Where are you from (or primarily grew up)?
I primarily grew up in Seoul, South Korea.
Where did you complete your undergraduate education?
I completed my bachelor’s degree in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
What led you to study Chemical Engineering?
I first became interested in Chemical Engineering during high school while attending Saint John's Preparatory School. I genuinely enjoyed the experiments and the way subjects like physics, chemistry, and calculus could be applied to real-world problems. Participating in state math and robotics competitions also introduced me to engineering-based problem-solving, which further strengthened my interest in pursuing the field. Looking back, many of my interests naturally pointed toward Chemical Engineering, and by the time I applied to college, I knew it was the path I wanted to pursue.
How did you choose Georgia Tech for your Ph.D. studies?
I chose Georgia Tech for my Ph.D. studies because of its strong emphasis on interdisciplinary research and the wide range of resources available to students. During the open house before decision day, I was especially impressed by the passion and research-driven mindset of the faculty members, as well as the collaborative atmosphere within the program. The access to excellent research facilities, supportive academic culture, and strong focus on innovation ultimately made Georgia Tech the right fit for me.
What are you doing after graduation? Where will that be based? What will that role involve?
After graduation, I will be joining Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in Tarrytown, NY, as a Senior Scientist in the Product Biochemistry R&D department. In this role, I will contribute to analytical characterization studies that support the life-cycle management of biologics and biotherapeutics, including monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibodies, and other therapeutic modalities. I’m excited for the opportunity to continue learning while contributing to the development and advancement of next-generation therapeutics.
Did your education, internships, and other experiences help prepare you for this role?
Yes, my education and prior experiences have been very important in preparing me for this role. During my undergraduate studies at Johns Hopkins University, I built a strong foundation in engineering and biochemical principles, along with hands-on experience in experimental design, data analysis, and problem-solving. I also developed leadership skills through various extracurricular roles, where I learned to collaborate effectively and take initiative in team settings.
My Ph.D. training at Georgia Tech further strengthened my ability to think critically and conduct independent research. I also continued to grow my leadership experience through mentoring and collaborative work within research environments. Overall, these experiences have equipped me with both the technical and interpersonal skills needed for analytical characterization work in biologics development, and I feel well prepared for this next step.
Who was your advisor and what was that relationship like?
I pursued my Ph.D. under the supervision of Prof. Ravi Kane. He has been a great mentor and a very supportive advisor throughout my Ph.D. He really helped me become more independent in how I approach scientific problems and in how I communicate my work to different audiences.
He was also consistently supportive during difficult moments in research, especially when experiments didn’t go as planned, and was always available to talk things through when I was deciding on my career direction after graduation. Overall, his guidance has played a big role in shaping my scientific and professional growth.
What was the focus of your doctoral dissertation?
My doctoral dissertation at Georgia Tech focused on developing protein-based vaccines and therapeutics against viral infections and other diseases. One part of my work examined virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine platforms designed to elicit broad immune responses against coronaviruses by presenting different parts of viral proteins in a structured manner. In parallel, I built a laboratory platform to discover and evaluate antibody-like molecules that could be developed into therapeutics. This included identifying and evaluating promising candidates against rapidly evolving viral variants and immune-related targets. Overall, my dissertation centered on developing and testing platform approaches for nanoparticle vaccines and biologics that can respond more effectively to evolving health challenges.
What kinds of leadership roles and other activities did you participate in while at Tech?
During my time at Georgia Tech, I took on several leadership roles within the graduate community. I served as co-chair of the ChBE graduate research symposium, was a fellow in the Woodruff Leadership Program for graduate students and worked as an Outreach Chair for the PhD-to-Consulting club. These experiences helped me grow in how I work with others, take initiative, and manage responsibilities in a collaborative setting, while also giving me the opportunity to contribute to the broader ChBE community.
Outside of these roles, I also enjoyed being part of the Georgia Tech Korean Student Association, where I stayed active through activities like tennis, swimming, and golf. I found these to be a good way to step away from research and recharge, which helped me maintain balance during my Ph.D.
How did your educational experience at Georgia Tech help you to achieve your goals?
My time at Georgia Tech really helped me get closer to the goals I set for myself going into grad school. I came in wanting to learn how to learn—to figure out how to become an expert in a new area from the ground up. Through my research, I not only developed expertise in nanoparticle vaccines and antibody therapeutics but also gained confidence in my ability to pick up and adapt to new fields as needed.
Along the way, the day-to-day research experience helped me become more independent in how I approach problems and more comfortable navigating challenges when things don’t go as planned. Overall, it shaped both my technical foundation and the way I continue to learn and grow as a scientist.
What advice would you give to new students pursuing graduate studies in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Georgia Tech?
My advice to new students in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Georgia Tech is to lean into the structure of the program, even when it feels intense at first. The first year can feel fast-paced, with everyone in the same cohort taking classes together and working toward early milestones like qualifying exams and proposals. While it may seem overwhelming initially, I’ve found there are real advantages to this setup. One of the biggest is the cohort itself. You go through the same challenges together, and that naturally builds strong connections and support early on, which I’ve come to really value.
Over time, those milestones also help you stay grounded and intentional about your Ph.D. progress, rather than drifting without direction. Looking back, I appreciate how the program is structured to keep you accountable while still giving you the support needed to actually make steady, on-time progress through your Ph.D. journey.
Is there anything else you’d like to add about your experiences related to your education?
My experience at Georgia Tech shaped how I approach science in a more grounded way. It is easy to think of science in terms of breakthroughs, but in reality, it is often a long process of trial and error, with progress coming after repeated failures and persistence. Graduate school was not only about building expertise, but also about learning how to work through unfamiliar problems step by step. Over time, I have come to value the process, including setbacks and challenges, as much as the outcomes, and this has made me more adaptable in how I approach new problems.
I also learned that many of the most important insights come from people rather than books. Asking questions, learning from lab mates and colleagues, and staying open to different perspectives have all been just as important as the technical work itself. These experiences will continue to guide how I approach future scientific challenges and collaborations as I move forward in my career.