Jasmin Awarded CME STEM Undergraduate Summer Research Scholarship

Sunghee Lee • September 2, 2022

A member of Project Symphony, Jasmin Ceja Vega (’23 Biochemistry) has been chosen as a winner to receive CME STEM Undergraduate Summer ‘22 Research Scholarship. Chemical Marketing and Economics, Inc. (CME) offers a summer research opportunity for college juniors majoring in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering or related fields, in the New York metropolitan (NY-NJ-CT) area to perform state-of-the-art research at their home institutions. https://www.cme-stem.org/events/2022-undergraduate-scholarship-winners/


Jasmin’s project focuses on investigating interactions of various plant phytochemicals with cell membranes. Phytochemicals have caught public attention for their antitumor, antimicrobial, and neuroprotective properties; however, a detailed description of their mechanism of action is lacking. This research project investigates the non-specific interactions of phytochemicals with a model membrane system in the presence and absence of cholesterol. These interactions may influence protein structure and biological function and thus provide a possible mode of action.


After 10-Week research experience under the mentorship of Dr. Sunghee Lee in Summer 2022, Jasmin presented her findings at the American Chemical Society National Meeting in Chicago, IL in August 21-25, 2022. 

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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