LEE Kyeong-Tae is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Biology at Jeju National University and a promising researcher specializing in marine ecology and taxonomy. His research focuses on the taxonomy and systematics of non-geniculate coralline algae, employing molecular phylogenetic approaches, multivariate statistics, and image analysis to study the impacts of climate change on benthic ecosystems. As a research assistant at the Tropical & Subtropical Research Center of the Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology, he has contributed to long-term ecological monitoring of coastal ecosystems in Jeju, analyzing changes driven by climate variability. A certified scuba diver, he combines field surveys with laboratory research to conduct comprehensive studies across various spatial and temporal scales. In 2024, he was appointed as a Presidential Science Graduate Scholar, recognizing his outstanding research capabilities and potential for growth. He is committed to advancing international collaboration for the conservation and understanding of marine ecosystems.