I am Jusung An
a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Prof. Mirica's Lab
in the Department of Chemistry at UIUC

My current research focuses on developing organic and bioinorganic agents for brain imaging and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

Primary research goal is to develop clinically applicable agents for the early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease using advanced diagnostic and therapeutic agents.

Contact: jusungan@illinois.edu
Visit Mirica Lab: https://mirica.web.illinois.edu


 

Academic History

Postdoc. Dept. of Chemistry, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
Jan.2025 - present Advisor: Prof. Liviu M. Mirica

Postdoc. Dept. of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
Sept.2024 - Dec.2024 Advisor: Prof. Jong Seung Kim

Ph.D. Dept. of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
Mar.2019 - Aug.2024 Graduate Advisor: Prof. Jong Seung Kim

Research Assistant Dept. of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
Aug.2018 - Feb.2019 Advisor: Prof. Jong Seung Kim

B.S. Dept. of Chemistry, Hallym University, CHC, Korea
Mar.2013 - Aug.2018 Undergraduate Advisor: Prof. Jeong Tae Lee

Research Highlights

Lutetium texaphyrin-celecoxib conjugates as a potential immuno-photodynamic therapy agent

J. An et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 19434-19448
Read here

Early onset diagnosis in Alzheimer’s disease patients via amyloid-β oligomers-sensing probe in cerebrospinal fluid

J. An et al., Nat. Commun. 2024, 15, 1004
Read here

Mechanical stimuli-driven cancer therapeutics

J. An et al., Chem. Soc. Rev. 2023, 52, 30-46
Read here

Picomolar-Sensitive β-Amyloid Fibril Fluorophores by Tailoring the Hydrophobicity of Biannulated π-Elongated Dioxaborine-Dyes

J. An et al., Bioact. Mater. 2022, 13, 239-238
Read here

Awards and Honors

B.S. Honors (Hallym University)

Aug. 2018 College President’s Award for Summa Cum Laude (Top Honors in Bachelor’s Degree)


BK21 FOUR Outstanding Graduate Student Awards

Mar. 2021 Excellent Research Article, Y. Xu, Y. Zhang, J. Li, J. An et al., Biomaterials, 259, 1878-5905 (2020)

Jul. 2022 Excellent Research Article, E. Jung, I. Shim, J. An et al., ACS Appl. Bio Mater., 4, 2576-6422 (2020)

Jan. 2023 Excellent Research Article, J. An et al., Bioact. Mater., 13, 239-248 (2022)

Jul. 2023 Chemistry Fellowship (Grand Prize), BK21 FOUR R&E Center for next generation chemist
Feb. 2024 Excellent Research Article, Y. Yang, J. An et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.,  135, e202310408 (2023)
Jul. 2024 Excellent Research Article, J. An et al., Nat. Commun.15, 1004 (2024)

KU Graduate School Awards

Mar. 2022 KU Graduate School Achievement Award (Top Honors in Ph.D. degree)
Sep. 2023 Best Instructor Award, Organic synthesis lecture


Best Presentation Awards at Conferences

Apr. 2022 Poster, 129th KCS Symposium, Korean Chemical Society, Korea

Aug. 2022 Oral, 22nd Organic Chemistry Division of KCS Symposium, Korean Chemical Society, Korea

Oct. 2022 Oral, 130th KCS Symposium, Korean Chemical Society, Korea

Apr. 2023 Poster, 131st KCS Symposium, Korean Chemical Society, Korea

Jul. 2023 Oral [International], 12-ISNSC & 3-TBioS, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Aug. 2023 Poster, 21st KPA Symposium, Korean Photodynamic Association, Korea

Aug. 2023 Oral, 23rd Organic Chemistry Division of KCS Symposium, Korean Chemical Society, Korea


Academic Awards & Honors

Nov.2024 Nominated as an attendee for the 2025 Lindau Nobel Laureated Meetings, The Korean Academy of Science and Technology
(Four representative young chemist in Korea)

Jan. 2025 ACS-KCS PhD/Postdoc Academic Award