Summer 2024 Research Recap: A Season of Discovery and Collaboration!

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!

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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