My current research focuses on preventing the transition from acute to chronic postsurgical pain and identifying strategies to mitigate the risks of opioid-related harms. As a research assistant for Dr. Martin Cheatle in the Department of Psychiatry, I am also working on projects examining the clinical intersections of various types of chronic pain, opioid use disorder, and related psychological factors. My ultimate goal is to identify optimal strategies that achieve effective pain management while preventing addiction in patients living with pain.
To further enhance my research skills, I am pursuing a Biomedical Informatics Certificate through the Perelman School of Medicine, with a focus on developing machine learning algorithms to predict opioid use disorder in patients living with chronic pain.
Current Grants & Funding
- Institution: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH/NIDA) (Grant #: F31DA066297)
Isabel Hampton Robb Scholarship, Nurses Educational Funds
Research Grant, American Society for Pain Management Nursing (PI: Y. Lee)
Student Grant, Office of Nursing Research (PI: Y. Lee)
Research Fund, Penn AI Fellowship (2026-27 cohort)
Awards/Honors/Memberships in Honorary Societies
2025-2026 T32 trainee, NewCourtland Center for Transitions and Health, NIH/NINR (Grant #: T32 NR009356)
2026 Recipient, Travel Award for Early Career Investigators, The College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD). Link.
2026 Penn AI Fellowship (2026-2027 cohort), University of Pennsylvania. Link.
2025 Winner, Isabel Hampton Robb Scholarship, Nurses Educational Funds. Link.
*Received the highest evaluation score
2025 Innovation Fellow, Penn Artificial Intelligence and Technology Collaboratory for Healthy Aging (PennAITech), funded by the National Institute on Aging (Grant P30AG073105)
2025 Nursing DSO Scholarship, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
2025 Winner, Research Student Travel Grant, Graduate and Professional Student Assembly, University of Pennsylvania
2025 Poster Award Winner (Individual School-Nominated Poster Category), Eastern Nursing Research Society (ENRS) 37th Annual Scientific Sessions
2025 Winner, Travel Award, United States Association for the Study of Pain (USASP)
*Selected as one of six presenters nationwide based on scientific merit
2025 School-Selected Poster Award, selected by Penn Nursing to represent the school at the ENRS Annual Scientific Sessions
2024 Winner, Jean Guveyan Conference Scholarship, American Society for Pain Management Nursing. Link.
2024-2025 Recipient, Hannah Lowell Henderson Endowed Fellowship
2023-2026 Nurse Faculty Grant, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
2023 Associate Research Fellow, Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (Penn LDI) Link.
(AI in Medicine; Substance Use, Overdose, and Harm Reduction Working Group)
2023 Student recognition, Sky's the Limit. Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing Article Link.
2022 Semi-finalist, Tylenol Future Care Scholarship
2021-2023 Community Scholars Fellowship, Center for Community Programs, Innovation and Scholarship, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
2021 Graduate Scholarship Winner, Korean American Scientists and Engineers Association - Korea-U.S. Science Cooperation Center (KSEA-KUSCO). Link.
2019-2023 Merit Scholarship, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
2019 Induction into Sigma Theta Tau International, Nu Beta at-Large Chapter
2019 Semi-finalist, Tylenol Future Care Scholarship
2015 Future Nursing Leader Award, Global Korean Nursing Foundation
2011-2015 Dean's List, Ewha Womans University, School of Nursing
Licensures
Family Nurse Practitioner, Pennsylvania (Active)
Registered Nurse, Pennsylvania (Active)
Memberships
American Society of Pain Management Nursing
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Korean American Scientists and Engineers Association
Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing
Graduate Nursing Student Academy
Glocal Korean Nursing Foundation
