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Project Symphony has been cooking up some exciting virtual summer research experience

Sunghee Lee, Ph.D. • Aug 16, 2020

COVID-19 has disrupted the in-person research experience. However, it certainly did not influence Project Symphony’s kindred spirit and camaraderie. Over the summer, we met every Wednesday 3pm to share our progress on individual projects, take turns to present, and build our knowledge and friendship. All of us started the summer with some level of disappointment but ended with confidence and enthusiasm. Indeed, the bond between Project Symphony members is not something that can be jeopardized no matter what. We became even closer when we were apart. Go! Project Symphony!

“We’ve had the best quarantine summer of research possible! I loved seeing the smiling faces of Project Symphony every Wednesday. Working with my partner, Michael, has been quite rewarding as well. We concluded the summer with a short collaborative project and it was delightful to work together. I will miss the graduating members of our group — shoutout to Joe, Marnie and Regan for being awesome people!” – Kat (Sophomore)

“This wasn’t the summer I expected. When I heard the news that we couldn’t return to lab at all, I was very disappointed. However, Dr. Lee was able to create a memorable summer. I was excited every Wednesday for the zoom meeting.” – Jasmin (Sophomore)

By Sunghee Lee 19 Apr, 2024
I am thrilled to congratulate and celebrate the outstanding achievements of our undergraduate research group, the Project Symphony, at this year's Iona Scholars Day! Our team of dedicated students has worked tirelessly, and their hard work and commitment have truly paid off. The presentations showcased a wide range of impactful research projects that not only demonstrate the academic excellence of our research group members but also their passion for discovery and learning. Each project was a testament to the creativity and hardwork of the Project Symphony research team. One of the most inspiring aspects of the day was seeing how the Project Symphony members engaged with their research topics. Your enthusiasm was contagious, and it was clear that you had developed a deep understanding and appreciation for the chosen fields of topic. I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to each member of the Project Symphony members for your exceptional presentations. Your hard work, dedication, and passion for research have truly set you apart, and I am incredibly proud of all that you have accomplished. As I reflect on Iona Scholars Day and look towards the future, I am excited to see where our Project Symphony research group will go next. I have no doubt that you will continue to achieve great things and make meaningful contributions to your field of study. Once again, congratulations to the Project Symphony on a successful Scholars Day! Your hard work, dedication, and passion for research are truly inspiring, and I can't wait to see what you will accomplish next. -Dr. Lee
By Sunghee Lee 13 Apr, 2024
We are thrilled to announce the publication of our latest research paper titled "Concentration-Dependent Effects of Curcumin on Membrane Permeability and Structure" in the ACS Pharmacology and Translational Science ( https://doi.org/10.1021/acsptsci.4c00093 ) . This publication represents the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and collaboration within our research group. In this paper, we delve into how phytochemical curcumin interacts with lipid bilayer. Our findings not only contribute to the existing body of knowledge in this field but also have the potential for successful translation of curcumin into effective medicine. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the members of our research group for their invaluable contributions, and NSF for funding support. We look forward to continuing our research efforts and sharing more exciting discoveries in the future. Stay tuned for further updates from our research group! Go Project Symphony!
By Sunghee Lee 01 Mar, 2024
The Project Symphony team publishes another research paper in peer-reviewed journal, Journal of Physical Chemistry B The article titled “Differential Effects of Soy Isoflavones on the Biophysical Properties of Model Membranes” is published in Journal of Physical Chemistry B, an American Chemical Society publication. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c08390 This paper is coauthored by nine undergraduates, Jamie Gudyka ('24 Biochemistry), Jasmin Ceja-Vega ('23 Biochemistry), Katherine Ivanchenko (’23 Chemistry), Wilber Perla (’25 Chemistry), Christopher Poust (’25 Chemistry), Alondra Gamez Hernandez ('23 Biochemistry), Colleen Clarke (’23 Chemistry), Shakinah Silverberg (’24 Biology/Chemistry), Escarlin Perez ('22 Biochemistry) with Dr. Sunghee Lee. Congratulations to the Project Symphony!
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