—a chance to step back, connect, and appreciate the people behind the mission.
Looking Ahead
With clinical trials on the horizon, Hyeryeong feels both proud and hopeful about the direction of FOXG1 research. She’s witnessed tremendous growth since joining the lab in 2021, and she knows just how much effort—often invisible—goes into each breakthrough.
Research is a long and meticulous process, filled with trial and error, tight timelines, and the unexpected. But for Hyeryeong, each careful step, each smooth inspection, each resolved issue is part of a bigger picture: moving the science forward so that FOXG1 families can access the treatments they need and deserve.
Hyeryeong at La Jolla Cove in California, May 2025
FOXG1 Research Center is dedicated to understanding and finding treatments for FOXG1 syndrome and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
Our Team
Drs. Soo-Kyung Lee, PhD. and Jae W. Lee, PhD. are the principal investigators of FOXG1 Research Center. Our team is full of dedicated individuals with the common goal of studying FOXG1 Syndrome to find treatment options and further understand the condition.
Our Publications
To learn more details about our research, please refer to our publications.
