WHAT'S NEW?

By Sunghee Lee May 6, 2025
As the semester comes to a close, Project Symphony members gathered to celebrate a very special milestone - the graduation of seven dedicated seniors who have been an integral part of our team for many years. Their passion, enthusiasm, and hard work have not only driven their individual growth but have also contributed to the collective success of our group. Together, we’ve achieved so much more than any one of us could alone - a beautiful reminder of the power of collaboration and shared purpose...the true meaning of the "Project Symphony"! We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to these remarkable students for the energy and commitment they brought to the lab every day. Your contributions have truly made a difference, and we are proud to have been part of your journey. As you embark on your next chapter, we wish you all the very best in your future endeavors. Remember, once you are a member of the Project Symphony, you are forever part of our family. We look forward to seeing the incredible things you will accomplish ahead! Congratulations and thank you for everything!
By Sunghee Lee May 5, 2025
We are thrilled to celebrate a remarkable milestone for our former Project Symphony group member, Joe, who officially earned their Medical Doctor (MD) degree today for SUNY Upstate Medical University. This achievement marks the culmination of years of dedication, hard work, and passion for advancing healthcare. During his time with Project Symphony, Joe demonstrated exceptional commitment to research and a genuine curiosity that inspired us all. We have no doubt that these qualities will make him an outstanding physician and a valuable contributor to the medical community. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Giancaspro on this well-deserved accomplishment. We look forward to seeing all the incredible ways they will impact the world of medicine!
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!
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
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!
By Sunghee Lee December 14, 2024
Can you believe how fast this semester went? The Fall 2024 semester came and went in the blink of an eye, yet we accomplished so much while balancing challenging coursework and engaging research activities. We're really proud of how we keep pushing ourselves to maintain high standards while supporting each other and building a great sense of teamwork. After all, that’s what the Project Symphony is all about. To close out this amazing semester, we all got together on the last day of classes to celebrate everything we’ve accomplished, both as individuals and as a group. Our gathering was a fun mix of camaraderie and creativity, featuring a coloring session and the gingerbread house competition. As we reflect on this semester, it’s clear that beyond the data and research papers, we are more than just a group; we are a community. A family bound by intellectual curiosity, mutual respect, and a shared passion for pushing the boundaries of knowledge. Here’s to another semester filled with breakthroughs, support, and the joy of discovery!
By Sunghee Lee August 24, 2024
Nine undergraduate researchers from our Chemistry & Biochemistry Department recently took Denver by storm, presenting their scientific findings at the American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting, August 18-22, 2024. Under the mentorship of Dr. Sunghee Lee, these bright minds showcased seven posters in the Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry of the ACS. Our students stood shoulder-to-shoulder with PhDs and PostDocs from around the globe, demonstrating the high caliber of undergraduate research at our institution. Their presentations were the culmination of tireless efforts in the lab, spanning intense summer sessions and busy academic semesters. In addition to their academic achievements, the Project Symphony team seized the opportunity to explore Denver's cultural offerings, including a breathtaking sunrise at Red Rocks Park and enriching museum visits. These shared experiences outside the conference halls further strengthened their bonds as a cohesive research unit. This successful venture to the ACS National Meeting exemplifies the Project Symphony ethos: harmonious collaboration towards shared scientific goals, coupled with the joy of collective achievement and exploration. We're immensely proud of our undergraduate researchers for representing our department on the international stage and look forward to their future contributions to the field of chemistry.
August 9, 2024
We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Lee has been named one of the 37 ACS Fellows for 2024 by the American Chemical Society! This prestigious recognition celebrates Dr. Lee's remarkable contributions to the field of science and dedicated service to the ACS community. Dr. Lee expressed gratitude, stating, "Being recognized as an ACS Fellow is a profound honor. This award acknowledges my work in biophysical chemistry and my commitment to mentoring nearly 100 undergraduate students. It's a testament to our shared success in integrating education with research excellence." The special awards ceremony will take place at the ACS National Meeting in Denver, CO, on August 19th, 2024. Dr. Lee is eagerly looking forward to celebrating this milestone with 10 talented students from the research group, who will also be presenting their findings to an international audience. Their hard work and dedication have made this journey unforgettable! Congratulations to Dr. Lee and the entire team for this incredible achievement. We can't wait to see the exciting discoveries that lie ahead! -Project Symphony Team
By Sunghee Lee August 9, 2024
Wow, what a summer it has been! Time truly flies when you're immersed in exciting research, and this summer was no exception for our dedicated research team, The Project Symphony. As we look back, it's hard to believe how quickly the days slipped by, filled with laughter, learning, and teamwork. The camaraderie among our team members has been nothing short of inspiring. While some might think spending long summer days in a science lab could be daunting, we found that collaborating with fellow aspiring scientists made every moment enjoyable and rewarding. Our group name, Project Symphony, reflects our spirit perfectly: we work together in harmony, united by our shared goals and passion for discovery. This summer, we made significant strides in our ambitious research plans, and we were thrilled to welcome two bright high school students, Maryam and Pariss, to our team. Their enthusiasm and fresh perspectives brought even more joy and productivity to our lab experience. Thank you, Maryam and Pariss! You will be greatly missed! Looking ahead, we’re gearing up for the ACS National Meeting in Denver, CO, where we’ll present our scientific findings to international audience. The excitement is palpable, and we can’t wait to share our work with the broader scientific community. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue this incredible journey!
By Sunghee Lee May 28, 2024
We are delighted to share the publication of our most recent research paper. The article titled “The Role of Lipid Intrinsic Curvature in the Droplet Interface Bilayer” is now available in the Langmuir, the publication of American Chemical Society. The open access article can be seen in this link: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c00270 In this paper, we investigate the effect of intrinsic curvature of lipid molecules assembled in a droplet interface bilayer array, on its free energy of formation. Using lipid molecules of different curvature values, the role of curvature stress on the values of free energy of formation is discussed, revealing a linear function of squared value of curvature. Our findings has significant potential to uncover the functional relationships between bilayer stress and protein function, and provide insights on the understanding of how proteins fold, bind, and act, in real cellular membranes. We are so grateful for the harmonious efforts of all members of our research group and their contributions, as well as to the NSF for their funding support.
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