Sangwoo (Steven) Park
Sangwoo (Steven) Park
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NIH NCI Early K99/R00 Fellow & Damon Runyon Fellow
@ Harvard Medical School & Massachusetts General Hospital
My research interests are in understanding the biophysical properties of the glycocalyx and in developing cell-based immunotherapy targeting the cancer cell glycocalyx, with the ultimate goal of eradicating cancer.
Keywords: Immunoengineering, Glycobiology, CAR-T cell, Cancer Immunology, Super-resolution microscopy, Single-molecule biophysics
Email: svvpark [at] gmail.com | spark82 [at] mgh.harvard.edu
Education
Education
Ph.D. in Biophysics, Cornell University (Advisor: Matthew J. Paszek, Ph.D.) (08/2017 - 08/2023)
B.S. in Physics, KAIST (Advisor: Tae-Young Yoon, Ph.D.) (02/2010 - 08/2016)
Research Experience
Research Experience
2023-present Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital
Advisors: Marcela V. Maus, M.D., Ph.D.
2023-2023 Visiting Scientist, Department of Chemical Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University
Advisor: Matthew J. Paszek, Ph.D.
2017-2023 Graduate Research Assistant, Biophysics, Cornell University
Advisor: Matthew J. Paszek, Ph.D.
2015-2017 Research Assistant, Department of Physics, KAIST
Advisor: Tae-Young Yoon, Ph.D.
Funding
Funding
2025-2030 NCI Pathway to Independence Early K99/R00 Award ($1,099,888)
Sangwoo Park (PI)
Impact score: 10
Committee members: Richard Cummings, PhD, Katharina Ribbeck, PhD, Robbie Majzner, MD, and Bryan Choi, MD, PhD
2024-2025 G-Rex® Grant Award, ScaleReady USA ($50,000)
Sangwoo Park
Research, Process development and IND-enabling studies of novel NK cell therapy
2024-2028 Damon Runyon Fellowship Award ($300,000), Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
Sangwoo Park (PI)
Engineering novel CAR T cells targeting cancer glycocalyx barrier
2022-2023 Breast Cancer Research Grant ($25,000), Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester
Sangwoo Park (PI)
Overcoming the glycocalyx barrier to engineered cellular therapeutics
Honors and Awards
Honors and Awards
2025 NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Early-Stage Postdoctoral Researchers
2025 NEBS-Samyang Biopharm Award, 33rd Annual Conference, New England Bioscience Society, Boston, MA, USA
2024 G-Rex® Grant Award, ScaleReady
2024 Damon Runyon Fellowship Award (Selected as a Merck Fellow), Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
2024 Yuhan-KASBP Fellowship, Korean American Society in Biotech and Pharmaceuticals
2024 Postdoctoral Representative (Elected), Nanoscale Approach to Biology Subgroup, Biophysical Society
2023 Millipore Sigma High Impact Award, Nucleate New York Final Pitch Showcase, New York, NY, USA
2023 NEBS-CELLGENTEK Award, 31st Annual Conference, New England Bioscience Society, Boston, MA, USA
2023 Cornell 3MT Finalist (Three Minute Thesis Competition), Cornell Graduate School
2023 ASCB Ambassador, American Society for Cell Biology
2023 ASBMB Graduate Student Researcher Award, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, USA
2023 Student Research Achievement Award, Biophysical Society 67th Annual Meeting, USA
2022 The Pamela Delp Polashenski M.D. Breast Cancer Research Award, Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester, NY, USA
2022 Cornell Supplementation Award, Cornell University, USA
2022 Life Sciences Technology Innovation Fellowship, Entrepreneurship at Cornell University, Cornell University, USA
2020 Best Poster Award, Cornell Annual Biophysics Symposium, USA
2017 Cornell Fellowship, Cornell University, USA
Patent applications
Patent applications
2025 Maus MV and Park S. "MUC17-targeting CAR-T cells" (Provisional Patent filing)
2024 Maus MV and Park S. "CAR T cells with a glyco-bridge to improve efficacy" (Provisional Patent filing)
2024 Maus MV and Park S. "HPA-based CAR T cells for targeting cancer through Tn antigen" (Provisional Patent filing)
2021 Paszek MJ and Park S. "Compositions and methods for enhancing immune cell function using modified cells with glycocalyx editing enzymes" (PCT/US22/80937)
2018 Lee H, Na Y, Park S, Ryu JY. "Method and apparatus for analysis of protein-protein interaction" (PCT/KR2018/004580)
Scientific Service Activities
Scientific Service Activities
2024-2025 Postdoctoral Representative (Executive Committee), Nanoscale Approaches to Biology Subgroup, Biophysical Society
2024 Scientific Judge, American Society for Cell Biology Travel Grant Judge
2023 Accountability Board committee, Life Sciences Technology Innovation Fellowship, Cornell University
2023 Scientific Judge, American Society for Cell Biology Travel Grant Judge
2022 Discussion Leader, Gordon Research Seminar, Biointerface Science, Lucca, LU, Italy
Teaching Experience
Teaching Experience
2024 Mentor, Nucleate Nexus Program, Nucleate, USA
2022 Guest Lecturer, CHEME 2880 Fundamentals of Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, USA
2016 Teaching Assistant, Yonsei-IBS Institute Summer Internship Program, Yonsei university, South Korea
2016 Teaching Assistant, PH430 Biophysics, KAIST, South Korea
2015 Teaching Assistant, KAIST Research Internship for Institut Teknologi Bandug, KAIST, South Korea
2015 Physics Tutor, Tutoring Program, KAIST, South Korea
2012 Teaching Assistant, Global Institute for Talented Education, KAIST, South Korea
2011 Physics Tutor, Tutoring Program, KAIST, South Korea
2011 Instructor, Global Bridge for Multicultural Students, Ministry of Education, South Korea
2010 Mentor, Mentoring Project, Korea Student Aid Foundation, South Korea
Leadership
Leadership
2018-2019 President, Korean Graduate Student Association (KGSA), Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
2018-2023 President, Korean Cornell Bio Group, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
2013-2015 Sergeant, Government Issued Fire Fighter, Gimcheon, South Korea
Professional Experience
Professional Experience
2023 Co-founder & Activator, Candy Therapeutics, USA
2016 Researcher, Proteina Inc, South Korea
Featured
Featured
2025 ArvCon 2025 plays TTRPGs to fight cancer this weekend!
2024 Breast Cancer Coalition Announces Research Initiative’s Request for Proposals for 2025-2026 Grants
2024 Cell and Gene Therapies: Innovations, Challenges and Clinical Breakthroughs
2024 Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation awards $4.8 million to exceptional early-career scientists
2024 A Coalition-Funded Project Receives National Attention [Newsletter], Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester
2023 Biophysical Society selects Student Research Achievement Award winners [Biophysical Society, EurekAlert]
2023 Cancer cells with thicker glycocalyx barrier are better at evading immune cells, Medical Dialogues
2023 Oncology Times - Shop Talk, August 20, 2022 (doi: 10.1097/01.COT.0000872320.17796.78)
2023 Biologists discover how cancer cells elude the immune system, GEEK TECH
2023 Scientists discover how cancer cells evade immune system, Interesting Engineering
2022 Breast Cancer Coalition Voices of the Ribbon Autumn 2022 [Newsletter], Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester
2022 A Conversation with Sangwoo Park, Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester
2022 Breast Cancer Coalition awards $25,000 to support regional research, WHEC TV
2022 Cornell student awarded grant for research, WROC TV (RochesterFirst)
2022 Cornell student awarded grant for research, Inform NY
2022 Cornell student awarded grant for research, Binghamton Homepage
2022 Cornell student awarded grant for research, My Twin Tiers
2022 Cornell student awarded grant for research, CNY Homepage
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