Student Spotlight
Hometown: South Korea
Major: Biology
How did you become interested in your major?
In 2021, I volunteered for COVID-19 monitoring at a hospital specializing in rehabilitation and internal medicine. I encountered patients undergoing rehabilitation with diverse stories and symptoms in the hospital. Most of the patients required long-term treatment due to severe accidents or neurological diseases, and I could indirectly feel the psychological and physical pain they suffered throughout their treatments. I was receiving prolonged atopic dermatitis treatment at the hospital, experiencing repeated improvement and deterioration, so I empathized deeply with the patients' suffering. These personal experiences and observations convinced me that fundamental advances are urgently needed that are more effective and can reduce treatment duration compared to current options. To make innovative and sustainable progress, research and advances in our understanding of genetics and molecular biology are crucial. These concerns and experiences motivated me to explore and kindled my passion for genetics and molecular biology.
What are your current goals following graduation?
I will be attending the University of Texas Austin in the Ph.D. program. My desire to conduct research, inspired by volunteering at a hospital, led me to pursue research opportunities. While volunteering, I could contribute to ideas for potential patients' treatment, but the inability to engage directly in researching those ideas led me to seek not only undergraduate research but also Ph.D. training.
Research experience: Since junior year I have done research focused on the microtubule cytoskeleton's role in mitosis with the long-term potential to contribute to improvement in cancer treatments. In my long-term project, I have worked with another graduate student to determine the function of phospho-signaling in response to tension and/or attachment status at kinetochores. In this project, I have had the opportunity to work in a broader role spanning from the initial design and planning of experiments to their execution and analysis of outcomes. One of the most exciting things has been testing new mutants' phenotypes! My approach involves testing the mutants for altered sensitivity to carbendazine (CBZ), a microtubule-destabilizing compound that both increases erroneous attachments and decreases microtubule-generated tension at kinetochores. Altered CBZ sensitivity strongly indicates that cohesin is malfunctioning. The research I have done to help determine the mechanisms controlling microtubule dynamics and chromosome segregation has been hard work and invigorating at the same time. It is also rewarding that my efforts contribute to the overall knowledge that holds potential for medical breakthroughs. Participating in research, I am confident in my potential to contribute to cancer treatments and disease management. My immediate goal is to train as an independent scientist in graduate school, preparing for a research career. In the long term, I aspire to innovate in research to advance public health and societal well-being.
Do you have an example of how a professor or staff member has supported you at Iowa State?
My research mentor, Dr. Gupta, consistently supports me both academically and emotionally. He has encouraged and motivated me to pursue research, enabling me to explore new perspectives and enhance my work. Similarly, Dr. Kerby has supported me. He always provides valuable advice and the courage I need to navigate and shape my future goals. Their guidance, advice, and support have improved my research skills and significantly contributed to my overall campus experience and self-confidence. Thanks to them, I've had valuable opportunities and have grown both personally and academically.
How would you fill in the blank for high school students interested in your field?
“My best advice for new students is...”
...don't hesitate to try new things and meet new people. Be active and enjoy the campus experience as much as you can. My most memorable ISU experience was in the summer of 2023. My friend, Shandra, and I worked in the lab as undergraduate researchers. In the lab, we collaborated on research, facing and overcoming challenges together. These moments have become valuable memories for me. It allowed me to focus on research while also becoming closer friends with Shandra.