Na Kyung Kim

Post-doctoral Scholar
Email: nkkim@seas.upenn.edu
Phone: (267) 546-8912

220 S 33rd St
Towne 345
Philadelphia, PA, 19104

Bio

  • Since February 2019, Postdoctoral Associate in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from University of Pennsylvania
  • February 2019, Ph.D. in Chemical and Biological Engineering from Seoul National University
  • August 2014, M.S. in Chemical and Biological Engineering from Seoul National University,
  • August 2012, B.S. in Chemical Engineering and Materials Science from Chung-Ang university

Research Overview

Current Research

In Osuji lab, I am working on synthesis of thermotropic liquid crystal compounds based on the natural resources to fabricate nanoporous membranes with templating approach, which exploits a structure-directing molecule to template the assembly of a polymerizable ligand compound into highly ordered columnar mesophases. Subsequent removal of the core material creates binding sites that are complementary in size and shape to core analogues. The pore size of the membranes can be further controlled by changing the stoichiometric ratios between the ligand and core. It is expected to function as high-performance nanofiltration membranes and adsorbents.

Past Research

Before joining the Professor Osuji’s Lab, I did my M.S. and Ph.D. research at Seoul National University under guidance of Professor Jong-Chan Lee. The primary focus of my research during ph.D is the study of the design and synthesis of biocompatible and conducting polymers to fabricate films for various applications such as antibacterial films, organic thin-film transistors, lithium-ion batteries, and cell scaffolds.