Two Iona Science Students from Dr. Sunghee Lee’s Research Group to Perform Summer Research at the University of Tokyo, an NSF-Sponsored International Collaboration

Sunghee Lee, Ph.D. • September 14, 2016

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded funding to Dr. Sunghee Lee in the Chemistry Department to promote an international research collaboration with Professor Shoji Takeuchi of the University of Tokyo. Two students from Dr. Lee’s Research Group – Jacqueline Denver (Class of 2017, Biochemistry) and Michael McGlone (Class of 2017, Physics) – will be joining a globally renowned scientific team in Tokyo this summer to perform research in the field of Biomimetic Soft Materials Chemistry. These students will be involved in separate research projects and travel to Japan at different times during the summer. They follow Peter J. Milianta (Class of 2016, Biochemistry) who traveled last year to Japan for a month-long research project. Dr. Lee noted, “This is a tremendous opportunity for our students to experience a true intellectual collaboration. Last year, our research partners were very impressed by Peter’s contribution, hence our fruitful partnership continues. Michael and Jacqueline have been role models in my research laboratory, leading very successful projects. Their summer experience will provide an even greater level of confidence and strength towards their careers in science in the future. I am very proud to be able to offer this opportunity, and they deserve it!” The NSF awards this funding to promote their vision of “a Nation that creates and exploits new concepts in science and engineering and provides global leadership in research and education.”

Exploring Graphene Oxide–Cholesterol Interactions Across Model Membranes

By Sunghee Lee • February 23, 2026
We’re pleased to announce our new collaborative publication, “Study of the Interaction Between Graphene Oxide and Cholesterol Using Different Artificial Membrane Models,” conducted in partnership with colleagues in Italy. This work investigates how graphene oxide—an emerging nanomaterial with biomedical promise—interacts with cholesterol within lipid membranes. By employing various artificial membrane systems, we examined how membrane composition and organization influence these interactions, revealing key insights into the physicochemical mechanisms at play. Our results contribute to a deeper understanding of how nanomaterials engage with biological membranes, providing valuable guidance for the safe and effective design of graphene-based biomedical applications. Congratulations to all team members and our Italian collaborators on this exciting achievement! The full article is available here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0021979726002821 .

New Insights into Serotonin’s Relationship with Cell Membranes

By Sunghee Lee • February 23, 2026
In this study, we explored how the membrane environment shapes the behavior of serotonin, a key neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation and neural signaling. By systematically varying lipid composition in model membranes, we uncovered how differences in lipid charge, fluidity, and packing influence serotonin’s nonspecific interactions with bilayers. Our findings shed new light on the physical chemistry of neurotransmitter–membrane interactions, with potential implications for understanding serotonin’s diverse physiological functions and its role in receptor signaling. Congratulations to all co-authors for their outstanding work and collaboration! The article can be accessed here: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acsptsci.5c00767

Recent Publication: How Tiny Molecules Shape the Flexibility of Cell Membranes

By Sunghee Lee • November 15, 2025
Our research team has uncovered new details about how small oil-like molecules influence the thickness and flexibility of cell membranes. These membranes, built from layers of lipids, contain tiny pockets of free space that help control how soft, dense, or permeable the membrane is. Our research team found that some smaller molecules can fit into these layers, making the membrane thicker, while larger or crystallizing ones get pushed out, leading to thinning. These changes help explain how different molecules inside a membrane affect its overall structure and function. This study not only expands our understanding of how biological membranes work but also points to new possibilities for creating custom-designed synthetic membranes for research and technology. Read more details here: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jpcb.5c06296 Congratulations to the Project Symphpony team for their exciting findings and continued dedication to advancing membrane science!
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