 Why did you become an engineer?
1. I liked Physics and Math very much.
2. A book entitled, “Way of Science” inspired me so much.
3. I wanted to be like MacGyver on TV who understands how things work.
4. My father was a successful engineer and I can’t deny his invisible influence.
Why did you choose to go into academia?
1. I think there are no more valuable jobs than a professor (educator + researcher).
2. Academic freedom (Basically, I can study what I enjoy most and what I think most important rather than what I am told to study.)
3. I really like to be on campus where there is always youth and passion.
What do you like best (in reference to the above question)?
1. The more I teach, the more I learn.
2. I believe my research contributes to shaping the future.
3. Growing future leaders is a big joy.
Explain your area of research (in layman’s terms)
Although science and technology have made a remarkable advance for the past few decades, still our understanding of life and diseases is very little. Why is nose nose and why are ears ears? This is particularly true when it gets to cellular and molecular level. How do the tiny little cells that form each organ know what they are and how they have to behave? How do they communicate with their neighbors and extracellular matrix? MEMS and microfluidics technologies can facilitate researchers to carry out more accurate, sensitive, and rapid experiments with lower cost. Currently, we are developing multi-functional, microfluidic platforms for cell/molecular biology studies and drug screening. We believe that such platforms can overcome the problems with conventional Petri dish culture techniques and animal models, and provide more in vivo-like architecture as well as accurate control over the cellular microenvironments. For this, we study cell cultures in microfluidic devices, electrokinetic manipulation of cells, effective fluid pumping techniques in microfluidic devices.
We are also interested in clinical applications of microfluidic devices. Current projects include an implantable microdevice for the treatment of hydrocephalus and a CD-based microchip for red blood cell (RBC) deformability measurement. Lab-on-a-chip technology has a great potential for medical diagnosis such as point-of-care testing.
As microfluidics engineers, we design, fabricate, and test the devices as well as model, simulate, and analyze microfluidic phenmena based on science and engineering principles. We also collaborate closely with biologists and medical doctors in each project. This often requires us to study biology and medical sciences for better communication.
Who was your favorite teacher/professor and why?
My favorite professor was an Organic Chemistry professor in my junior year of college. He knew what he was teaching thoroughly and provided plenty of practical applications of what we were learning. His lecture style was very aggressive asking questions to each student of the class, but I enjoyed the tension and the class very much.
Who is your biggest inspiration?
There were many people who inspired me much. My father, my Bible teachers, and MacGyver were probably the bigger inspirations among many.
What was your favorite class (and why)?
I really liked Solid Physics class because it answered many questions I had regarding the relationship between molecular level physics and macroscale material properties.
What do you like to do to relax? What are your hobbies?
I play with my kids or watch movies. I like to play all kinds of sports, especially soccer, basketball, and tennis.
Favorite book?
Hope for the Flowers written by Trina Paulus is one of my favorites. It is a short story but it has a profound insight into our life. It will take only 20 minutes to read it through but it took more than 20 years for the author to write it and also it may take more than 20 years for us to digest it.
Favorite song?
When I was in my 20’s, I liked “To my love” written by a Korean old pop star, Taechoon Jung. Nowadays, I like gospel music and hymn songs.
Favorite movie?
I like most movies, but particularly action movies.
Any advice for new students?
Read widely, observe closely, think deeply, and converse with many. I think the most important thing in college life is to find the meaning and purpose of your life. Personally, I found it in the Bible.
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