《Editor’s Note: Transformative ideas often begin with simple yet fundamental questions. At UNIST, those questions are explored through rigorous research and collaboration, leading to advances that extend beyond the laboratory. Through [UNISTar Success Stories—Turning Imagination into Reality], we present alumni contributing to global scientific progress.》 

Sangin Kim, Ph.D., a graduate of UNIST, has been awarded a Damon Runyon Postdoctoral Fellowship, one of the most competitive fellowships in cancer research. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn), working with Professor Roger Greenberg. His research focuses on the intersection of DNA damage response and anti-cancer immunity, an area central to the development of next-generation cancer therapies. 

This year's cohort includes 13 fellows from institutions such as Harvard University, Stanford University, Cornell University, UC Berkeley, and Penn. Only two fellows, including Kim, earned their doctoral degrees outside the United States, reflecting the program's international scope and selectivity. 

The Damon Runyon Fellowship provides $300,000 over four years to support early-career scientists pursuing innovative cancer research. The program places particular emphasis on a researcher's ability to define significant scientific questions and pursue them with independence. Its alumni include numerous Nobel and Lasker Award recipients. 

Kim completed both his undergraduate and doctoral training at UNIST. During his doctoral studies, he investigated the role of DNA replication-associated proteins in maintaining genomic stability, contributing to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying cancer development. His work has been published in leading journals, including Nucleic Acids Research and PNAS. 

He has been received several honors recognizing his research potential, including the Early-Career Researcher Award from the Genetics Society of Korea and the Young Investor Research Award from the Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology (KSMCB), and was also selected as the recipient of the Asan Foundation Biomedical Science Scholarship in 2021. Continuous scholarship support throughout his academic training enabled him to pursue sustained, in-depth research on a single scientific question.

Reflecting on his journey, Dr. Kim said, "It is a privilege to be selected for the Damon Runyon Postdoctoral Fellowship. I see this as recognition of the research foundation I developed at UNIST, and I intend to build on it through continued work."

The recognition also carries personal significance. His doctoral advisor, Professor Kyungjae Myung, was also selected as a Damon Runyon Fellow in 1999, establishing a connection across generations of researchers. Kim attributes his development to UNIST's academic environment, including a discussion-based curriculum, an English-language research setting, and a globally connected alumni network. These experiences enabled him to engage effectively in international research contexts early in his career.

His current work examines how disruptions in DNA damage response pathways lead to the formation of abnormal double-stranded RNA, which in turn activates immune responses and reveals vulnerabilities in cancer cells. He is also investigating how defects in DNA replication quality control may contribute to rare neurodegenerative diseases. In parallel with his research, Kim contributes to mentoring students while maintaining collaborative ties with UNIST, extending the impact of his training beyond his own work. 

Looking ahead, he aims to further investigate the biological mechanisms underlying cancer and rare diseases, with a focus on identifying fundamental vulnerabilities that can inform future therapeutic strategies. 

"Throughout my journey—from undergraduate studies at UNIST to my current postdoctoral research—the most valuable lesson I gained at UNIST was how to think through scientific problems," he said. "I hope to carry that forward and contribute to the next generation of research."