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Myoungseok Kim, a happy researcher
[ CV ][ Google Scholar ][ LinkedIn ][ ORCiD ]
Ph.D. Candidate (4th year),
Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS)
University of California, Berkeley
Advisor: Prof. Grigory Tikhomirov (EECS)
& Co-advisor: Prof. Carlos Bustamante (Biophysics)
"Great Pleasure to find out unknowns step by step"
"Contribute to the development of human knowledge and Share it most easily"
"I hope that my research could make me and others SMILE :)"
#Molecular Programming (DNA/RNA origami; Structural DNA/RNA nanotechnology)
#BioNEMS (Bio-Nano-Electro-Mechanical-Systems) #Biophysics Nanosystem
#SMILE #DREAM #TED #NOBEL
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Biography
Biography
Myoungseok Kim is a Structural DNA nanotechnology (DNA origami) researcher, currently a Ph.D. candidate in Prof. Grigory Tikhomirov's group (Lab) in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS). He is also co-advised by Prof. Carlos Bustamante (Lab) in the Biophysics at the University of California, Berkeley. He received his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Hanyang University (2020, Summa Cum Laude) and M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Seoul National University (2022, Outstanding Dissertation Award) under Prof. Do-Nyun Kim (Lab). During his Ph.D. program, he received another M.S. degree in EECS from Berkeley. Before joining Berkeley, he worked as a researcher at the Institute of Advanced Machines and Designs (IAMD) at Seoul National University (2022) and developed the mechanism to build reconfigurable DNA nanostructures using mechanical properties.
Especially, he studied (1) how to control the mechanical stiffness of DNA nanostructures by introducing the structural flexibility of the short length of the single-stranded DNA (gap) - [ ACS nano (2021) ] and (2) how to reconfigure the DNA wireframe nanostructures by harnessing the paper-folding mechanism - [ Nature (2023) ]. Based on the development of foldable and reconfigurable DNA nanosystems, he currently focuses on developing a programmable and high-purity assembly method of DNA nanostructures into (i) supramolecular 3D voxel platform to build nanoscale optical metamaterials with Prof. Boubacar Kanté at EECS (Lab) and (ii) mechanically stiffer DNA origami tethers to overcome the temporal- and spatial-resolution limit of dual optical tweezers and reveal the protein's folding/unfolding mechanism collaborating with Prof. Carlos Bustamante at Biophysics (Lab).
Educations
Educations
Aug. 2022 - Present
Ph.D. Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, United States
Aug. 2022 - Dec. 2023 (during Ph.D. program)
M.S. Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, United States
Mar. 2020 - Feb. 2022
M.S. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, Republic of Korea
- Advisor. Prof. Do-Nyun Kim - [ Lab ][ Scholar ]
- Thesis. Development of programmable nanoscale origami through self-assembled DNA wireframe structures
- Selected as Outstanding Master's Dissertation & Outstanding Graduate Student (Brain Korea)
- Major GPA 4.08 / 4.30 (97.7/100) & Cumulative GPA 4.08 / 4.30 (97.7/100)
Mar. 2014 - Feb. 2020 (Military service for two years)
B.S. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Hanyang University, Republic of Korea
- Advisor. Prof. Hongyun So - [ Lab ]
- Summa Cum Laude (The highest honor)
- Major GPA 4.21 / 4.50 (96.7/100) & Cumulative GPA 4.15 / 4.50 (96.0/100)
Publications
Publications
1. Journals
[4] Uncovering design and assembly rules for mRNA–DNA origami
Jack Y. Wang*, Jared Huzar*, Myoungseok Kim*, Taeyoung Ryu, Nahtalee R. Lomeli, Derfogail Delcassian, Do-Nyun Kim, and Griogry Tikhomirov
Nano Letters 26, 7 (2026) - [ link ] (IF = 9.1)
*: Contributed equally
[3] Programming multiplexed reconfigurations of paper-folding DNA origami for mechanochemical molecular computing
Myoungseok Kim*, Dongsik Seo*, Grigory Tikhomirov, and Do-Nyun Kim
(Under Review)
*: Contributed equally
[ Conference ]
- DNA31, Oral Presentation (31st International Conference on DNA Computing and Molecular Programming) – [ link (track B) ]
: Selected as The Seeman Student Travel Award (top 6) by ISNSCE (International Society for Nanoscale Science, Computation and Engineering) - [ link ]
: Awarded as NSF Travel Grant Award for the DNA31 International Conference
- FNANO 2025, (Poster) 22th International Annual Conference Foundations of Nanoscience, Track: DNA Nanosystems - Programmed Function (Apr. 29, 2025)
[2] Harnessing a paper-folding mechanism for reconfigurable DNA origami
Myoungseok Kim, Chanseok Lee, Kyounghwa Jeon, Jae Young Lee, Young-Joo Kim, Jae Gyung Lee, Hyunsu Kim, Maenghyo Cho, and Do-Nyun Kim
Nature 619, 78–86 (2023) - [ link ] (IF = 69.504)
- Selected as Cover Article of 6 July 2023 - [ link ]
- Featured in Nature Research Briefing (5 July 2023) "Nanoscale origami with DNA-wireframe paper" - [ link ]
[ MEDIA ]
- Research Interview, CNN World - Tech for Good "From microrobots to DNA: Folding origami at a nanoscale" - [ link (2:20-2:51) ]
- Research Briefing in Ministry of Science and ICT (MIST), Government of the Republic of Korea - [ link ] (by Prof. Do-Nyun Kim)
- Selected as "2024 Top 10 Mechanical Technologies of the Year in the Republic of Korea", The Korean Federation of Mechanical Engineering Societies - [ link ]
- Selected as "2024 Top 100 National Research Development and Excellence Achievements in the Republic of Korea", Ministry of Science and ICT (MIST), Government of the Republic of Korea - [ link (in progress) ][ Announcement (KOR) ]
- Research Interview, MEch-SSENGER - NEWSLETTER (Vol.5 Fall 2023), Seoul National University - [ SNU MECH-NEWSLETTER ], [ pdf ]
[ Conference ]
- Keynote Speaker in FNANO24, "Design Strategies for Reconfigurable DNA Origami" (by Prof. Do-Nyun Kim) - [ program (Day 1 - April 21, 2024) ]
- Invited Speaker in DNA Nanotech Webinar (webpage), University of Edinburgh (by Prof. Katherine Dunn) - [ link (in progress), 5 Sept. 2023 ]
- 2023 KSME - CAE & AM, Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers - Computer Aided ENG. & Applied Mechanics (Presentation & Best Paper Award)
- FNANO 2022, 19th International Annual Conference Foundations of Nanoscience (Poster, P4.7) (April 14, 2022) - [ Poster ]
[1] Characterizing and harnessing the mechanical properties of short single-stranded DNA in structured assemblies
Jae Young Lee*, Myoungseok Kim*, Chanseok Lee, and Do-Nyun Kim
ACS nano 15:20430-20441 (2021) - [ link ] (IF = 15.881)
*: Contributed equally
[ Conference ]
- DNA 27: 27th International Conference on DNA Computing and Molecular Programming (Poster, P-C-001)
2. Intellectual Patents (IP)
[IP3] Method for Scalable Fluorescence Control using Nucleic Acid Structure
Dongsik Seo, Myoungseok Kim, and Do-Nyun Kim
(In progress)
[IP2] Composition for Producing Nucleic Acid Structures Including a Rectangular Nucleic Acid Frame
Myoungseok Kim, Dongsik Seo, and Do-Nyun Kim
- no. KR10-2025-0166245 (filed 6 November 2025)
[IP1] Method for Preparing Nucleic Acid Structure
Myoungseok Kim and Do-Nyun Kim
- Applied in United States (2023) and South Korea (2022) - US20230167439A1 & KR10-2021-0167625 - [ link ]
Honors & Awards
Honors & Awards
Representative Honors & Awards
Ph.D. degree
Aug. 2025 The Seeman Student Travel Award (Top 6), DNA 31 International conference & ISNSCE - [ DNA31 ][ ISNSCE ]
Oct. 2024 2024 Korean Honor Scholarship (KHS) (Top 21), Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the USA - [ 2024 Recipients ]
Apr. 2024 2024 UC Berkeley - Outstanding Graduate Student Peer Mentor Award (Top 4), University of California, Berkeley - [ Graduate Assembly ]
Aug. 2024 2024 KSEA-KUSCO Graduate Scholarship (Top 20), KSEA & Korea-U.S. Science Cooperation Center (KUSCO) - [ 2024 Recipients ]
Jun. 2024 The 3rd MOGAM-KASBP Scholarship Award (Top 10), MOGAM & KASBP - [ 2024 Awardee ]
Apr. 2024 2024 UC Berkeley - Vice Chancellor's Award, Outstanding Graduate Student Leadership (As KGSA president), UC Berkeley - [ Remark ]
M.S. degree
May 2023 Best Paper Award, Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers (KSME) - CAE and Applied Mechanics Conference
Jul. 2022 The 21st Kwanjeong Ph.D. Scholarship for Study Overseas, Kwanjeong Educational Foundation
Feb. 2022 Outstanding Master's Dissertation Award, Seoul National University
Feb. 2022 Outstanding Graduate Student Award (Brain Korea 21), Seoul National University
B.S. degree
Feb. 2020 Graduation Excellence Student Award (Summa Cum Laude), Hanyang University
May 2019 2nd Place in Graduation Thesis of Mechanical Engineering, Hanyang University
Dec. 2017 Academic Excellence Award & Full Scholarship (Top 3%), Guwon Scholarship Foundation & Hanyang University
Jun. 2017 Global Idea Hackathon Award (by Chancellor of Hanyang University), Hanyang University & Ministry of Science and ICT
*Go to [ other honors and awards ]
(Top) Group picture of Seeman Student Travel Award (top 6)
(Bot.) Oral Presentation at DNA 31 Interantional conference in Lyon, France
(Top) UC Berkeley Outstanding Graduate Student Peer Mentor Award
(Bot.) UC Berkeley Vice Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Leadership
Curricular Experiences
Curricular Experiences
[4] Academic Experience
Aug. 2023 - Jul. 2024 President, Korean Graduate Student Association (KGSA) at University of California, Berkeley - [ KGSA activity ], [ KGSA webpage ]
Mar. 2022 - Jul. 2022 Researcher, Institute of Advanced Machines and Design, Seoul National University, Republic of Korea
[3] Seminar & Lecture
Invited Seminar
Dec. 19, 2025 Korea Institute of Molecular Medicine and Nutrition & Korea University, "Biomedical nanoscience with DNA origami" - [ link ]
Dec. 5, 2025 UC Berkeley - Kavli ENSI (Energy NanoScience Institute), "Multiplexed reconfiguration of DNA origami" - [ link ]
May 21, 2025 Korea University (College of Medicine), “Global Outstanding Researcher Series - DNA Origami Biosensor”
Mar. 4, 2025 The Ohio State University (Dept. of Biomedical ENG) “(BME4610) Biomedical Micro/Nanotechnology”
Sep. 6, 2023 University of Edinburgh "Harnessing a paper-folding mechanism for reconfigurable DNA origami" - [ link ]
Lecturer
Jan. 5 - 9, 2026 Sejong Academy of Science and Arts (SASA) - 2026 GRP (Global Research Program) “Introduction to DNA origami”
Jan. 6 - 10, 2025 Sejong Academy of Science and Arts (SASA) - 2025 GRP (Global Research Program) “Introduction to DNA origami”
Oct. 4 - 6, 2024 Jeju Science High School, “Introduction to Self-assembly DNA Nanostructure and Molecular Engineering”
Aug. 6, 2024 Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education, “Engineering the World with DNA Origami”
(Top) Seminar for Dajeon Metropolitan Office of Education, UC Berkeley.
(Bot.) Lecturer for GRP program, Sejong Academy of Science and Arts (SASA).
[2] Mentoring Experience
- Peer-mentoring >25 researchers from > Seven different departments (2020 - Present)
- Awarded as 2024 UC Berkeley - Outstanding Graduate Student Peer Mentor Award (Top 4) - [ NEWS I ] & [ NEWS II ]
- Developed own (i) six-week DNA origami curriculum & (ii) Experimental/training manual for new DNA origami researchers.
Mohmed Eltara (Jun. 2025 - Aug. 2025), Student Researcher, El-Sadat STEM School, Egypt
: Characterizing the cooperative binding effect of DNA extensions on folding reconfiguration of DNA wireframe origami. [ Manuscript ][ supplement ][ Poster ]
Davidoula Georgopoulou (Jan. 2026 - Present), Undergraduate Researcher, Dept. of Bioengineering
: Programmable encapsulation and delivery of therapeutic mRNA-DNA origami
Kira Stepanova (July. 2025 - Present), Undergraduate Researcher, Dept. of Engineering
: Programmable deposition of AuNP integrated DNA origami
Victoria Fan (July. 2025 - Present), Undergraduate Researcher, Dept. of Chemistry & Molecular and Cellular Biology
: Algorithmic scalable assembly and twistable DNA nanosystem
Jack Wang (Jan. 2023 - Present), B.S., Dept. of Molecular and Cell Biology
: Uncovering design and assembly rules for mRNA–DNA origami - [ Nano Letters (Accepted) ][ preprint (bioRxiv) ]
Ava Shea Morton (Aug. 2025 - Dec. 2025), Undergraduate Researcher, Dept. of Molecular and Cellular Biology
: Therapeutic mRNA delivery using encapsulation of DNA origami tiles
Samuel Sastry (Jun. 2025 - Oct. 2025), Student researcher, The College Preparatory School, Oakland
: Folding and Reconfiguration of DNA Origami Book Structures [ Talk ]
: Selected as a 2026 Regeneron STS (Science Talent Search) - Top 300 Scholars [ Announcement ]
Serene Stoller (Jun. 2025 - Aug. 2023), Visiting Scholar (SUPERB program), Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Toronto
: Programmable assembly and rotatable DNA origami platform [ Poster ] [ Talk ]
Yaritza Padilla (Jun. 2025 - Aug. 2023), Visiting Scholar (SUPERB program), Dept. of Electrical Engineering, University of Notre Dame
: Cross assembly and patterning of 2D DNA system [ Poster ] [ Talk ]
Arjun Banerjee (Jan. 2023 - May. 2023), Undergraduate researcher, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences
: Thermodynamics & Kinetics of DNA tile assembly
Astha Nimavat (Jun. 2023 - Aug. 2023), B.S., Dept. of Molecular and Cell Biology
: Design of 3D DNA wireframe for drug delivery
*Experimental training
Lin Du (Aug. 2022 - May. 2023), Assistant Professor, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering
Yifeng Shi (Aug. 2022 - May. 2023), Post-Doc, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences
Soyeon Lee (Jan. 2024 - May. 2024), Post-Doc, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences
Yunjeong Park (Jan. 2024 - May. 2024), Post-Doc, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences
Xiaohan Zhu (Jan. 2023 - May. 2023), Ph.D. Candidate, Biophysics
Jared Huzar (Aug. 2022 - May. 2023), Ph.D. Candidate, Biophysics
Samson Petrosyan (Aug. 2022 - May. 2023), Ph.D. Student, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences
Benjamin Cary (Aug. 2022 - May. 2023), Ph.D. Student, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences
Karis Lauren Kim (Jan. 2024 - May. 2024), Undergraduate researcher, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences
Sana Raisfirooz (Jun. 2023 - Aug. 2023), Visiting Scholar, Physics, University of Toronto
@Seoul National University (2020 - 2022)
Peer Mentor in AISDL (AI-driven Simulation and Design Lab) - [ link ]
Dongsik Seo (Sep. 2021 - Present), Ph.D. Candidate, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
: Multiplexed folding reconfiguration of DNA wireframe origami - [ Submitted ]
*Experimental training
Yanggyun Kim (Jan. 2022 - Jul. 2022), M.S., Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
Kyunghwa Jeon (Aug. 2020 - Dec. 2020), Ph.D. Candidate, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
Jiwon Kang (Aug. 2020 - Oct. 2020), M.S., Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
[1] Tutoring Experience.
Spring 2026 Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) EE C235 Nanoscale Fabrication (Under/Grad course), UC Berkeley
Fall 2020 - Spring 2021 Tutor Assistance (TA) Mechanical Engineering Lab (Under course), Seoul National University
Topic I. Solid Mechanics Experiment - Measuring bending stress and strain of cantilever beam using Wheatstone bridge.
Topic II. Design and Analysis of Auxetic Structure - Measuring negative Poisson's ratio of reentrant structure made by the 3D printer.
Contribution. Development of autonomous tracking and strain calculation of user-defined (n x m) points on video using MATLAB (below).
TA. Develop code to autonomously track the multi-point of re-entrant structure
TA. Estimation of negative Poisson's ratio of meta-structure
Research Skills
Research Skills
Computation - Molecular Dynamics Simulation (MD), Finite Element Analysis (FEA), MATLAB, Python
Experiments - Structural DNA/RNA Nanotechnology, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Agarose Gel Electrophoresis, and Spectrofluorometer.
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