As a visionary scientist and engineer pursuing convergence of physical science and life sciences with strong interests in cellular mechanobiology, my research is highly interdisciplinary beyond the boarder of conventional subcategories of life sciences as well as traditional physical sciences. The theoretical basis of my research is rooted in engineering physics but I have evolved to concentrate on physics of cell migration, particularly focusing on the cutting-edge of nano/micro systems for cellular mechanobiology in combination with cell biology and bioengineering. I have been extremely interested in the fundamental problem of how the external environments of cells could affect their behavior. Using multidisciplinary experimental approaches, I have extensively scrutinized cellular responses to the external physical environment, via the hierarchical perspective of signal transduction, i.e., the extracellular environment, cell-matrix adhesions, cytoskeletal architecture, nucleocytoskeletal connections, intranuclear structural organization, and epigenetic modifications. Based on fundamental life sciences, my research also applies to biomedical applications such as high-throughput cell phenotyping, fabrication of in vitro cell culture platforms, and organ-on-a-chip technology, essential for personalized medicine as well as translational regenerative medicine.

Education

• PhD (2008-2013): Chemical and Biomolecular Enigneering, Johns Hopkins University
• MS (2005-2007): Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, KAIST
• BS (1999-2005): Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University (Summa Cum Laude)

Professional Experiences

• 2020.9 ~    : 학부 메디컬융합전공, 주임 교수
• 2020.9 ~    : 공과대학 융합에너지공학과, 부교수
• 2019.9 ~    : KU-KIST융합대학원, 부교수
• 2015-2019 : KU-KIST융합대학원, 조교수
• 2014-2015 : Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University, Cambridge, USA
• 2013-2014 : Postdoctoral Fellow, Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTehcnology, Baltimore, USA

HONORS & AWARDS

• - Phi Biomed Young Scientist Award, The Korean Society for Biomaterials (KSBM) 2020
• - International Relations Committee Award, Biophysical Society (BPS) 2018
• - The 1st Young Scientist Award, Korean Society for Industrial and Engineering Chemistry (KSIEC) 2016
• - International Relations Committee Award, Biophysical Society (BPS) 2016
• - 2nd place, The art of Science, Biophysical Society (BPS) 2013
• - Honorable mention, Cell Dance, American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) 2011
• - Image of Distinction, Nikon Small World Competition 2011
• - Government Scholarship, Ministry of Science, KAIST 2007-2008
• - Graduated with the Greatest Honor, Summa Cum Laude, Korea University 2005
• - Chonman Scholarships, Korea University 2004
• - Honors Scholarships, Korea University, 1999, 2000, 2003
• - Semester High Honors, Korea University, 1999-2005

AFFILIATIONS

• Korean Physical Society (2018-present)
• Korean Society for Biomaterials (2017-present)
• Korean Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Society (2017-present)
• Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology (2017-present)
• Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology (2016-present)
• Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry (2016-present)
• Korean Society for Biotechnology and Bioengineering (2015-present)
• Korean Society for Nanomedicine (2015-present)
• Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association (2015-present)
• Biomedical Engineering Socieity (2012-present)
• Biophysical Society (2011-present)
• American Society for Cell Biology (2010-present)
• The Polymer Society of Korea (2005-present)

PEER-REVIEWED ARTICLES

• Lee G#, Han SB#, Kim DH*. Cell-ECM contact-guided intracellular polarization is mediated via Lamin A/C dependent nucleus-cytoskeletal connection, Accepted for publication in Biomaterials (2020)
   
  Jo J#, Abdi Nansa S#, Kim DH*. Molecular regulators of cellular mechanoadaptation at cell-material interfaces, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology (2020)
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• Han SB#, Kim JK#, Lee G, Kim DH*. Mechanical properties of materials for stem cell differentiation, Advanced Biosystems (2020)
   
  Park JW#, Han SB#, Hah J, Lee GH, Kim JK, Kim SH, Kim DH*. Biological aging modulates cell migration via lamin A/C dependent nuclear motion. Micromachines (2020)
   
  Ko GJ, Han SD, Kim JK, Zhu J, Han WB, Chung J, Yang SM, Cheng H, Kim DH, Kang CY, Hwang SW*. Biodegradable, flexible silicon nanomembranes-based NOx gas sensor system with record-high performance for transient environmental monitors and medical implants. NPG Asia Materials (2020)
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• Lee YJ, Lee BY, Yoon CW, Jeong H, Jang SC, Kim DH, Kim KB, Nam SW*. Facile synthesis of micro-sized Ni-Al alloy powders through low-temperature chemical alloying. Journal of Alloys and Compounds (2020)
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• Sneider A#, Hah J#, Wirtz D*, Kim DH*. Recapitulation of molecular regulators of nuclear motion during cell migration. Cell Adhesion & Migration (2019)
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• Lee GH#, Han SB#, Lee JH, Kim HW, Kim DH*. Cancer mechanobiology: Microenvironmental sensing and metastasis, ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering (2019) *** JOURNAL COVER FEATURED
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• Shafiq M, Wang L, Zhang Q, Kim DH, Kong D, Kim SH*. In Situ Blood Vessel Regeneration using Neuropeptide Substance P Conjugated Small-Diameter Vascular Grafts. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research: Part B - Applied Biomaterials (2019)
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• Hah J#, Kim DH*. Deciphering nuclear mechanobiology in laminopathy, Cells (2019)
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• Lee JH, Kim DH, Lee HH, Kim HW*. Role of nuclear mechanosensitivity in determining cellular responses to forces and biomaterials, Biomaterials (2019)
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• Kim JK#, Shin YJ#, Ha LJ#, Kim DH, Kim DH*. Unraveling the mechanobiology of immune system, Advanced Healthcare Materials (2019) *** JOURNAL COVER FEATURED
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• Kih M, Lee EJ, Lee NK, Lee KE, Kim YK, Jeong C, Yang Y, Kim DH, Kim IS*. Designed trimer-mimetic TNF superfamily ligands on self-assembling nanocages. Biomaterials (2018)
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• Shafiq M, Zhang Y, Zhu D, Zhao Z, Kim DH, Kim SH, Kong D*. In situ cardiac regeneration by using neuropeptide substance P and IGF-1C peptide eluting heart patches. Regenerative Biomaterials (2018)
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• Kim DH, Hah JW, Wirtz D. Mechanics of the cell nucleus, Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology (2018)
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• Shafiq M, Zhang Q, Zhi D, Wang K, Kong D, Kim DH, Kim SH*. In Situ Blood Vessel Regeneration using Substance P and SDF-1α Peptide Eluting Vascular Grafts. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology (2018)
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• Lee G, Lim J, Park J, Lee W, Yoon DS, Kim MK*, Lee SH, Kim DH*. Construction of neurospheroids via surface modified concave microwells. Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry (2018) 
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• Cho E, Nam GH, Hong Y, Kim DH, Yang Y, Kim IS*. Comparison of exosomes and ferritin protein nanocages for the delivery of membrane protein therapeutics. Journal of Controlled Release (2018) 
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• Lee G, Lee J, Lee GH, Joung WY, Kim SH, Lee SH, Park JY, Kim DH*. Network concave microwell arrays for constructing three dimensional cell spheroids. Biofabrication (2018) *** MEDICAL PHYSICS WEB HIGHLIGHTED 
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• Hong Y, Nam GH, Koh E, Jeon S, Kim GB, Jeong C, Kim DH, Yang Y, Kim IS*. Exosome as a vehicle for delivery of membrane protein therapeutics, PH20 for enhanced tumor penetration and anti-tumor efficacy. Advanced Functional Materials (2018) 
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• Lee G, Jun Y, Jang HY, Yoon J, Lee J, Hong M, Chung S*, Kim DH*, Lee SH. Enhanced oxygen permeability improves the functionality of three dimensional pancreatic islet spheroids in the engineered concave microwells. Acta Biomaterialia (2018) 
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• Kim JK, Louhghalam A, Lee GH, Wirtz D, Schafer BW, Kim DH*. Nuclear lamin A/C harnesses the perinuclear actin cables to protect nuclear morphology. Nature Communications (2017) 
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• Lee TH, Hwang HG, Jang S, Wang G, Han SB, Kim DH, Kang CY, Nahm S*. Low temperature-grown KNbO3 thin films and their application to piezoelectric nanogenerators and self-powered ReRAM device. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (2017) 
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• Hecht VC, Sullivan LB, Kimmerling R, Kim DH, Hosios AM, Stevens MM, Kang JH, Wirtz D, Vander Heiden MG, Manalis SR. Biophysical changes reduce energetic demand in growth factor-deprived lymphocytes. Journal of Cell Biology (2016) 
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• Kim DH, Li B, Si F, Philip J, Wirtz D, Sun SX. Volume regulation and shape bifurcation in the eukaryotic nucleus.Journal of Cell Science (2015) *** JOURNAL COVER FEATURED 
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• Kim DH*, Wirtz D. Cytoskeletal tension induces the polarized architecture of the nucleus.Biomaterials (2015) 
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• Kim DH*, Cho SK, Wirtz D. Tight coupling between nucleus and cell migration through the perinuclear actin cap. Journal of Cell Science (2014) 
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• Kim DH, Chambliss A, Wirtz D. The multi-faceted role of the actin cap in cellular mechanosensation and mechanotransduction. Soft Matter (2013) 
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• Kim DH, Wirtz D. Predicting how cells spread and migrate: Focal adhesion size does matter. Cell adhesions & migration (2013)
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• Kim DH, Wirtz D. Focal adhesion size uniquely predicts cell migration. FASEB Journal (2013) *** F1000 PRIME SELECTED  *** NCI PS-OC RESEARCH NEWS HIGHLIGHTED 
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• Kim DH, Khatau SB, Feng Y, Walcott S, Sun SX, Longmore GD, Wirtz D. Actin cap associated focal adhesions and their distinct role in cellular mechanosensing. Scientific Reports (2012)
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• Walcott S, Kim DH,Wirtz D, Sun SX. Nucleation and decay initiation are the stiffness sensitive phases of focal adhesion saturation. Biophysical Journal (2011) 
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• Kim HK, Kim DH, Choi J, Kim SC. Compositional effect on the properties of sulfonated and nonsulfonated polymer blend membranes for direct methanol fuel cell. Macromolecular Research (2011) 
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• Kim DH,Wirtz D. Recapitulating cancer cell invasion in vitro. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA (2011)
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• Khatau SB, Kim DH, Hale CM, Bloom RJ, Wirtz D. The perinuclear actin cap in health and disease. Nucleus (2010)
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• Fraley SI, Feng Y, Krishnamurthy R, Kim DH, Celedon A, Longmore GD, Wirtz D. A distinctive role for focal adhesion proteins in three-dimensional cell motility. Nature Cell Biology (2010) 
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• Kim DH, Kim SC. Transport properties of polymer blend membranes of sulfonated and nonsulfonated polysulfone for direct methanol fuel cell application. Macromolecular Research (2008) 
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• Choi J, Kim DH, Kim SC. Polymer blend membranes of sulfonated poly(arylene ether ketone) for direct methanol fuel cell. Journal of Membrane Science (2008) 
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• Kim DH, Choi J, Hong YT, Kim SC. Phase separation and morphology control of polymer blend membranes of sulfonated and nonsulfonated polysulfone for direct methanol fuel cell. Journal of Membrane Science (2007)

AMG at a Glance

The primary goal of Applied Mechanobiology Group at Korea University is to identify how the forces interact with pathological progression of diverse human diseases. By combining physical sciences and life sciences at the molecular, cellular, tissue & organ level, we develop a new paradigm of medical biotechnology to overcome human health problems.

Mechanobiology is an emerging field of science at the interface of biology and engineering. It focuses on the way that physical forces and changes in cell or tissue mechanics contribute to development, physiology, and disease. A major challenge in the field is understanding mechanotransduction—the molecular mechanism by which cells sense and respond to mechanical signals. While medicine has typically looked for the genetic basis of disease, advances in mechanobiology suggest that changes in cell mechanics, extracellular matrix structure, or mechanotransduction may contribute to the development of many diseases, including atherosclerosis, fibrosis, asthma, osteoporosis, heart failure, and cancer. There is also a strong mechanical basis for many generalized medical disabilities, such as lower back pain, foot and postural injury, deformity, and irritable bowel syndrome. The effectiveness of many of the mechanical therapies already in clinical use shows how important physical forces can be in physiological control.

• KKS551 Introduction to NanoBioTechnology (나노바이오기술개론)
• KKS661 Cellular Biotechnology (세포공학입문)
• KKS655 Research in Mechanobiology (특수연구방법론-기계생물학)

• KMCE102 Basic Design of Convergence Research (융합과제설계:기초)

https://sites.google.com/site/amgkoreauniv/people

Enthusiastic & highly motivated students are always welcomed!!!