The people who make the magic happen :)
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Daeyeon Lee
Russell Pearce and Elizabeth Crimian Heuer Professor
Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Seoul National University, 2001
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, MIT, 2007
Postdoctoral training: Experimental Soft Condensed Matter Group, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, 2007-2008
email: daeyeon@seas.upenn.edu
phone: 215.573.4521
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS
Hong-Huy Tran, Ph.D.
Graduated From: Université Grenoble Alpes, France
Hometown: Phan Rang-Thap Cham, Vietnam
Major: Materials Science
Joined Lab: April 2022 (co-advised by Prof. Hyun (Michel) Koo)
Research: Biofilm removal
Sunghee Lee, Ph.D.
Graduated From: Ewha Womans University, Republic of Korea
Hometown: Seoul, Republic of Korea
Major: Chemistry
Joined Lab: March 2023 (co-advised by Prof. Hyun (Michel) Koo)
Research: Biomaterials for Oral Disease Prevention
Taeyoung Heo, Ph.D.
Graduated From: Hongik University, Republic of Korea
Hometown: Seongnam, Republic of Korea
Major: Chemical Engineering
Joined Lab: April 2023 (co-advised by Prof. Robert A. Riggleman)
Research: Polymer-Infiltrated Nanoparticle Films
Woojin Jung, Ph.D.
Graduated From: Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon
Hometown: Seoul, Republic of Korea
Major: Chemical Engineering
Joined Lab: June 2023
Research: Liquid metal physics and applications, Surface and interface physics, Stretchable and wearable electronics, Nanopatterning, Bio-integrated flexible, implantable electronics
Seyeon Park, Ph.D.
Graduated from: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
Hometown: Incheon, Korea
Major: Materials Science and Engineering
Joined Lab: September 2023 (co-advised by Profs. John Vohs and Raymond Gorte)
Research: Polymer upcycling
Kathrine Curtin Ph.D.
Graduated From: West Virginia University
Hometown: Latrobe, Pennsylvania
Major: Materials Science and Engineering
Joined Lab: September 2023 (co-advised by Dr. Misun Hwang)
Research: Ultrasound-responsive lipid nanoparticles and microbubbles for drug delivery applications
Sang Yup Lee Ph.D.
Graduated From: Korea University (Seoul, South Korea)
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Major: Chemical Engineering, Interfacial Engineering
Joined Lab: September 2024
Research: Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Macromolecules and Nanoparticles
Interests: Exploring restaurants, cooking, whiskey tasting, and investing.
Gijung Kim, Ph.D.
Graduated From: Korea University (Seoul, Korea)
Hometown: Seoul, Republic of Korea
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Joined Lab: October 2024 (co-advised by Prof. David Issadore)
Research: On-chip lipid nanoparticle quantification and qualification
Interests: Swimming, weight training, and playing piano
Gang (Allan) Lu, Ph.D.
Graduated From: City University of Hong Kong
Hometown: Henan, China
Major: Polymer Chemistry
Joined Lab: February 2025 (co-advised by Prof. Hyun (Michel) Koo)
Research: Supramolecular Polymers for Healthcare, Environmental, Sustainability, and Beyond
Interests: Traveling, Hiking, Cooking
Seongsu Cho, Ph.D.
Graduate From: Sungkyunkwan University (Suwon, Korea)
Hometown: Hanam, Korea
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Joined Lab: May 2025 (co-advised by Prof. David Issadore)
Research: Lipid nanoparticle fabrication using microfluidics
Interests: Traveling, Photography, Cycling, Enjoying coffee
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Yuxuan (Ivy) Dai
Year: PhD Candidate
Graduated From: The Pennsylvania State University
Hometown: Changsha, China
Major: B.S. in Chemical Engineering
Joined Lab: Fall 2019
Research: Bijels as reaction media
Interests: Travelling, Movies, and DOGS!
Lilia Escobedo
Year: PhD Candidate
Graduated From: Cornell University
Hometown: Ithaca, NY
Major: B.S. in Chemical Engineering
Joined Lab: Fall 2019
Research: Protein-inspired superhydrophilic surface design to create non-fouling surfaces
Interests: I like watching movies, cooking, and playing with my dogs. I also practice Taekwondo, and I'm in the process of learning how to ice skate!
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Anastasia Neuman
Year: PhD Candidate
Graduated From: MIT
Hometown: Abingdon, MD
Major: B.S. in Chemical-Biological Engineering
Joined Lab: Fall 2019
Research: Effect of extreme nanoconfinement on the thermodynamics and transport phenomena in multiphasic nanocomposite films
Interests: field hockey, cooking, trying every kind of food, reading, traveling
Website: https://sites.google.com/seas.upenn.edu/annaneu/presentations?authuser=0
Trevor Devine
Year: PhD Candidate
Graduated From: University of Pittsburgh
Hometown: Marlton, NJ
Major: B.S. in Chemical Engineering
Joined Lab: Fall 2020
Research: Effect of extreme nanoconfinement on the thermodynamics and transport phenomena in multiphasic nanocomposite films
Interests: food and drink tasting, exploring the city, hockey, cooking, and audiobooks
Alexander Johnson
Year: PhD Candidate
Graduated From: Rowan University
Hometown: Oaklyn, NJ
Major: B.S. in Chemical Engineering
Joined Lab: Fall 2020
Research: Protein-inspired superhydrophilic surface design to create non-fouling surfaces
Interests: I enjoy getting outside to hike, play golf, or play hockey on the pond in the winter. I am interested in trying new foods in the city and I am a fan of all Philadelphia sports.
Owen Land
Year: PhD Candidate
Graduated From: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Hometown: North Vernon, IN
Major: B.S. in Chemical Engineering
Joined Lab: Fall 2020
Research: Microbubble extraction of algal oil for biodiesel production and bio-refinery pptimization
Interests: Hiking, music, ultimate frisbee, craft beer, traveling, anything outdoors really
Anirban Majumder
Year: PhD Candidate
Graduated From: IIT Kharagpur
Hometown: West Bengal, India
Major: B.S. in Chemical Engineering
Joined Lab: Fall 2020
Research: Polymer Upcycling
Interests: Traveling, chess, music, movies, books, cooking and working out
CK Yeh
Year: PhD Candidate
Graduated From: Rutgers University
Hometown: Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Major: B.S. in Chemical Engineering
Joined Lab: Fall 2020
Research: Microbubbles for therapeutic and diagnostic applications
Interests: making everyone smile :)))))))) yippeeee
Emery Hsu
Year: PhD Candidate
Graduated From: National Taiwan University
Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan
Major: B.S. in Chemical Engineering
Joined Lab: Fall 2021
Interests: Traveling, writing, reading and classical music
Hoang Dinh
Year: PhD Candidate
Graduated From: MIT
Hometown: Hanoi, Vietnam
Major: B.S. in Chemical Engineering
Joined Lab: Fall 2021
Research: Distributed Ribonucleic Acid Manufacturing (DReAM) using bijel.
Interests: baking, badminton, jazz, and J-Pop
Siddharth Sharma
Year: PhD Candidate
Graduated From: Penn State
Hometown: New Delhi, India
Major: B.S. in Chemical Engineering
Joined Lab: Fall 2021
Research: Bioprocess upscaling using microfluidics
Interests: Movies, Traveling, Painting, Dancing.
Sophie Haddad
Year: PhD Candidate
Graduated From: Lebanese University, Faculty of Medical Sciences
Hometown: Beirut, Lebanon
Major: Bioengineering
Joined Lab: Fall 2022
Research: Theranostic Microbubbles
Interests: Traveling, cooking, trying new foods
Philip Iaccarino
Year: PhD Candidate
Graduated From: Stony Brook University
Hometown: Farmingdale, New York
Major: M.S. and B.E. in Chemical and Molecular Engineering
Joined Lab: Fall 2022
Research: Bijel 3D printing
Interests: Ultimate frisbee, cooking, watching sports, live music, good food
Kaiwen Wang
Year: PhD Student
Graduated From: Johns Hopkins University
Hometown: Nanjing, China
Major: B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Joined Lab: Spring 2023
Research: Polymer Upcycling
Interests: Video games, board games, cooking, singing, good food and good drinks.
Gabriela Gomez-Dopazo
Year: PhD Candidate
Graduated From: University of Puerto Rico - Cayey
Hometown: Cayey, Puerto Rico
Major: B.S. in Chemistry
Joined Lab: Fall 2023
Research: Bicontinuous Interfacially Jammed Emulsion Gels
Interests: Cooking, rock climbing and exploring the city.
Amanda Hopkins
Year: PhD Candidate (co-advised by Daniel A. Hammer)
Graduated From: University of Delaware
Hometown: Springfield, PA
Major: Chemical Engineering
Joined Lab: May 2024
Research: Autonomous motion of enzymatically driven Janus and non-Janus micromotors
Interests: Sports, reading, exploring Philly, traveling
Ronnie Cunitz
Year: PhD Student
Graduated From: University of Mississippi
Hometown: Makakilo, HI
Major: B.S. in Chemical Engineering
Joined Lab: Fall 2024
Research: Enzyme-Driven Protocell Motion
Interests: hiking, reading, painting, and running.
Mellany Smith
Year: 1st year Master’s to PhD Bridge Fellow
Graduated From: Wellesley College
Hometown: West Orange, NJ
Major: B.A in Chemistry
Joined Lab: Fall 2024
Research:
Interests: listening to music, exploring restaurants, cooking, outdoor walks
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
VISITING SCHOLARS
Seonghun Shin
Year: Visiting Scholar (PhD student)
Graduated From: Sungkyunkwan University
Hometown: Daejeon, Republic of Korea
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Joined Lab: Mar 2024
Research: AI-empowered microfluidics
Interests: weight training, running, and cooking
Luuk H. Schoenmakers
Year: Visiting Scholar (Master student)
Graduated From: Utrecht University
Hometown: Elst (Utrecht), The Netherlands
Major: Organic Chemistry
Joined Lab: Fall 2024
Research: Microbubbles for therapeutic and diagnostic applications
Interests: Mycology, rowing, playing guitar, and hiking
Bomi Kim
Year: Visiting Scholar (PhD student)
Graduated From: Yonsei University
Hometown: Seoul, Republic of Korea
Major: B.S. in Chemical Biomolecular Engineering
Joined Lab: Nov 2024
Research: Polymer electrolyte and gas separation membrane
Interests: Cooking, music and hiking
Jihyuk Yang
Year: Visiting Scholar (Master student)
Graduated From: Chung-Ang University
Hometown: Seoul, Republic of Korea
Major: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering
Joined Lab: Mar 2025
Research: Oxygen-Delivering Lipid Nanoparticles for Therapeutic Applications
Interests: running, playing basketball, traveling, and discovering new music!
VISITING PROFESSOR
Clara Hyeryn Kim
Year: Rising senior undergraduate researcher
Graduated From: I graduate from Penn in May 2025
Hometowns: Hong Kong and South Korea
Majors: Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Joined Lab: May 2024
Research: Investigating EvOH polymer and various nanoparticle interactions via contact angle measurements
Interests: Cooking, traveling, watching movies, trying out new restaurants
Irfaz Oddir
Year: Undergraduate Researcher (2026, rising junior)
Graduated From: N/A (I finish my degree in 2026 from the University of Pennsylvania )
Hometown: New Jersey
Major: Chemical Engineering
Joined Lab: May 2024
Research: Microbubble Processes for Algal Biofuel Production
Interests: Working out, video games, movies