Atonu is a Ph.D. student in Dr. McLendon’s lab, focusing his research on understanding and overcoming chemoresistance in ovarian cancer. His work specifically investigates the role of ABC transporters and explores RNA-based regulatory mechanisms to identify therapeutic targets. The ultimate goal of his research is to contribute to translational oncology by uncovering molecular vulnerabilities in drug-resistant tumors.

Atonu's academic background is rooted in molecular biology and translational medicine. He completed his undergraduate degree in Microbiology at Pusan National University in South Korea as a recipient of the prestigious Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP). He later earned a master’s degree from Auburn University, where he studied single-cell transcriptomics and gene regulatory networks to investigate drug resistance in multiple myeloma. Outside of the lab, Atonu enjoys creative writing, science communication, music, and cinema.