C 0 ·.;:a -�u 0 <n <n <( � a, a, C OJ C LI.J CJ C m .':3<n ·.;:a C a, ·c::, U) C m u ;::: a, E <f. C m � ""0 - 0 m :::,cc 0 --, -=a, f- www.ksea.org Special Forum, UCC & Science Concerts, Chapter,APS & Ha News m N r-'.. ro r­ N tj­ (Y) r-;- r­ro m z co U) KSEA LETTERS / 1 About KSEA Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA) is a 48-year-old non-profit national-level pro- fessional organization. It is open for individuals residing in the USA who are engaged in science, engineering or a related field. KSEA’s objectives are: • To promote the application of science and technology for the general welfare of society; • To foster the cooperation of international science communities especially among the US and Korea; • To serve the majority of Korean-American Scientists and Engineers and help them to develop their full career potential. KSEA has 78 Chapters/Branches, 13 Technical Groups and 30 Affiliated Professional Societies (APS) covering all major branches of science and engineering. Since its birth in 1971, KSEA has been recognized as the main representative organization promoting the common interests of Korean-American scientists and engineers toward meeting the objectives mentioned above. KSEA welcomes participation from 1.5th-generation, 2nd-generation, and 3rd-generation Korean-American scientists and engineers including the mixed-race and adoptee communities. KSEA promotes helping younger generation Korean-Americans to be aware of the rapid advances in science and engineering occurring both inside and outside of the US. Especially, to create opportunities for young generation members to interact with talented scientists and engineers in Korea. December 16-18, 2020 Table of Contents The Editorial Board’s Note 2 Message from the President 4 Special Forum on COVID-19 5 User Created Content Competition 7 KSEA Science Concert 8 HQ News KSEA Awards 9 Young Investigator Grant Winner 12 2020 KSEA General Election Result 13 2020 KSEA Undergraduate Scholarship Recipient 15 2020 KSEA-KUSCO Graduate Scholarship Recipient 16 Chapter News Chicago Mentoring Program for High School Students 17 KSEA Silicon Valley Hi-Tech Seminar V and Startup Pitch 19 2020 KSEA-NC Interdisciplinary Research Conference 21 New England Monthly Seminars 23 2019 10th KSEA West Golf Coast Regional Conference 24 Virginia Washington Metro Regional Conference 25 Northeast Regional Conference 27 APS News 2019 KOCSEA Technical Symposium 28 KSCEE 2020 Webinar 29 NYKB Annual Conference 2020 31 2020 KWiSE NY/NJ Chapter Joint Symposium 32 KSEA Sponsors 33 KSEA Sponsor Advertisements 36 KSEA Organization 52 The Editorial Board’s Note SpringWelcome has to ended the final and issue as a ofnew KSEA season Letters begins, for the so will48th a Administration! new Administration for KSEA. We, the 48th KSEA Publication Team have been honored to be able to share highlights throughout the year. Thank you for being a wonderful audience. While the global COVID-19 pandemic may have changed the game with very little warning, KSEA proved online webinar as a special virtual forum on COVID-19, event after event we have demonstrated that we, how resilient we are by shifting to be safe, smart, and maintain community. Beginning with KSEA’s first- fore the earliest stay-at-home orders were administered by our government. And also going above and beyondabove all, by care converting for our members’these events health to virtual and safety platforms by officially and maintaining canceling face-to-face (or sometimes gatherings exceeding) even thebe level of quality in programming. As scientists and engineers, we never stop learning. And what makes KSEA so incredible are the ways we apply what we are learning for new innovations and advocacy for research, industries, and policies to do better. We do this even in the midst of disagreements about facts and speculation regarding COVID-19. We do this while facing challenges in discrimination, experiencing racism, xenophobia, and bias. We do this learn because we know and have experienced the power of knowledge. even when we might not fully understand why “Black Lives Matter” is so important right now, but we will In closing we, the Publication Directors, want to challenge our community to listen, observe, learn, and act. Through our roles, we have had the privilege of highlighting and showcasing the incredible breadth and depth of skills and abilities within KSEA. The articles you read in this issue, as well as any of our past issues Stayprove safe, just that. Let’s not waste this moment. The 48th Administration Publication Directors The 48th Admin. Publication Directors JUN BUM SHIN, PhD. JONATHAN YOUNG KIM Publication Director 1 Publication Director 2 Associate Professor Software Engineer Oregon State University CSX Technology KATHERINE CHO Publication Director 3 PhD Candidate University of California, Los Angeles KSEA LETTERS / 2 The President’s Message JUN-SEOK OH, PhD President Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association Professor Western Michigan University Dear fellow KSEA members and colleagues, It has been my honor serving as the 48th President of the While the COVID-19 pandemic has been threatening KSEA activities, Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA) for 2019-2020. The 48th administration started its term by successfully hosted events via online. There were many successful hosting the 32nd US-Korea Conference on Science, Technology, onlinemany localevents chapters including and the affiliated Northeast professional Regional Conference societies (NRC),(APS) and Entrepreneurship in Chicago in 2019 (UKC 2019). I believe the Virginia Washington Metro Regional Conference (VWMRC), that this UKC was one of the best ones that brought more than the New York Korean Biologists (NYKB) conference, the Korean- 1,000 scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs to the windy city, American Society of Civil and Environmental Engineers (KSCEE) Chicago. Among many programs, the three Smart Tracks and the conference, etc. The COVID-19 pandemic may have changed the University Leadership Forum attracted great attention. UKC 2019, ways of KSEA activities, but could not stop us. Symposium (IES) and the Startup Pitch Competition (SPC). These KSEA has been successful in building Korean-American networks eventsfor the providedfirst time, opportunities offered the Innovationfor current and and Entrepreneurship future aspiring and advancing science and technology in both the U.S. and Korea. Membership has been growing every year. However, there are still entrepreneurs and investors, and to explore growing cross-border many Korean-American scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs businessentrepreneurs opportunities. in the U.S. and Korea to network with high-profile who have not been reached. KSEA will be 50 years old next year. Celebrating the 50th anniversary, we need to increase the number Before the pandemic of COVID-19, the 48th administration of our members to truly represent all Korean-American scientists, successfully offered several major events including the Scientists engineers, and entrepreneurs, and strive to stand in a position and Engineers Early Career Development (SEED) held at where KSEA can play a key role in mainstream society. Washington DC in December, and the 16th Young Generation Technical and Leadership Conference (YGTLC) held in Seattle, WA In retrospect, all KSEA activities were possible thanks to KSEA in January. Three regional conferences, YG Regional Summits, West members’ devotion and volunteer services. Particularly, the Regional Conference, and West Gulf Coast Regional Conference, Executive Committee (EC) and Directors Committee (DC) members were also successfully held in fall 2019. However, the National tremendously dedicated their time and effort to run all KSEA Mathematics and Science Competition (NMSC) and the Science activities. I truly thank all EC/DC members for their dedication. and Technology Entrepreneurship Partners Upscale Program In particular, I would like to thank the publication directors, Dr. (STEP-UP) where we put lots of effort to host in April and May, Jun Bum Shin, Mr. Jonathan Kim, and Dr. Katherine Cho, for their respectively, had to be postponed to fall 2020 due to the COVID-19. dedication to publish newsletters. Fourteen committees within KSEA play important roles in running KSEA businesses, and their The 48th administration quickly coped with the pandemic and dedication also deserves recognition. I also thank all presidents of developed new online programs. The special forum on COVID-19 local chapters, branches, and APS for their excellent works during Concert, a series of online meetings with renowned scientists KSEA cannot grow without their devotion. Lastly, I appreciate the andwas theengineers, first online provided webinar high hosted school by students KSEA, and with the opportunitiesKSEA Science headquartersthis difficult time. staff forTheir their leadership devotion isand the excellent backbone work. of KSEA and to explore the areas of science and engineering for their future Jun-Seok Oh Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) User Created Content KSEA President (UCC)career. contestThe administration to encourage alsostudents hosted (Grade the first4-11) STEM to learn (Science, STEM and build their future careers in STEM areas by creating video projects with the theme of “Saving the World through Science and Technology.” KSEA LETTERS / 4 KSEA SPECIAL FORUM COVID-19 Webinar Nowadays, panic and anxiety due to COVID-19 The second speaker was Taeg Su Kim, PhD, a Se- are increasing. The whole world is working on nior Principal Scientist, at Jnana Therapeutics, developing vaccines and treatments against the Boston MA. As an immunology group leader, he COVID-19 pandemic. KSEA hopes that we may is involved in identifying novel drug candidates learn ways to prevent and treat COVID-19 infec- tions through events such as this special forum. goal is to apply translational research with in- It was decided to present a special webinar to innovative autoimmune therapeutics and inflammatory towards intervention diseases. His in identify potential strategies on prevention and the clinic. His presentation title was “Immuno- JONG Y.