DR. YOUNJIN MIN
Assistant Professor of Polymer Engineering
Interfacial Phenomena, Surface Science, Colloids, Adhesion,
Friction, Rheology, Biomaterials, Sustainable Materials
Research Interests:
Min’s research focuses on fundamental understanding on
nano- and bio-materials at the molecular level in order to
utilize such knowledge for practical applications. Min’s
research interests include the area of surface and interfacial
science and materials including intermolecular interactions,
friction phenomena, colloidal science, thin film fabrication,
polymer synthesis, biophysics and biomaterials for
biomedical applications.
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Department of
Polymer Engineering
University of Akron, OH
330-972-5167
[email protected]
https://minlab.uakron.edu/
Biography:
Younjin Min joined the Polymer Engineering department
at the University of Akron in 2013 as an Assistant
Professor. She attended Ewha Womans University,
where she obtained her Bachelors Degree in
Environmental Science and Engineering. She then
obtained her Master’s Degree in Chemical and
Biomolecular Engineering at the Korea Advanced
Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), where she
developed novel biocompatible diblock copolymers for
nano-sized drug delivery carriers. Subsequently, she
worked in the biomedical center, at the Korea Institute of
Science and Technology (KIST) in the area of
formulating protein drug carriers for tissue regeneration.
She received her Ph.D. in the Department of Chemical
Engineering at the University of California, Santa
Barbara. Her Ph.D. research focused on soft condensed
matter from biological (lipid membranes, proteins) to
non-biological (polymers, nanoparticles, surfactants) and
interfacial surface science. Following her Ph.D., Dr. Min
joined the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a
postdoctoral
researcher,
developing
biomimetic
polymeric materials for layer-by-layer assembling
systems for wound healing, and vaccination. She
published over 20 publications in high-impact journals,
including Nature Materials, Nano Letters and
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and
also has 2 patents on novel biocompatible polymers.
Awards/Accomplishments:
• The Schlinger Scholarship for Excellence in Chemical
Engineering Research (2009)
• KOSEF Scholarship (2004-2005)
• Outstanding Graduating Student (2000)
• Honor Scholarships and Dean’s list (1999-2000)
SFA experimental set-up
Phase transition behaviors
in Soft Condensed Matter
Industrial Sector Focus:
•
Adhesion, friction, and rheology measurements at
multiple length scales
•
Polymeric thin film (functional coating) fabrication
•
Nanoparticle fabrication and assembly
•
Novel biomimetic materials
•
Pharmaceutical application for wound healing and
vaccination
Unique Laboratory Facilities:
Surface Forces Apparatus (SFA) – Direct measurements
of static and dynamic forces between surfaces, Studies of
interfacial and thin film phenomena at the molecular level.
Microscopic Tools – Phase transition analysis and
determination, Dynamic surface potential measurements.
Thin Film Fabrication – Utilization of intermolecular
interactions for fabrication of polymeric, nanoparticulate,
biological functional films at various length scales.
Recent Publications/Patents:
1. Min, Y., et. al., Implantable Silk Composite Microneedles
for Programmable Vaccine Release Kinetics and Enhanced
Immunogenicity in Transcutaneous Immunization, Advanced
Healthcare Materials, 3(1), 47-58, (2014).
2. Demuth, P.C., Min, Y., et. al., Polymer multilayer tattooing
for enhanced DNA vaccination, Nature Materials, 12, 367376, (2013).
3. Min, Y., Hammond, P., Use of catechol-modified polymers
in Layer-by-Layer assembly to enhance its stability and
sustained release of biomolecules: A bio-inspired approach,
Chemistry of Materials, 23 (24), 5349-5357, (2011).
4. Min, Y., et. al., Relating Domain Size Distribution to Line
Tension and Dipole Density in Model Cytoplasmic Myelin
Monolayers, Proceedings of the National Academy of
Science (Biophysics),108(23), 9425-9430, (2011).