Korea_HS

Hello! I am Yubin Son; it is an honor to introduce myself as a leader of the Korea_HS team this year. Along with general team management, collaboration, and organization as a leader, I am also part of two subgroups of our team, Wiki and Deliverables, and Human Practices teams, as a member, actively contributing to our project. I was born and raised in Seoul, Korea, but moved to my current school, Concordia International School Shanghai, in middle school. As a rising junior, I developed a keen interest in plant biology and food sustainability. Although I am not an expert in the field yet, I am confident to say that I am comfortable with the topic; I have taken sophisticated courses like AP Biology and worked on various research projects in and outside school regarding biology. Through the iGEM experience this year, I look forward to further exploring and learning new topics in synthetic biology with my esteemed colleagues.

Hello, I’m Siyoon Kim, a rising junior attending Cheongna Dalton School located in Incheon, South Korea. For iGEM 2023, I have been granted the wonderful opportunity to serve as a leader for the Korea_HS Team. Within our team, I oversee and coordinate our team while actively participating as a member of the Human Practices and Wiki & Deliverables Team. This year, I joined Korea_HS to delve into the field of synthetic biology and acquire a deeper understanding of sustainable practices in our daily lives. Through the experiences and opportunities thrown at me, I aspire to explore how the changes we endeavor to make impact and reflect upon the real world. By continuously exchanging and experiencing like-minded people, iGEM will ultimately play a big role in steering my future toward fields related to molecular biology and neuroscience.

Hello! My name is Chaeeun Park, and I am a co-leader of Korea_HS. I am also a junior attending Dulwich College Seoul in South Korea. I am beyond grateful to be a part of this passionate team and participate in iGEM 2023. Within the team, I am a member of the Wiki & Deliverables and Human Practices groups and facilitate team coordination. I joined iGEM because of my interest in the biological sciences, in order to explore the branch of synthetic biology and learn about its application in the context of the real world. From this opportunity, I hope to obtain new knowledge about some of the integrated processes that design biological systems, interact and work with new people, exchange ideas, and improve my collaboration skills.

Hi, I'm Nayoon (Joanne) Cho, a rising senior attending Korea International School Jeju located in Korea. As a Korea_HS 2023 team co-leader, I am responsible for overall team administration, wiki, integrated human practices & development, communication & collaboration, and experiment organization. It was definitely a challenge for me to encourage team members to go the extra mile when they were doubtful and facing multiple setbacks. However, it was an incredible opportunity for me to grow as a co-leader with credibility, a positive mindset, and critical thinking skills. I cannot help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude toward the team that has stood by my side. Ultimately, as a person interested in biochemistry and public health, I am enjoying this rigorous journey of integrating synthetic biology with meaningful research, interviews, experiments, and education.

Hello! My name is Jay (Yaejoon) Jung, and I am a rising freshman attending Phillips Academy Andover in Boston, Massachusetts. It is truly an honor to serve as the leader of the human practices team and a member of the experiments team of Korea_HS. Within our amazing team, I am responsible for directing and coordinating the human practices team while also actively participating as a member of the experiments team. This year, I joined Korea_HS to expand my knowledge in the field of biology. Through this competition, I aspire to learn how the technologies developed inside laboratories translate into the daily lives of people and further bring about positive change in the world. As an individual deeply immersed in the application of science, I believe that iGEM will be an invaluable experience for me, broadening my outlook on biotechnology and inspiring me to think about the limitless possibilities that science offers.

Hello, my name is Ryan Oh, and I lead the Human Practices team for Korea_HS. I am greatly interested in sports, physics, bio-chem, robotics, and math. I've also competed in international competitions with VEX Robotics, and a fun fact about me is that I was Korea's representative at the World Vex Robotics Competition for 2023. My free time is usually spent playing guitar or practicing volleyball with my friends. The biology class I took at school fascinated me, and I joined the Korea_HS team to explore and experience new topics in synthetic biology. Through the iGEM competition, I hope to enhance my teamwork and enthusiasm for biology, and I also look forward to learning more about specific protein manipulations and other aspects of synthetic biology.

Hello, I’m Eyoung Kim, participating as a leader of the SDG team and a member of the experiments team in Korea_HS. I am a rising junior at Branksome Hall Asia and lead several activities regarding biology and math. My passion for biotechnology stems from personal experiences, such as volunteering for patients at a local geriatric hospital and witnessing my father's compassionate care for his patients during my childhood. Investigating biology by taking various classes inside and outside of school, I always wanted to explore how biology can be applied in the real world. I believe that being part of the 2023 iGEM competition would allow me to gain further experience and knowledge in synthetic biology. In addition, I would also develop my leadership skills in general by interacting with my peers and encouraging them to think one step further.

Hello everyone, I am Junho Jang, a rising junior at Korea International School Jeju, and I am thrilled to be a part of the Korea_HS IGEM team, specifically contributing to the SDG and Wiki groups. My life journey has taken a decisive turn towards the realm of biomedical engineering, a decision deeply personal and rooted in my family's experience with a brain disease, which we thankfully overcame. This ignited my curiosity about the complexities of the human brain and pushed me into the fascinating world of biology. IGEM, to me, is a platform to contribute positively to society through synthetic biology. I eagerly anticipate learning from mentors and peers, deepening my understanding of biology. I hope this journey with IGEM, collaborating with bright global minds, will promise a future of further breakthroughs.

Hello, my name is Edward Cha, and I am a member of the SDG and Wiki & Deliverables team in Korea_HS. As a freshman attending Chadwick International, I am interested in physics, math, and, most notably, biotechnology. Through iGEM, I hope not only to expand my knowledge of synthetic biology and biotechnology but also to explore their business opportunities and real-world applications. By taking part in our team's product development and interacting with other teams to learn about their marketing strategies and experimental processes, I aspire to better understand how biology can address real concerns and improve our lives. I look forward to working with my fellow team members in the coming months and building some great relationships along the way!

Hello, I am Young Min, a rising junior attending the Harker School in California. I serve as the Experiments Team leader for the Korea_HS team, and through this role, I facilitate various aspects regarding our experiments and our experiment results. Other than leading the Experiments Team, I am also a member of the SDG Team. My interests lie in chemistry and biomedical engineering, and I hope to utilize the knowledge that I have on these topics to help other people in need. That is also the main reason that drew me into joining the Korea_HS team, as I saw it as a great opportunity to combine both my interests in the scientific realm with giving back to this world. I also hope to learn from my peers and advisors during the duration of this project and also collaborate with people around the world in order to expand my knowledge on the vast subject of synthetic biology.

Hello! My name is Emily Kim, and I am a member of the 2023 iGEM team and social media manager. My academic interests are medicine and biomedical engineering. I became interested in biotechnology and the medical field by interning at a university hospital lab and attending an anesthesia institution program. In my spare time, I like making art, dancing, and learning new languages. For art, I do painting, motion graphics, and product design. I love expressing creative ideas and dissolving my message with style in the artwork. I dance in the genre of locking and hip hop dance. I joined Korea_HS to learn more about synthetic biology and to investigate new ways of cooperating with the team. I believe participating in iGEM will allow me to learn more about synthetic biology and carve out my career path with this experience!

Hello, my name is Jason (Jaejun) Hwang, a rising junior attending Cornerstone Collegiate Academy of Seoul. For the iGEM 2023, I am a member of the SDG team as well as the experiments team. As a student, I enjoy playing sports such as soccer, volleyball, and skiing. My academic interests are biology, math, and chemistry. Due to my interest in biology, I was enthralled by the iGEM competition because it deals with synthetic biology. Through iGEM, I aspire to have enhanced insight into synthetic biology, learn how synthetic biology can be applied to resolve environmental problems, and ultimately shape my interest in fields such as biochemistry or biophysics.

Hello, I’m Chang-joon (CJ) Cho, a rising sophomore attending Korea International School Jeju Campus in Korea. For iGEM 2023, I am a member of the Wiki & Deliverables and the Human Practices team for the Korea_HS Team. I hold the role of overseeing and coordinating the Wiki & Deliverables Team while actively participating as a member of the Human Practices Team. I joined iGEM because, for me, biological sciences was an interesting branch of science. I hope to gain more knowledge about biological sciences so that I can develop new ideas and utilize the knowledge myself. Also, as I am working with so many people interested in the topic, I hope to meet new people and share ideas with them as well.

Hello, I am Seoyoon Won, currently attending Hankuk Academy of Foreign Studies. I am a part of two subgroups in the Korea_HS Team, the Human Practices and Experiment team. This year, I gained a strong interest in biology for the first time. 2023 iGEM is the first step for me to delve into a specific branch of biology, which is synthetic biology. As I engage in various projects to achieve the team’s goals, I hope this competition will improve me in multiple aspects beyond simply gaining academic knowledge about synthetic biology. Also, I look forward to indirectly experiencing various people’s enthusiasm toward biology and getting a positive intellectual influence from them. I hope this opportunity will help refine my specific interests in biology.

Hello, I am Rachel Cho, a member of both the SDG and Experiments teams of the Korea_HS team. I am currently a junior attending Seoul International School and hold a strong passion for fields related to biomedical engineering. Through my various experiences in preparing for and competing in the iGEM competition, I wish to gain more knowledge on the real-life application of synthetic biology and how it is heavily intertwined with environmental aspects. As a student who also values tackling environmental issues and learning about its conservation methods, I chose to join the SDG team to gain further insight into the link between two of my interests. Besides the academic achievements that I hope to acquire in iGEM, I am excited to interact with my peers and gain collaborative, complex thinking, and disciplinary skills that are crucial not only in this competition but also throughout the remainder of my life.

Hello! I am delighted to introduce myself as the principal instructor for the KOREA_HS team in iGEM. I have had the privilege of guiding and mentoring the team for the past three years, overseeing both the experimental aspects and delivering lectures. As the principal instructor, my role is to provide guidance and support to the team members as they navigate the challenges and opportunities that arise during the iGEM competition. I strive to create a positive and stimulating learning environment where everyone can thrive and contribute their unique skills and ideas. I am confident that the KOREA_HS team will excel in this year's iGEM competition, showcasing their innovative ideas, meticulous experimentation, and effective communication skills. Together, we will continue to embrace the challenges, celebrate the achievements, and enjoy the journey that iGEM offers.

Hello, my name is Sohyun Stacey Yu, and I work as a PI supporting the iGEM Korea_HS team at Crimson Education, helping to support the team and facilitate its growth. I am responsible for attending workshops, designing meeting plans, conducting & supporting our team’s in-person discussions, providing materials for human practices, and recording activities. I serve as the primary point of contact for students and advisors. I also provide guidance to students and parents to ensure that our team operates as one team. I am honored and excited to get ready to present our project at Grand Jamboree 2023!

Hello! My name is Hyein Park, and I am working as an extracurricular and leadership mentor at Crimson Education to support students, such as the iGEM competition. I used to have the responsibility of managing the process with the students of the iGEM team in 2020. For iGEM 2023, I am a secondary principal investigator of the Korea_HS Team. As a secondary principal investigator, my major responsibilities are team management and project administration. Every week, I manage and coordinate each of the team members and the progress of project activities. Also, I document our team’s activities and manage all the files on Google Drive. I am so honored to participate as a supporter of the iGEM competition again this year, and I am looking forward to the presentation day!

Annyeonghaseyo (hello in Korean)! I'm Soyoon Kim, a junior at Newton South High School in Newton, Massachusetts. I'm delighted to be a part of the iGEM 2023 community as a Student Advisor for team Korea_HS! With a passion for biology and a future aspiration to become a psychiatrist, being part of iGEM 2022 was a significant milestone in my journey to gain a deeper understanding of the STEM field. Collaborating and communicating with talented high school and college students from across the globe opened my eyes to new perspectives. I had the incredible opportunity to conduct experiments and contribute to a research paper with Professor Lee. As a formal Wiki leader, I am excited to guide members by sharing the valuable lessons I learned from the mistakes of my past experience. I am thrilled about this year's project and have high hopes that it will create a positive impact in our community.

Hello, my name is Chaewon (Ellen) Kim. I am a rising junior attending Korea International School in South Korea and participating as a student advisor of Korea-HS for iGEM 2023. At iGEM 2022, I was introduced to the field of synthetic biology and absorbed an immense amount of information about DNA. In addition to such deep insight and experience, I was also able to interact with global iGEMers through collaborations during the season as a Korea-HS collaboration leader. I was lucky to be provided with extensive resources and equipment from our professor and advisors to properly tackle our projects. Returning this year as a student advisor of Korea-HS, I hope to not only take this as a learning opportunity for myself again but also guide new members of Korea-HS to continued success.

Greetings! I am Kyunghwan Roh, a junior at St. Johnsbury Academy Jeju and participating in the iGEM 2023 as a student advisor of team Korea_HS. Last year, as a student pursuing a career in biochemistry, I gained so much experience and scientific insights from taking Professor Lee’s lectures and researching deeply about synthetic biology. Also, as a leader of the SDG and Entrepreneurship team, I learned a lot about team management and have gained priceless memories. Therefore, I am delighted to join the iGEM team again this year, guiding our 2023 members toward an incredible year-long journey based on my previous year’s experience. Especially as a primary advisor of the SDG team, I hope we can achieve all target SDGs even more successfully than last year, positively impacting the real world using synthetic biology!

Hi, I’m Andrea Kim. Having been the Human Practices Team Leader and the LGBTQ+ Inclusivity spearheader for iGEM Team Korea_HS in 2021, it is an absolute pleasure to return to the team two years later. During my time away, I have been involved in various student research programs to explore topics ranging from the medical potential of 3D Bioprinters to patterned movements in Clione. I believe that iGEM provides a platform for young minds to tackle real-world challenges using synthetic biology. The chance to work collaboratively with students from different backgrounds and disciplines is a unique aspect of the iGEM competition that fosters creativity and outside-of-the-box thinking. With Team Korea_HS’s projects becoming increasingly creative each year, I am thrilled to mentor and see what the team will achieve.

2023, iGEM coming back! Greetings, I’m Seoyun (Matthew) Lee, primary student advisor for 2022 and 2023 Korea_HS and former iGEM Community Ambassador to Korea, Japan, and Thailand. I’m a three-year iGEMer dedicated to accessible education, collaborative discourse, and responsible engineering in synthetic biology. It is truly a pleasure to continue a three-year-consecutive iGEM rollercoaster journey. Two years ago, I served as the team leader and am continuing to support my team this year. I feel truly gratified to observe 2023 members constructively expanding from our 2021 and 2022 efforts–ultimately aspiring to solve global problems with local wisdom. Hopefully, my support as an iGEM alumnus could assist our members in approaching iGEM with creativity, originality, and, last but not least, excitement!