Meet the Team: Dr. Hyeongmin Seo

We are pleased to welcome Dr. Hyeongmin Seo to the Chemurgy 2.0 team! Dr. Hyeongmin Seo, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at the University of Iowa, brings valuable expertise in microorganism manipulation for advanced biomanufacturing. His work aligns perfectly with our mission to meet human needs through sustainable, bio-based solutions. 
 

In a recent interview, Dr. Seo shared insights into his role, motivations, and vision for the future of biomanufacturing. Here's what he had to say:

1. Introduce yourself to our audience: (What is your name and role within the UofI/NSF EPSCoR program?)
   
   My name is Hyeongmin Seo, and I am an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at the University of Iowa. My role in Chemurgy 2.0 is to manipulate microorganisms to improve the production efficiency of bacterial cellulose, which will be used as aerogels, fabrics, and fibers with a broad range of biomedical applications.
    
2. What motivated you to join the NSF EPSCoR program, and what unique perspective do you bring to your role?
   
   I believe that sustainability is one of the most pressing challenges we are facing. Our daily life is heavily dependent on non-renewable, carbon-intensive petrochemicals and materials. I want to contribute to reducing our reliance on petroleum through the industrialization of biology. The motto of Chemurgy 2.0, 'meet human needs from things that grow,' perfectly aligns with my research goal, motivating me to join the team. Whenever I see something, I always wonder: Where did it come from, and where will it end up? The two questions will help us rethink sustainability and find new opportunities to reshape our daily lives.
    
3. Can you share a specific challenge you've faced in your research and how it has shaped your approach moving forward?
   
   Synthetic biology research often requires designing and building microbes that never existed in nature, which is fun but sometimes very challenging. One of my PhD projects was to develop a microbe that could degrade and ferment lignocellulosic biomass and produce volatile esters at elevated temperatures (>50°C) in one pot. These volatile esters are valuable chemicals used as flavors, fragrances, solvents, and drop-in biofuels. However, no known life forms in nature produce these esters at elevated temperatures, so I could not find a good reference design from nature. After two years of struggling, I discovered that a thermostable antibiotic resistance enzyme could be repurposed to synthesize the target esters due to its promiscuous activities. I successfully achieved the project goal by improving the ester-synthesizing activity of the antibiotic resistance enzyme through protein engineering. This experience shaped my mindset that there must always be a solution as long as we approach the problem from many different angles.
    
4. How has your institution supported your research initiatives under the EPSCoR program, and what resources have been most beneficial?
   
   The University of Iowa is a special place to pursue biochemical and biomolecular engineering thanks to its connection with the vibrant medical communities. Every day, I receive emails seeking participants in medical studies regarding diet, exercise, sleep, and so on. The environment provides fruitful resources for developing ideas closely related to applications. Also, facilities and research communities such as the Center for Biocatalyst and Bioprocessing (CBB) are wonderful resources beneficial for biomanufacturing studies. The resources have already motivated me to think about problems from multiple angles.
    
5. What strengths does U of I have that will help the project?
   
   People at the University of Iowa are very collaborative and fun to work with. Even though I started my position only this semester, I have already found wonderful collaborators from multiple colleges and departments. The collaborative environment is also encouraged in classrooms, where students learn and experience the importance of teamwork in solving problems. The cultural strength is critical to addressing our grand challenges, such as sustainability, but it is often underappreciated. I believe the Chemurgy 2.0 is a wonderful opportunity to maximize the collaboration to address many grand challenges.
    
6. What exciting developments or projects are you currently working on that you believe will significantly impact your field?
   
   I am working on developing a nanotechnology-enabled, high-throughput biocatalyst screening platform that can significantly accelerate the development of microbial cells and enzymes. Although the performance of rationally designed synthetic microbes needs to be quickly evaluated, current methods of their performance evaluation largely rely on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or gas chromatography (GC), taking 20-30 minutes per sample run, which is not rapid enough to evaluate hundreds of recombinant microbial 'libraries.' The goal is to reduce the use of HPLC or GC during biocatalyst development processes by using a nano-sensor-based 'best performer identifier.' The ultimate goal is to fully automate the design-build-test-learn cycle of synthetic biology for developing high-performing biocatalysts specialized in bulk chemicals and biofuel production.
    
7. In what ways do you envision fostering student involvement in your EPSCoR-related research, and what opportunities will be available for them?
   
   Great innovations often stem from small beginnings. My goal is to guide students through the exciting world of research by introducing them to manageable, yet impactful tasks. Molecular cloning, for instance, is a fundamental technique that undergraduate students can master within a couple of months. Once students experience the power of recombinant DNA technology firsthand, I believe they'll discover a wealth of fascinating opportunities. Through involvement in Chemurgy 2.0, my lab will aim to provide these transformative experiences to a wide range of students, igniting their passion for scientific discovery and innovation.

In related news, we're excited to announce that Dr. Seo has been awarded $1.5 million to contribute to the Global Center for Sustainable Bioproducts. This significant funding further underscores the importance and potential impact of his work in the field of sustainable biomanufacturing. Read more here.
We look forward to the innovative contributions Dr. Seo will bring to the Chemurgy 2.0 project and the broader field of sustainable biomanufacturing.