Lab Members


BioTEL Researchers

Principial Investigator

Young Jik Kwon, Ph.D.

Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering,
Biomedical Engineering, and Molecular Biology and Biochemistry


Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center,
Institute for Immunology, Center for Virus Research, and Cancer Research Institute

Office: Sprague Hall 132
Tel: (949) 824-8714
Email: kwonyj@uci.edu


Visiting Scholars


Postdoctoral Researchers

Yeonsu Choi, Ph.D.

Pharmaceutical Sciences (2021-present)

The Catholic University of Korea, B.S., Ph.D.

Office: Sprague Hall B200   

Email: yeonsuc@uci.edu

Project: Polymeric vaccine carriers


Graduate Researchers

Rebecca T. Lee

Biomedical Engineering (2020-Present)

Medical Scientist Training Program (2019-Present)

Cal Poly SLO, B.S.

Email: rebecctl@uci.edu

Project: Virus-mimicking nanoparticles

Olivia Ritchie

Biomedical Engineering (2022-present)

Cal Poly SLO, B.S.

Email: oritchie@uci.edu

Project: Cell-guised AAV


PharmD Students

Alvin Ly

Doctor of Pharmacy (2021-Present)

University of California, San Diego, B.S.

Email: alvinvl@hs.uci.edu


Undergraduates

Gianella Campos

Chemical Engineering (2021-Present)

Email: gicampos@uci.edu

Project: Virus-mimicking nanoparticles

Zhi Kee Lim

Pharmaceutical Sciences (2022-Present)

Email: zklim@uci.edu

Project: Cellular vesicles for gene therapies

Sandra Ngwoke

Pharmaceutical Sciences (2020-Present)

Email: sngwoke@uci.edu

Project: Cellular vesicles for gene therapies

Curtis Hu

Pharmaceutical Sciences (2020-Present)

Email: curtish1@uci.edu

Project: Cellular vesicles for gene therapies


High School Interns

Hyowon (Sarah) Han

Email: hyowonhan2@gmail.com

Project: Polymeric vaccine carriers

Alumni

Postdoctoral Researchers

  • Dr. Jee Young Chung (2020-2022)
  • Dr. Melissa Thone (2020-2021)
  • Dr. Trang Duong (2018-2021)
  • Dr. Hao Hu (2018-2019)
  • Dr. Cheol Am Hong (2014-2016)
  • Dr. Jang Il Kim (2012-2013)
  • Dr. Jones Tsai (2010-2012)
  • Dr. In Kap Ko (2006-2007, CWRU)

Graduate Students

  • Sicong Wang (Ph.D., 2021-2022)
  • Saad Mohammad (Ph.D. in 2021: 2017-2021)
  • Matthew Slaught (M.S., 2020)
  • Robert Choi (M.S. in 2021: 2019-2021)
  • Melissa Thone (Ph.D. in 2020; 2015-2020)
  • Margaret Lugin (Ph.D. in 2020; 2014-2020)
  • Jessica Kemp (Ph.D. in 2019; 2012- 2019)
  • Brenda F.M. Castro (2017-2018, visiting PhD student from Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil)
  • Maria Carolina Andrade Guerra (2017-2018, visiting PhD student from Federal University of Goiás, Brazil)
  • Dominique Ingato (Ph.D. in 2018; 2012-2018)
  • Julius A. Edson (Ph.D. in 2017; 2012-2017)
  • Marina França Dias (2015-2016,
    visiting Ph.D student from Federal University of GoiásBrazil)
  • Shirley Wong (Ph.D. in 2015; 2010-2015)
  • Soo Kyung Cho (Ph.D. in 2013; 2008-2013)
  • Chang Soo Kim (Ph.D. in 2010; 2007-2010)
  • Min Suk Shim (Ph.D. in 2010; 2005-2010)
  • Alaleh Golkar Narenji (2010-2011)
  • Yoon Kyung Kim (2007-2010)
  • Shiwei Lu (M.S. in 2008; 2006-2008)
  • Ever Arenas (2008, visiting Ph.D student from UNAM, Mexico)

Visiting Scholars & Assistant Project Scientist

  • Dr. Soo Jung Lee (2021-2023, Kyungpook University)
  • Dr. Ki-wook Oh (2020-2021, Hanyang University)
  • Dr. Min Suk Shim (2019-2020, Incheon National University)
  • Dr. Young Tag Ko (2019-2020, Gachon University)
  • Dr. Hyukjin Lee (2018-2019, EWHA, Korea)
  • Dr. Jong Bum Lee (2018-2019, University of Seoul, Korea)
  • Dr. Hyun Gyu Park (2017-2018, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Korea)
  • Dr. Se Joon Woo (2016-2017, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Korea)
  • Dr. Seong Ho Jeong (2016-2017, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea)
  • Dr. Nae Yoon Lee (2015-2016, Gachon University, Korea)
  • Dr. Soo-Young Yoon (2015-2016, Korea University, Korea)
  • Dr. Soha Lee (2014-2015, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Korea)
  • Prof. Chan Yeong Heo (2014-2015, Seoul National University, College of Medicine, Korea)
  • Prof. Soyoung Shin (2014, St. Mary’s Hospital, Korea)
  • Dr. Ae Jung Huh (2010-2011, National Health Insurance Corporation Ilsan Hospital, Korea)
  • Seong Sil Chang  (2008-2010)
  • Prof. Yong Woo Lee (2008, Yanbin University of Science and Technology, China)

 Junior Specialists

  • Lijie Chen (2022-2023)
  • Yash Patel (2021-2022)
  • Anjali Dixit (2018-2019)
  • David Chow (2018-2019)
  • Viet “Johnny” Nguyen (2011-2012)
  • Christine Munoz (2010)

Undergraduate Researchers

  • Calvin Park (2020-2023)
  • Hanh Min Do (2022)
  • Kaycee Tran (2018-2021)
  • Adel Tani (2021)
  • Nathalie Iribe (2017-2020)
  • Clark Wey (2018-2020)
  • Alexander Rodriguez (2017-2019)
  • Jinnen Masri (2017-2019)
  • Vincent Tran (2018-2019)
  • Kirolos Kelada (2015-2018)
  • Hoang My Nguyen (2016-2017)
  • Lucy Sanossian (2016-2017)
  • Michael Zakharian (2015-2017)
  • Zaki Molvi (2013-2017)
  • Anthony Raus (2015-2017)
  • Agatha Chen (2016)
  • Jordyn Rodwell (2016)
  • Manuel Seraydarian (2015-2016)
  • Taylor Niu (2015-2016)
  • Bryan Pham (2014-2015)
  • Bianca Lee (2013-2015)
  • Jane Kim (2012-2015)
  • Lee Miyauchi (2014)
  • Shirley Wu (2013-2014)
  • Mary Soliman (2012-2014)
  • Patrick Sy (2013)
  • Chris Dang (2012-2013)
  • Theodore Chang (2012)
  • Joseph Lacasella (2010-2012)
  • Sid Selvaseker (2012)
  • Charles Xue (2008-2012)
  • Ralph Ang (2012)
  • Kellie Komoda (2010-2012)
  • Tommy Chau (2012)
  • Haley Phan (2010-2011)
  • Justin Lussier (2010-2011)
  • Joshua Wang (2009-2010)
  • Steven Lam (2008-2010)
  • Tamara McBride (2008-2009)
  • Laura Davison (2007, REU)
  • Rachel Silver (2006, CWRU)
  • Phillip Seitzer (2006, CWRU)
  • Maxwell Kotakrchyk (2006, CWRU)
  • Benson Kwee (2006, CWRU)
  • Minakshee Mohanty (2006, CWRU)
  • John Heddleston (2005-2007, CWRU)
  • Anjuli Sinha (2005-2006, CWRU)
  • Jeanie Choi (2005-2006, CWRU)
  • Joe Roshetsky (2005, CWRU)
  • Landon Polakof (2006, CWRU)

Graduate Rotation Students

  • Amirmasoud Samadi (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2023)
  • Clark Jia (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2022)
  • Eric Wang (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2021)
  • Daanish Kulkarni (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2021)
  • Yasamin Heydary (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2021)
  • Erica Lee (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2021)
  • Sicong Wang (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2021)
  • Anjali Dixit (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2019)
  • Brandon Latifi (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2018)
  • Shamsul Abedin (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2018)
  • Adam Stabell (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2018)
  • Itsugo Yamayoshi (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2017)
  • Austin Epiphane Lefebvre (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2017)
  • Hannah Comstock (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2017)
  • Seong-Min Kim (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2014)
  • Mona Oumais (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2013)
  • Emma Mah (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2013)
  • Candice Geller (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2013)
  • Zhenghao Lee (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2013)
  • Beth Roussau (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2013)
  • Heather Wright (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2012)
  • Daniel Fremgen (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2012)
  • Christopher Blair (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2012)
  • Nini Huang (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2012)
  • Thuy Luu (Ph.D Rotation Student 2012)
  • David Tran (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2010)
  • Xiaofng Liang (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2010)
  • Javier Cardenas (M.S. Rotation Student 2009)
  • Vyom Mehta (M.S. Rotation Student 2009)
  • Matthew Coblyn (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2008)
  • Himanshu Sharma (M.S. Rotation Student 2007-2008)
  • Chris Leber (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2007-2008)
  • Adam Gardener (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2008)
  • Yanan Liu (Ph.D. Rotation Student 2008)
  • Tom Valenti (M.S. Rotation Student 2008)
  • Dr. Alexander Pines (M.D. Rotation Student 2007, CCF)