SEED 2024 was held at the Hyatt Regency SFO, San Francisco, California on August 20-21, 2024. This workshop supported by KSEA since 2013, has provided mentorship to, and help develop the careers of, junior KoreanAmerican scientists and engineers. I am honored and privileged to be given an opportunity to organize this important workshop as a SEED director with a phenomenal group of committee members, including Prof. Juhun Lee (University of Pittsburgh), Prof. Seungil Kim (Mississippi State University), Prof. Juhyun Lee (University of Texas at Arlington), and Prof. JuHyeong Ryu (West Virginia University).
1. Organizing Committee
Under the theme of “Leading and Thriving in Academia,” this year’s program aimed to provide opportunities for participants to discuss career planning and development, leadership development, sustainability, and cultivate mentoring relationships. We are pleased to have more than 80 selected participants, including PhD students, postdoctoral scholars, and early-career professionals in attendance. This year’s program included three plenary sessions, four panel discussion sessions with 14 mentors, and a poster session followed by a teatime with ~19 sponsoring institutes. We had world-renown three plenary speakers, Dr. Dennis Hong from UCLA, Dr. Taehyun Hwang from Mayo Clinic and Dr. Sua Myong from Harvard Medical School. Three plenary sessions were delivered by leading scientists who shared their wisdom on building an exciting and successful career and life. Multiple panels on seeking academic and industry positions, job interview processes, and negotiations provided opportunities for participants to ask questions and interact with mentors and speakers. Small groups of about eight per round table were also designed to foster informal, direct conversations between mentees and mentors regarding career development, research, and any other topics of interest. We implemented a poster session aiming to explore active communication amongst participants, fostering conversations with the sponsors and receiving feedback from mentors and speakers. We had a truly blessed meeting where both mentors and mentees were inspired, refreshed, and strengthened. As evidenced by many testimonials (see below), many participants expressed deep appreciation and gratitude.
2. Group photo
3. Schedule
4. Concluding Remarks
I am deeply honored to have served as 2024 SEED Workshop Chair. This workshop brought together a diverse group of students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty members who generously shared their time and expertise. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our three plenary speakers who courageously shared their personal journeys of overcoming failures and challenges, shaping them into the inspiring figures they are today. Their stories resonated deeply with all participants. I also want to express my appreciation to all the mentors who participated in panel meetings with enthusiasm and sincerity. Their insights and guidance left a lasting impact, inspiring and empowering everyone present. The success of this workshop was made possible by the dedicated SEED committee members and our two local postdocs, whose unwavering commitment ensured a smoothly run event. Together, we formed a cohesive and supportive team. Special thanks go to Dr. Tom Oh, President of KSEA, for his supports in many dimensions. I also acknowledge the invaluable support from the KSEA headquarters staff, including Euna Yoon, Joseph Kim, Jahae Yun, and Katie Park, whose timely assistance and organizational efforts were crucial throughout the preparation and execution of the meeting. It is my sincere hope that the memories of SEED 2024 will be cherished by all, and that the knowledge shared and networking opportunities provided will continue to positively impact the careers of our participants.
KSEA e-Letters 