In celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, a prominent article published by Nature has recognized Professor Yoon-Kyoung Cho, a leading biomedical engineer at UNIST. The article, titled “Behind every great woman in science, there’s another great woman in science,” highlights the crucial role of mentorship and collaboration among women in STEMM (Science, technology, engineering and mathematics and medicine).
Yoon-Kyoung Cho’s groundbreaking work in lab-on-a-chip-based diagnostics, microfluidics, and nanomedicine has not only advanced scientific knowledge but has also paved the way for substantial innovations in academia and industry. She was nominated for this recognition by Kiana Aran, a 2021 winner of Nature’s annual Inspiring Women in Science Award and a noted biomedical entrepreneur at the University of California, San Diego.
Kiana Aran praised Professor Cho for her “unique blend of scientific brilliance, entrepreneurial spirit, and calm leadership.” Aran recalled their initial meeting at a conference in China, where Cho’s warm demeanor and commitment to inclusivity made a lasting impression on her. Aran noted, “Cho’s determination to translate her research into real-world applications, alongside her genuine care for her students, exemplifies the type of leader we need in science today.”
Professor Yoon-Kyoung Cho (Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, UNIST) nominated by Kiana Aran (inset). l Image Credit: Yoon-Kyoung Cho/ Kiana Aran
Despite women currently making up only about 35% of the STEMM workforce, their presence is essential for innovation and excellence in these fields. Research has shown that women thrive in STEMM environments when supported by mentors who understand their challenges and experiences. Professor Cho’s role as a mentor and her active involvement in fostering a supportive community for her students and colleagues is a testament to this.
At UNIST, Professor Cho continues to lead by example, bridging the gap between research and real-world application while nurturing the next generation of scientists. Her commitment to creating a more inclusive and encouraging environment contributes significantly to making STEMM fields more accessible and welcoming to all. Thus, receiving this recognition serves as an inspiration not only to aspiring female scientists but to everyone committed to advancing gender equity and collaboration in science.
Professor Yoon-Kyoung Cho developed lab-on-a-disc technology for both academic and industrial applications. When blood is introduced into this device and spun, cellular materials, including exosomes, are separated through centrifugal force.
Professor Cho is gaining recognition for her innovative research that bridges fundamental and applied science. “As a chemical engineering and materials science major, I am committed to translating scientific discoveries into practical biomedical applications,” she stated.
Her current focus is on developing ‘Lab-on-a-chip’ technology for the efficient separation and analysis of cell-derived materials, such as exosomes, from bodily fluids like blood and urine, aiming to enhance personalized precision medicine through liquid biopsy. By extracting exosomes, this technology can propose new cancer diagnosis and treatment methods that address the limitations of traditional tissue biopsies.
Her work has been recognized multiple times among the National Top 100 R&D Performances in 2019, 2022, and 2023. Recently, she developed the ‘EV-CLIP‘ diagnostic technology, which can detect lung cancer mutations in very small amounts of plasma, enabling the accurate identification of early-stage lung cancer cells and monitoring of residual cancer following treatment.
Recently, Professor Cho’s team introduced ‘EV-CLIP’ diagnostic technology for accurately identifying early-stage lung cancer cells and monitoring residual cancer post-treatment.
Professor Cho emphasizes the importance of both fundamental scientific curiosity and clear application goals in her research philosophy. “We must explore ‘WHY‘ in fundamental research, while applied research should yield impactful outcomes,” she noted.
Joining UNIST in 2008 as one of its first faculty members, she led the ‘World Class University (WCU) Project,’ establishing a competitive research environment. Her experience at the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology has been pivotal for commercializing R&D technologies at UNIST, particularly in developing innovative medical devices at LabSpinner Inc., a technology transfer startup.
Having overcome various challenges as a female scientist, she encourages juniors to “proactively design their own lives and take ownership of their choices.” She stresses the importance of collaboration and resilience, stating, “Have the courage to persist despite failures.”
Since 2022, Professor Cho has taken up hiking, aiming to summit the Yeongnam Alps each year, and shares insights from this journey with her students. She remarked, “While reaching the summit may seem distant, tackling everyday tasks step by step will lead you to enjoy the process and ultimately reach your goal.”
She added, “Once you have conquered one mountain, you can face the next one with confidence,” motivating students and researchers to embrace small, consistent steps toward significant achievements.
