Young-Seok Shon earned his PhD at the University of Houston and was a postdoctoral research associate at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where his interest in the synthesis of nanoparticles developed. Shon is currently exploring new ways of synthesizing nanomaterials and using them for a variety of technological applications that have implications for cancer diagnosis and therapy as well as wastewater treatment.

His students have co-authored 11 papers published in peer-reviewed journals and presented their results 18 times in national and international conferences and 21 times at regional and local meetings. He has also served as research advisor for a high school student as well as seven community college students who were part of the Bridges to Baccalaureate summer program.

Since joining the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department in 2006, Shon has given 51 presentations, 24 of which were made at national and international meetings. He has had 28 papers published in prominent chemistry journals. His papers have received more than 90 citations to date, attesting to his prominent standing in the field of materials science and nanochemistry.