Research Experience
2015-2017 Research Fellow. National Research Council, US Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
2010-2014 Graduate Research Assistant. University of California Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
2007-2010 Researcher. R&D Center, ISTECH, Inc. CU Techno Center, Catholic University of Daegu, South Korea
2005-2007 Graduate Research Assistant. College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
- Performed intergenerational studies on physiological, molecular and epigenetic responses of plants exposed to nanomaterials.
- Investigated effects of nanomaterials on natural abundance variations in stable isotopes in plants.
- Investigated the mechanism of nanomaterials fate, transformation and transport in soil and plants.
- Investigated the interaction between cerium oxide nanoparticles and soil nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, manganese, calcium) and its effects on uptake in plants.
- Investigated the effects of mycorrhizae on nanomaterial transformation and uptake in plants.
- Submitted proposals and secured beamtime for synchrotron microscopy work at the Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
- Prepared Quality Assurance Project Plan and SOPs pertaining to research projects being conducted.
- Familiarized with important environmental laws particularly the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), Clean Water Act, and Safe Drinking Water Act
- Prepared journal article for publication, gave oral and poster presentations in scientific conferences, contributed blog to online scientific magazine.
- Mentored and trained undergraduate STEM students in research.
2010-2014 Graduate Research Assistant. University of California Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
- Maintained and performed analysis using ICP - OES/MS, Flame and Graphite Furnace AAS, XRF, and FT-IR Spectroscopy/Microscopy.
- Employed synchrotron microscopy analysis to assess nanomaterials (CeO2, ZnO) characterization, fate, transformation and transport in soil and plants.
- Performed multi-variate analysis in combination with FT-IR Spectroscopy/Microscopy to assess molecular changes in plants.
- Investigated the impacts of engineered nanomaterials (CeO2, ZnO) on the physiology, productivity, and nutritional value of globally important agricultural crops (rice, wheat, barley, corn, cucumber, cilantro, tomato, green peas, soybean, alfalfa).
- Investigated transfer of engineered nanomaterials in the food web, particularly leading to human exposure.
- Prepared journal article for publication, gave oral and poster presentations in scientific conferences, contributed blog to online scientific magazine.
- Prepared proposals and obtained funding for research and travel awards.
- Prepared SOPs for instruments and analytical/biochemical analyses used in the conduct of experiments.
- Person-In-Charged of Graphite Furnace AAS and FT-IR Spectroscopy and Microscopy of Dr. Jorge Gardea’s research laboratory for 2 semesters.
- Mentored and trained high school, undergraduate and graduate students in research.
2007-2010 Researcher. R&D Center, ISTECH, Inc. CU Techno Center, Catholic University of Daegu, South Korea
- Conducted field and laboratory research on a government-funded project on product development of soil ameliorants, and self-incompatibility control substance in apples, pear, peach, sweet cherry.
- Established and coordinated research and product testing in 20 institutions in 24 countries including Taiwan, Japan, Australia, India, Poland, Hungary, Israel, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Mexico.
- Gave seminars on self-incompatibility in plants in International Biotechnology Roadshows in Thailand, Vietnam, and India.
- Prepared manuscript for journal publication and presented papers in scientific meetings.
2005-2007 Graduate Research Assistant. College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
- Conducted greenhouse and field experiments on agro-environmental studies of spent mushroom compost, biochar, mixture of charcoal and pyroligneous acid, rice bran charcoal, biofertilizer prepared from municipal solid waste, and rice/wood vinegar for soil amelioration, crop productivity of cereals (rice, corn) and vegetable (soybean, sesame, tomato, eggplant, chili), and weed (barnyard grass) control.
- Investigated the effects of pyroligneous acid on weed control efficacy of sulfonylurea herbicides in greenhouse and field setting.
- Conducted enzyme assay, soil analysis, proximate analysis, metal analysis, amino acid analysis, nutritional quality and antioxidant properties analysis of food crop.
- Prepared journal article for publication, gave oral and poster presentations in scientific conferences.
- Gave a 3-hour lecture on methods of chemical analysis of soil and plants to 2nd year undergraduate students majoring in agricultural studies.
- Assisted in the conduct of undergraduate laboratory classes.
- Managed the crop physiology laboratory activities/experiments for 1 year.
- Mentored and trained graduate students from South Korea, Ghana, Nepal, Philippines, Bangladesh and Republic of Lao.
