Dr. Shin is the Director of the Center for Neural Science at Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST). Dr. Shin has received an MD degree from Seoul National University and a PhD from Cornell University. Before joining KIST, he was an Associate Member at Whitehead Institute/an Assistant Professor, Dept. of Biology, MIT, and at Pohang University of Science and Technology. He has served as President for International Behavioral and Neural Genetics Society and Korean Society for Mol. and Cell. Biology, and is currently the Chair of the Symposia and Workshops Program Committee, International Brain Research Organization. He has received awards, including Frank Lappin Horsfall, Jr. Award, Cornell University, 1983; Dupont Prize, 2003; Hoam Prize, 2004; AHF Lectureship Award, Calgary University, Canada, 2004; National Honor Scientist, Korea, 2006.

Shin's most important accomplishment is the elucidation of the role of the T-type Ca2⁺ channels in the thalamic sensory gating in mammalian brains. To demonstrate this point he used a wide range of techniques, from generating knock-out mice, to physiology in vivo and in vitro, and to behaviors. His group also pioneered in unraveling the physiological functions in vivo of other channel genes, especially those for various voltage-gated Ca2⁺ channels and sodium-calcium exchangers. He showed that T-type channels are essential for sleep stability and for the pathogenesis of absence seizures, whereas P/Q-type channels suppress the seizures. He revealed the existence and its underlying mechanism of thalamic control of persistent pains. He defined the mechanism of enhanced learning and memory of Na⁺/Ca2⁺ Exchanger 2 knock-out mice.