Alessandra to Perform Summer Research at the University of Tokyo, an NSF-Sponsored International Collaboration

Sunghee Lee, Ph.D. • September 19, 2017

This summer, Alessandra Armetta (’18 ACS Chemistry) joined a globally renowned scientific team in Tokyo to perform research in the field of Biophysical Chemistry. This opportunity was enabled by the NSF Award to Dr. Lee for an international research collaboration with Professor Shoji Takeuchi of the University of Tokyo. She follow Peter J. Milianta (Class of 2016, Biochemistry), Michael McGlone (Class of 2017, Physics), and Jacqueline Denver (Class of 2017, Biochemistry) who traveled last two years 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. Every year, research partners were very impressed by our students’ contribution, hence our fruitful partnership continues. 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!” Alessandra’s contribution to the work led to the publication of proceedings at the renowned International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences (micro-TAS 2017), where she will present her research finding titled, “Characterization of Monoolein Bilayer Thickness Using Specific Membrane Capacitance” on October 22-26, in Savannah, Georgia.

Celebrating Excellence: A Big Congrats to the Project Symphony

By Sunghee Lee • April 17, 2025
I’m so excited to congratulate and celebrate the amazing achievements of our undergraduate research group, the Project Symphony, at this year’s Iona Scholars Day! You all worked incredibly hard, and it really showed. The presentations covered a wide range of interesting and impactful projects that not only highlight your academic skills but also your passion for learning and discovery. Each project was a great example of your creativity and dedication. What stood out the most was how engaged and enthusiastic everyone was about their research. Your energy was contagious, and it was clear you’ve really connected with your topics and learned a lot along the way. A huge shoutout to each of you for your fantastic presentations. Your hard work and passion for research really set you apart, and I’m so proud of everything you’ve accomplished. I’m confident you’ll keep doing great things and making a real impact in your fields. Once again, congrats to everyone on a successful Iona Scholars Day!

Published: Project symphony-Composing a masterpiece in a science laboratory

By Sunghee Lee • March 14, 2025
In this Backstory, Dr. Lee and her students and recent graduates reflect on the development and experiences that shaped their journey through Project Symphony and the resulting skills they’ve learned. The symphony they’ve created together is a testament to the transformative power of collaborative undergraduate research – a melody of discovery that continues to evolve and inspire. You can read the full article here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225001464

Exciting News: Our Latest Research Published in Langmuir!

By Sunghee Lee • January 29, 2025
We are thrilled to announce the publication of our collaborative research in Langmuir, the journal of the American Chemical Society. Our paper, titled “Electrophysiological Characterization of Monoolein-Fatty Acid Bilayers,” represents a significant milestone in our ongoing investigation of electrical property of model cell membranes. As an open-access article, our research is now freely available to the scientific community and the public. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c03814 This publication is the culmination of a fruitful collaboration with the research team at University of Tokyo, Japan. The lead author, Caroline Scott (Class of 2025), performed the experiments along with Riley Porteus (Class of 2024, now in a PhD program at Virginia Tech), building on her invaluable experience gained during a summer research trip in Japan last year, made possible by National Science Foundation. Caroline's dedication and perseverance have finally come to fruition. We look forward to continuing our work and sharing more news in the future!
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