Yonsei Advanced Science Institute

AN INNOVATOR of nano-rulers, energy transfers, and integrating sciences, Heekyung Jeong (11th Sem., Dept. of Chemistry) of the Institute for Basic Science’s Center for Nanomedicine’s (IBS CNM) graduate program had the opportunity to go to the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) through the IBS-UCSF Student Exchange Program from July 2018 to June 2019. The Yonsei Annals interviewed Jeong to learn more about her experiences with the IBS CNM and UCSF.

 

Annals: Why did you participate in the IBS-UCSF Student Exchange Program?
Jeong: Because I wanted to incorporate nanomaterials into medical engineering, I wished to go on an exchange program to a school that didn’t only specialize in nano-science, but also the medical field; UCSF offered both. I also liked that I could work with Professor Jun Young-wook* in UCSF, who’s an expert in developing gold nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles, and in applying these nanomaterials to biosystems. This inspired me to choose the exchange program with UCSF. The UCSF program also provided me with a J1 research scholar visa and the full privileges as an exchange student; I was officially recognized as a research scholar and got access to the same opportunities and resources as an actual researcher at UCSF.

 

Annals: Can you tell us about the research you conducted at UCSF?
Jeong: Previous research into biomolecules operated on a micron-scale to study the dynamics of molecules, such as magnetic tweezing**, optical traps***, or AFM****. With recent developments allowing nano-scale analysis on bodies, it’s crucial we can observe them on a similarly small scale as well. However, previous analyzing methods used micron-size, which is a thousand times bigger than nano-size, creating low-resolution samples. My research at UCSF was about developing a nano-ruler***** using magnetoplasmonic nanoparticles****** to solve this problem. By successfully developing a nano-ruler, I could increase the resolution of the DNA analysis sample up to 1 base pair, which is 0.34 nanometers and smaller than nano-size. I hoped that by using a nano-ruler to increase the resolution, I’d be able to see every molecule. I could utilize this nano-ruler system to copy and observe genetic information from DNA and RNA.

 

Annals: What experiences at UCSF stood out the most to you?
Jeong: I found that many Korean laboratories have separate offices with strong boundaries between each lab and each other, both structurally and figuratively. In particular, the professors’ offices tend to have an authoritative, less approachable presence because they’re closed off, which discourages communication.

   On the other hand, the laboratories and offices at UCSF don’t have these kinds of boundaries and are very open. In UCSF, all the rooms are connected, which naturally created an environment that encouraged open communication. Getting to call the professors by their names also lowered the barriers between the faculty and the students. Thanks to this setting, students could ask questions or argue about their opinions comfortably in a non-authoritative environment. Additionally, research labs took turns hosting social events, such as learning a traditional Scottish dance, where we eat and mingle with each other.

 

Annals: Are there any benefits or opportunities that you can only get from the IBS-UCSF Student Exchange Program?
Jeong: One of the best opportunities at UCSF was that I often had the chance to meet scholars from all around the world. Almost every week, I attended seminars of esteemed scholars that I previously could only communicate through online means, such as Polina Anikeeva from MIT, Paul Alivisatos from Berkely, or Michael Elowitz from Caltech. At UCSF, I could ask them questions or even have a discussion with them face-to-face. This experience helped me become passionate about working in the research field. On top of this, UCSF’s resources, aid, and research facilities were beneficial for my research as well as my current research lab at the IBS CNM. The IBS CNM labs are also similar to UCSF in terms of its open, connected structure and great support and resources for their students. Because it’s so open, it’s easy to communicate with professors or with scholars in other fields and work together on integrated projects.

 

Annals: What are your future goals at the IBS CNM?
Jeong: My past project was about applying inorganic materials, like magnetic nanoparticles, to biosystems. The research I’m doing right now, on the other hand, is about combining inorganic materials with organic materials, like hydrogels*******. In particular, I’m merging heat-sensitive hydrogel with heat-inducing magnetic nanoparticles to make a highly efficient material that turns magnetic energy into mechanical energy. The goal is to successfully induce a “mechanotransduction pathway regulation” in animals. Mechanotransduction is a process where cells detect external physical stimuli and convert them into biochemical responses. In this process, mechanosensitive cell surface receptors allow the cells to sense the physical properties of their environment. These receptors integrate mechanical signals with other cues, like spatial, temporal, or chemical, to regulate the downstream signaling pathways. This should be possible with the combined material, since magnetic fields can activate a precise spot as they’re able to penetrate any part of the body. In short, I want to create a hybrid material of inorganic and organic materials, and then increase the efficiency of transferring magnetic energy to mechanical energy.

 

Annals: Do you have any advice you’d like to give to those who are interested in the IBS CNM’s exchange programs, especially with UCSF?
Jeong: IBS CNM’s goal is for diverse research teams to work with each other and encourage projects between integrated sciences. Not only does the exchange program experience give you professional expertise and support for research, but it also helps you learn the responsibilities and difficulties of working together with different people on a project.

   My experiences at UCSF served as advanced training for future work, such as the process of acquiring a visa, applying for a new research institute, and becoming accustomed to the American work environment. Experiencing work abroad through the exchange program can be a trial and error process where you can experience new things early on while you’re still a student and better plan for your future goals. One particular reason I recommend the IBS-UCSF Student Exchange Program, or any of the IBS CNM’s partnership exchange programs, is because you can scope out the latest research trends in the field. Even though Korea is making fast progress in scientific research, the United States is still the center of research and progress. You can find the newest topics of research or the most up-to-date technology and methods they are using. My experiences at UCSF have helped me become truly passionate about my research career.

 

*Professor Jun Young-wook is a member of the Global Associate Faculty at IBS CNM and the Director of the Jun Group at UCSF, the research group working with the IBS-UCSF Student Exchange Program

**Magnetic tweezer: An instrument for measuring and manipulating multiple single molecules at once

***Optical trapping: A device that puts force on micron-sized subjects in order to manipulate and measure them

****AFM: Atomic Force Microscopy. A type of microscopy that scans surfaces of nano-size samples

*****Nano-ruler: A nano-sized ruler to measure nanometers

******Magnetoplasmonic nanoparticles: A nano-scale combination of plasmonic materials and magnetic materials, often with a magnetic core with a metal layer

*******Hydrogel: A network of water-absorbent polymer

출처 : The Yonsei Annals(http://annals.yonsei.ac.kr)

AN INNOVATOR of nano-rulers, energy transfers, and integrating sciences, Heekyung Jeong (11th Sem., Dept. of Chemistry) of the Institute for Basic Science’s Center for Nanomedicine’s (IBS CNM) graduate program had the opportunity to go to the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) through the IBS-UCSF Student Exchange Program from July 2018 to June 2019. The Yonsei Annals interviewed Jeong to learn more about her experiences with the IBS CNM and UCSF.

 

Annals: Why did you participate in the IBS-UCSF Student Exchange Program?

Jeong: Because I wanted to incorporate nanomaterials into medical engineering, I wished to go on an exchange program to a school that didn’t only specialize in nano-science, but also the medical field; UCSF offered both. I also liked that I could work with Professor Jun Young-wook* in UCSF, who’s an expert in developing gold nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles, and in applying these nanomaterials to biosystems. This inspired me to choose the exchange program with UCSF. The UCSF program also provided me with a J1 research scholar visa and the full privileges as an exchange student; I was officially recognized as a research scholar and got access to the same opportunities and resources as an actual researcher at UCSF.

 

Annals: Can you tell us about the research you conducted at UCSF?

Jeong: Previous research into biomolecules operated on a micron-scale to study the dynamics of molecules, such as magnetic tweezing**, optical traps***, or AFM****. With recent developments allowing nano-scale analysis on bodies, it’s crucial we can observe them on a similarly small scale as well. However, previous analyzing methods used micron-size, which is a thousand times bigger than nano-size, creating low-resolution samples. My research at UCSF was about developing a nano-ruler***** using magnetoplasmonic nanoparticles****** to solve this problem. By successfully developing a nano-ruler, I could increase the resolution of the DNA analysis sample up to 1 base pair, which is 0.34 nanometers and smaller than nano-size. I hoped that by using a nano-ruler to increase the resolution, I’d be able to see every molecule. I could utilize this nano-ruler system to copy and observe genetic information from DNA and RNA.

 

Annals: What experiences at UCSF stood out the most to you?

Jeong: I found that many Korean laboratories have separate offices with strong boundaries between each lab and each other, both structurally and figuratively. In particular, the professors’ offices tend to have an authoritative, less approachable presence because they’re closed off, which discourages communication.

   On the other hand, the laboratories and offices at UCSF don’t have these kinds of boundaries and are very open. In UCSF, all the rooms are connected, which naturally created an environment that encouraged open communication. Getting to call the professors by their names also lowered the barriers between the faculty and the students. Thanks to this setting, students could ask questions or argue about their opinions comfortably in a non-authoritative environment. Additionally, research labs took turns hosting social events, such as learning a traditional Scottish dance, where we eat and mingle with each other.

 

Annals: Are there any benefits or opportunities that you can only get from the IBS-UCSF Student Exchange Program?

Jeong: One of the best opportunities at UCSF was that I often had the chance to meet scholars from all around the world. Almost every week, I attended seminars of esteemed scholars that I previously could only communicate through online means, such as Polina Anikeeva from MIT, Paul Alivisatos from Berkely, or Michael Elowitz from Caltech. At UCSF, I could ask them questions or even have a discussion with them face-to-face. This experience helped me become passionate about working in the research field. On top of this, UCSF’s resources, aid, and research facilities were beneficial for my research as well as my current research lab at the IBS CNM. The IBS CNM labs are also similar to UCSF in terms of its open, connected structure and great support and resources for their students. Because it’s so open, it’s easy to communicate with professors or with scholars in other fields and work together on integrated projects.

 

Annals: What are your future goals at the IBS CNM?

Jeong: My past project was about applying inorganic materials, like magnetic nanoparticles, to biosystems. The research I’m doing right now, on the other hand, is about combining inorganic materials with organic materials, like hydrogels*******. In particular, I’m merging heat-sensitive hydrogel with heat-inducing magnetic nanoparticles to make a highly efficient material that turns magnetic energy into mechanical energy. The goal is to successfully induce a “mechanotransduction pathway regulation” in animals. Mechanotransduction is a process where cells detect external physical stimuli and convert them into biochemical responses. In this process, mechanosensitive cell surface receptors allow the cells to sense the physical properties of their environment. These receptors integrate mechanical signals with other cues, like spatial, temporal, or chemical, to regulate the downstream signaling pathways. This should be possible with the combined material, since magnetic fields can activate a precise spot as they’re able to penetrate any part of the body. In short, I want to create a hybrid material of inorganic and organic materials, and then increase the efficiency of transferring magnetic energy to mechanical energy.

 

Annals: Do you have any advice you’d like to give to those who are interested in the IBS CNM’s exchange programs, especially with UCSF?

Jeong: IBS CNM’s goal is for diverse research teams to work with each other and encourage projects between integrated sciences. Not only does the exchange program experience give you professional expertise and support for research, but it also helps you learn the responsibilities and difficulties of working together with different people on a project.

   My experiences at UCSF served as advanced training for future work, such as the process of acquiring a visa, applying for a new research institute, and becoming accustomed to the American work environment. Experiencing work abroad through the exchange program can be a trial and error process where you can experience new things early on while you’re still a student and better plan for your future goals. One particular reason I recommend the IBS-UCSF Student Exchange Program, or any of the IBS CNM’s partnership exchange programs, is because you can scope out the latest research trends in the field. Even though Korea is making fast progress in scientific research, the United States is still the center of research and progress. You can find the newest topics of research or the most up-to-date technology and methods they are using. My experiences at UCSF have helped me become truly passionate about my research career.

 

*Professor Jun Young-wook is a member of the Global Associate Faculty at IBS CNM and the Director of the Jun Group at UCSF, the research group working with the IBS-UCSF Student Exchange Program

**Magnetic tweezer: An instrument for measuring and manipulating multiple single molecules at once

***Optical trapping: A device that puts force on micron-sized subjects in order to manipulate and measure them

****AFM: Atomic Force Microscopy. A type of microscopy that scans surfaces of nano-size samples

*****Nano-ruler: A nano-sized ruler to measure nanometers

******Magnetoplasmonic nanoparticles: A nano-scale combination of plasmonic materials and magnetic materials, often with a magnetic core with a metal layer

*******Hydrogel: A network of water-absorbent polymer

출처 : The Yonsei Annals(http://annals.yonsei.ac.kr)