Mikyoung Lee Ji, PhD

3606 Corbin Street, Raleigh, NC 27612

Home (919) 571-7195, Mobile (919) 389-1706
E-mail: mjf345fa@westpost.net
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikyji
Objective
Seeking a scientist position using strengths in protein biochemistry including a
nalysis, characterization, purification, expression, and enzyme kinetics as well
as in molecular biology, gene cloning, and biotechnological applications
Areas of Expertise and Skills
* Extremophilic antioxidant enzymes: Superoxide reductase, Glutathione reductase
* Carbohydrate and biomass degrading enzymes
* Recombinant protein analysis, characterization, purification, and expression:
FPLC (AKTA), HPLC, Western Blot, enzyme assay, kinetics, spectrophotometry
* General gene cloning skills: primer design, vector construction, PCR
* Quantitative (Bio-Rad iCycler)
* General microbial genetic skills: aseptic technique, microscopy, site directed
mutagenesis, bacterial transformation, bacterial transduction.
* Microbial physiology: Anaerobic/ aerobic growth of microorganisms (anaerobic g
love box experience)
* Process optimization of yeast fermentation: lab scale bioreactor (Dasgip opera
tion)
* Computer Program: MS Power Point, Word, Excel, Publisher, Adobe Photoshop, Mac
Vector, Amplify

Professional Research Experience

Syngenta Biotechnology Inc., RTP, NC
Research scientist 2008-2010
Biofuel production research
* Purified, characterized and analyzed the recombinant form of proteins expresse
d in plants, E.coli and yeast.
* Enzymatic degradation of biomass from corn stover and sugar cane bagasse
* Process optimization of yeast fermentation on dry grind corn for maximum yield
of alcohol production
* Invention disclosure of sugar cane trait for high production of sucrose
* Invention disclosure of stress tolerant yeast for maximum yield of alcohol pro
duction
North Carolina State University, Department of Microbiology
Post-Doctoral Fellow
2007- 2008
Research focus:
* Cloning, purification and biochemical characterization of the novel enzyme, g
lutathione reductase, from the Antarctic psychrophilic bacterium Colwellia psych
rerythraea. A potential protective protein against freezing and oxidative damage
when it is expressed in plant systems.
Graduate Research Assistant 2001
-2007
Research focus:
* Studied on superoxide reductase (similar function as SOD), extremophilic, arch
aeal antioxidant gene.
* Pioneering the development of novel transgenic plants expressing the thermophi
lic antioxidant genes that provide mechanisms of tolerating harsh environmental
conditions. Demonstrated proof of principle that expression of an archaeal gene
can produce a functional protein in plants, which has not been demonstrated prev
iously.
* Investigation of the transcriptional expression levels of genes that are invol
ved in the superoxide reductase pathway for detoxification of reactive oxygen sp
ecies in P. furiosus during the exposure to environmental stress.
* Antibody production of the proteins involved in reactive oxygen detoxification
from P. furiosus (Cloning and purification of extremophilic enzymes).
* Investigation of the influence of affinity tags on recombinant protein structu
re and stability by attaching various tags (Construction of His6-tag, Ala6-tag,
no-tag in front of the multiple cloning sites in pET24d vector. Cloning and puri
fication of the recombinant form of NROR proteins in E. coli)
Education
North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC 2003-2007
Ph.D. in Microbiology, Thesis Advisor: Amy Grunden
Title of dissertation: Superoxide reductase from the Hyperthermophilic Archaeon
Pyrococcus furiosus: its Function, Regulation, and Biotechnological Applications
.
North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC 2001-2003
M.S. in Microbiology, Thesis Advisor: Amy Grunden
Title of thesis: Functional evaluation of the mechanisms of reactive oxygen spec
ies detoxification in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus using c
omplementation studies.

Teaching Experience
North Carolina State University, Department of Microbiology
Undergraduate laboratory mentor 2002-2007
Graduate Teaching Assistant 2002-2004
Publications
* Im YJ, Ji ML, Lee AM, Killens R, Lowder C, Grunden AM, Boss WF (2010) Redesign
ing plants for spaceflight and beyond: Transfer of genes from Pyrococcus furiosu
s into model plants to facilitate stress tolerance. American Society of Gravitat
ional Space Biology. In Press.
* Ji ML, Grunden AM (2010) Cloning, purification, and characterization of recomb
inant glutathione reductase from the psychrophilic Antarctic bacterium, Colwelli
a psychrerythraea. ( Manuscript, In preparation)
* Im YJ, Ji ML, Lee AM, Boss WF, Grunden AM (2009) Expression of Pyrococcus furi
osus Superoxide Reductase in Arabidopsis Enhances Heat Tolerance. Plant Physiolo
gy 151:893-904
* Im YJ, Ji ML, Lee AM, Boss WF, Grunden AM (2005) Production of a thermostable
archaeal superoxide reductase in plant cells. FEBS Lett. 579 (25): 5521-5526
* Grunden AM, Jenney FE, Ji, ML., Weinberger, M., Ma K, Adams MWW (2005) In Vitr
o Reconstitution of an NADPH-Dependent Superoxide Reduction Pathway from Pyrococ
cus furiosus. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 71(3): 1522-153