Project Symphony has been cooking up some exciting virtual summer research experience

Sunghee Lee, Ph.D. • August 16, 2020

COVID-19 has disrupted the in-person research experience. However, it certainly did not influence Project Symphony’s kindred spirit and camaraderie. Over the summer, we met every Wednesday 3pm to share our progress on individual projects, take turns to present, and build our knowledge and friendship. All of us started the summer with some level of disappointment but ended with confidence and enthusiasm. Indeed, the bond between Project Symphony members is not something that can be jeopardized no matter what. We became even closer when we were apart. Go! Project Symphony!

“We’ve had the best quarantine summer of research possible! I loved seeing the smiling faces of Project Symphony every Wednesday. Working with my partner, Michael, has been quite rewarding as well. We concluded the summer with a short collaborative project and it was delightful to work together. I will miss the graduating members of our group — shoutout to Joe, Marnie and Regan for being awesome people!” – Kat (Sophomore)

“This wasn’t the summer I expected. When I heard the news that we couldn’t return to lab at all, I was very disappointed. However, Dr. Lee was able to create a memorable summer. I was excited every Wednesday for the zoom meeting.” – Jasmin (Sophomore)

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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