MinJungKim

TheRockefellerUniversity
PersonalStatement

By attending graduate school, I aim to gain skills and knowledge in preparation for a career in
the fields of virology and immunology as a principal investigator. I specifically aim to pursue a
doctoral degree at the Rockefeller University because the graduate program will support my
researchinterestinvirushostrelationshipsfordevelopingrationalvaccinedesigns.

WhileworkingintheHeartandMuscleMechanics(HAMM)LaboratorydirectedbyDr.Regnier,I
learned about the adenoassociated virus vectormediated system employed as gene therapy
for systolic heart failure. This piqued my interest in virology and led me to pursue Human
Papillomavirus (HPV) research in Dr. McBrides laboratory at the National Institutes of Health
(NIH) through the Amgen Scholars Program. HPV18 quasivirus is used to study early viral
replication that requires low levels of de novointroduced viral genome, and it is produced in
293TT cells by cotransfecting HPV18 genome with plasmids containing capsid protein genes.
The major drawback is that 1% of the virus stock has encapsidated HPV18 genome since
293TT does not replicate the viral genome, and the capsids take up nonviral cellular DNA. I
hypothesized that induced expression of two HPV DNA replication proteins, E1 and E2, will
result in viral genome replication. The focus of myprojectwastoamplifytheHPV18 genomein
Human EmbryonicKidney(HEK)293TT cellstogenerateamorehomogenousquasivirusstock.
To test my hypothesis, 293TT cells were transfected with viral genome along with either
plasmids with or without the E1 and E2 genes. Western blot, Southern blot, and qPCR results
indicate that heterologous coexpression of the HPV18 replication proteins sufficiently induces

replication of HPV18 genome whichleadstoten times moreviralgenomein293TT.Preliminary

results suggest that viral genome amplification results in a disproportionate increase in HPV18
genomecontaining capsidsinviruspreps.Furtherstudiesmaybedonetodeterminethefactors
thatdriveHPVcapsidstopreferreplicatedviralgenomeforvirionassembly.

Researching in the HAMM lab not onlyexposedmetovirologybut alsogavemeanopportunity

to work on a long term research project. Distal Arthrogryposis (DA) is an inherited and
nonprogressive disease characterized by abnormal congenital contractures, and the current
standardcareisineffective.TheoverallaimofmyprojectistounderstandDAonasubcellular
level by investigating the functional impact of a missense in troponin T (TnT) associated with
DA. There are no animal models for DA. As a result, I have expressed and purified human
troponin subunits from bacteria. I have also reconstituted the wild type and mutant troponin
complexes and tested for their functionality
in vitro
. Currently, I am working on fully
characterizing the mutations role in abnormal molecularmusclemechanics
invitro. Changesin
calcium sensitivity of the troponin complex by itself will be determined through fluorescence
spectroscopy changes in cross bridge cycling rates will be determined usingan
invitromotility
assay and cellular level force generation and calcium sensitivity will be determined by using
skinned muscle fiber in a calcium sensitivity assay with exchanged troponin complexes. Since
patients with DA show prolonged contractures, the maximum force, the calciumsensitivity,and
therateofcrossbridgecyclingareexpectedtoincreasewiththemutationinTnT.

Outside the lab, I havebeenactivelyseekingoutopportunitiestogainknowledgeinpreparation

for conducting research in graduate school. While reading scientific literature for my HPV
project, I became interested in immuneresponsestoviralinfectionsandpursuedmyinterestby

participating in a journal club on oncolytic viruses at the NIH. Weekly discussions revolved
around poliovirus, adenovirus, and herpes simplex virus (HSV)1 virotherapies. I was intrigued
by how virulence could be attenuated through recombining cisacting genetic elements of
picornavirus with HSV and inserting internal ribosomal entry sites of rhinovirus into poliovirus.I
was equally intrigued by the idea of exploiting the virushostrelationshipto elicitinnateantiviral
defense and harnessing the adaptive antitumor immunity for therapeutic purposes.
Conversations around these scientific papers solidified my interest in virushost relationships
and drove me to take courses in immunology and microbiology. I plan on taking more virology
andchemistrycoursesthatcomplementmybioengineeringcourseworkbeforeIgraduate.

In preparation for a career as a principalinvestigator,Ihavetakeninitiativestomentorstudents

and developprojectmanagementskillsthroughtheDreamProject,astudentledcollegeaccess
and retention program. As a mentor, I supported three high school students in navigating post
secondary options that align with their interests. I then transitioned into a leadership role as a
lecture lead for a course on college accessandsocialmobilitythatDreamProjectmentorstake
for credit. For the past year, I have beenplanning anddevelopingweeklylecturecontentwitha
team of three students and delivering lectures with a colead. It has been highly rewarding to
build a sense of community by facilitating discussions in class and collaborating with partner
organizations in Seattle, and I intend to translate skills gained through this leadership role in a
researchsettingasImatureasascientist.

The research done by the faculty at the Rockefeller University aligns with my future research
interests. I am particularly drawn to Dr. Rices work in recapitulating human Hepatitis C Virus
infection
in vitro and in mouse models through tissue engineering. I would like to have
an

opportunity to work in his lab as his research dovetails with my interest in virology and my
bioengineering background in fluid dynamics and mass transport. I would also like to get
involved in Dr. Bieniaszs work on the RNA and viral protein interaction during Human
Immunodeficiency Virus1 assembly because my previous research on HPV got me interested
in cellular factors that orchestrate viral genome packaging. Research in both of these
laboratories are intriguing to me because they aim to elucidate and harness fundamental
virushost relationships for rational vaccine design. Additionally, I am attracted to the David
Rockefeller Graduate Program academically because of the freedom to design and tailor a
personal curriculum to complement potential research projects. Furthermore, the
interdisciplinary centers like the Christopher H. Browne Center for Immunology and Immune
Diseases as well as external initiatives like the Center for the Study of Hepatitis C and Aaron
Diamond AIDS Research Center will allow me to collaborate with and engage inconversations
within the larger scientific community. I believe that the Rockefeller University is the ideal
institution for me to pursue graduate studies because its unique educational and research
opportunities will equip me with the training necessary to become an established principal
investigator.