Jimin Yoon

Jimin Yoon is a Ph.D. student at the department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Korea Advanced of science and Technology (KAIST) in Daejeon, South Korea. Jimin is passionate about studying the regulation of long double-stranded RNA in autoimmune diseases and the function(s) of these RNAs during the differentiation and activation of myeloid cells. Jimin's passion for RNA biology, commitment to fostering scientific communities, and dedication to bridging the gap between science and society position her as an inspiring emerging RNA junior scientist.

Jimin is currently focused on uncovering the mysteries of endogenous double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in different cell lines and cellular states. Her RNA journey began with an investigation into a mitochondrial dsRNA in autoimmune called Sjogren's syndrome. Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease affecting exocrine glands, leading to reduced saliva and tear production. Using patients’ saliva and tears as well as the in-house-developed 3D culture of immortalized human salivary gland cells, Jimin found mitochondrial dsRNAs play a role in triggering type I interferons and glandular problems in SS. This highlights their significance in SS pathogenesis. Following the successful publication of her work, she now sets her sights on understanding “how the profiles of endogenous dsRNAs change in various cell lines, particularly in salivary gland epithelial cells and immune cells, both of which are crucial in the context of Sjogren's syndrome pathogenesis. Currently, there is a limited understanding about the interplay between the salivary gland epithelium and a variety of immune cells. “I’m excited to find out more about both salivary gland dysfunction and immune cell infiltration with goals to develop a multimodal therapeutic approach for SS patients.”

Jimin's scientific journey started with a meeting that ignited her passion for RNA biology. “I first met Prof. Yoosik Kim as a third-year college student when he opened a seminar to introduce his research field and the projects in his lab. It was very inspiring to hear about his work on identifying and engineering endogenously expressed dsRNAs to regulate various cellular processes, such as innate immunity, cell cycle, and more.” Her enthusiasm for translational medicine and health-oriented research led her to join Prof. Kim's lab for her undergraduate research project. She particularly enjoyed the experience of doing wet lab experiments and having the opportunity to collaborate with dry lab scientists to work with bioinformatics. In particular, she “joined his lab to work on developing RNA-based diagnostics and therapeutics for autoimmune diseases.”

Jimin's decision to pursue graduate studies at KAIST was a natural progression of her academic journey from her undergraduate years. She appreciated KAIST's research-oriented approach, as it “encourages undergraduate students to experience the lab life from the early years.” She also appreciates the collaborative environment KAIST fostered among different departments and labs. This dynamic atmosphere allowed her to creatively develop her scientific ideas. “I’m very happy with the graduate program at KAIST because not only are all the PIs very supportive, but there are also so many collaborative projects going on between different departments. For instance, the most recent project I worked on involved RNA biologists, polymer scientists, bioinformaticians, as well as clinical scientists. This kind of research-focused environment at KAIST is really helpful for Ph.D. students to creatively develop their ideas.”

Jimin offers two pieces of advice to graduate students that are just starting their training. First, she emphasizes the importance of asking questions without fear, and she highlights that seeking clarification, feedback, and understanding will accelerate the scientific learning process and independence.

“Oftentimes, we witness so many graduate students busy with their experiments, manuscript/proposal writing, presentation/seminar preparations, meetings, etc. This means for some students (especially the new graduate students faced with so much to learn), it will be difficult to find enough time to formulate and ask questions. I think it’s important to prioritize the endeavor to ask the right questions early and grasp the idea of your research project quickly to become more independent. You shouldn’t feel afraid to communicate with your colleagues because only then will many creative ideas develop.”

“I think graduate students are somewhere in the gray zone because we’re still students, but at the same time, we’re training to become independent researchers capable of finding the research gap, conducting literature studies, building hypotheses, performing experiments and analysis, and communicating with the audience about your results. By being proactive and trying to look for how various learning opportunities can help you grow professionally, you’ll find yourself immersed with great science and passionate colleagues.”

Jimin’s second piece of advice draws attention to the professional nature of graduate school. She emphasizes that graduate students are not just students but future independent researchers, and that being proactive in seeking opportunities is a key aspect of each student’s growth. “I think graduate students are somewhere in the gray zone because we’re still students, but at the same time, we’re training to become independent researchers capable of finding the research gap, conducting literature studies, building hypotheses, performing experiments and analysis, and communicating with the audience about your results. By being proactive and trying to look for how various learning opportunities can help you grow professionally, you’ll find yourself immersed with great science and passionate colleagues.”

Jimin's scientific inspiration comes from Prof. Narry Kim from Seoul National University, who has made significant contributions to RNA biology. Her pioneering studies and her ability to constantly inspire junior scientists have left a lasting impact on Jimin. “Not only have her pioneering studies laid the groundwork for so many aspects of RNA Biology, but meeting her in-person during the conferences really motivated me to stay inquisitive and passionate about science”, Jimin said. “As a Korean, female student in the field of RNA biology, witnessing Prof. Kim giving the keynote speeches at international conferences, and other people admiring her charismatic aura, gave me a visual source of encouragement. Prof. Kim is truly an inspiration who motivates me to become another great representation of Korean researchers,” she added.

Jimin's engagement and involvement in scientific and professional development programs, such as the Next-generation Leaders in Science and Technology Support Program reflects her commitment to networking and global collaboration. “It allowed me to attend the US-Korea Conference (UKC) in Chicago during the summer of 2019. This program aimed to help Korean graduate students develop a global perspective in the fields of science and technology by arranging visits to institutions like Argonne National Laboratory, the University of Chicago, and Northwestern Universities.” She realizes the importance of connecting with researchers and professionals from various backgrounds and the role that it continues to play in her scientific growth. “This experience taught me about the importance of networking, and encouraged me to pursue my passion in meeting people for inspiration.”

Jimin aims to empower scientists as a member of the RNA Junior scientists committee, emphasizing the importance of building a stronger community among young RNA scientists worldwide. “By joining the RNA Junior Scientists Committee, my motivation was to help promote networking and career building opportunities among graduate students, postdocs and early career scientists belonging to the RNA society.” Jimin’s primary responsibility is “organizing the Junior Scientist session during the annual conference, with a focus on providing insights into career opportunities in industry. This year in Singapore, we prepared a session entitled, “Navigating a Career in Industry: Advice from Biotech and Big Pharma Professionals” where we invited industry representatives from biotech/pharma companies of various sizes and backgrounds, to share their stories on building a career in RNA-based companies.” Jimin also highlights the importance of empowering women in the scientific community. “I think it is crucial that we constantly make a group effort to make sure that female scientists are not only present, but well-represented in the community. As a junior scientist, in addition to the panel discussion and workshops held to promote diversity in the scientific community, I think what encouraged me the most is witnessing women scientists, actively involved in research. Personally, I hope to continue my effort to make sure I am one of the many junior scientists, representing a diverse population of RNA scientists,” she explained.

Jimin's greatest career challenge has been maintaining patience in the face of various obstacles including: publishing papers, planning experiments, and mediating communication among the collaborators. “There were times when I found it difficult to fight the anxiety of publishing a paper. At first, I found the rejection letters from the journals heartbreaking.” Jimin explained. Like many junior scientists, it took Jimin some time to overcome these challenges, but she eventually learned to embrace the rejection letter as a means of “professional improvement” and found the joy in refining her work. Also, she acknowledged that maintaining confidence in graduate school can be tricky especially when you are suffering from the imposter syndrome. “Still, rather than stressing over the future with too many variables that are out of our control, I find it more efficient to focus on the present and look for projects that I can work on at the moment. This mindset has taught me to stay more positive about the future and appreciate the time I’m spending at graduate school to become an independent researcher, with the ability to generate creative ideas and communicate coherently with my colleagues.”

Jimin's passion for bridging science with society is another facet of her goal. Since joining KAIST as an undergraduate student, she has been on the organizing committee of International Conference for the Integration of Science, Technology and Society (ICISTS), which is a student-led conference that invites over 300 international students to explore emerging issues in science and technology. Her background in Science and Technology Policy (STP) also reflects her dedication to understanding the broader implications of science and the efforts required to translate technology to the Society.

Certainly, Jimin's favorite RNA is mitochondrial double-stranded RNA (mt-dsRNA), reflecting her deep connection with mt-dsRNA in her research journey. Jimin's favorite RNA Journal article, "Long noncoding RNAs are generated from the mitochondrial genome and regulated by nuclear-encoded proteins," authored by Rackham et al. in 2011. “I think the result from this RNA Journal article provided important insight that mitochondrial lncRNAs have functional significance that contributes to the regulation of mitochondrial gene expression, as well as various cellular pathways,” she explained.

You can fine Jimin Yoon on LinkedIn or Twitter: @yooniquescience