Iona University’s Dr. Sunghee Lee Named 2024 ACS Fellow for Outstanding Contributions in Science
New Rochelle, N.Y. – Iona University’s Dr. Sunghee Lee, Board of Trustees endowed professor of the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department, has been named one of the 37 American Chemical Society (ACS) Fellows for 2024. This prestigious recognition celebrates Lee’s remarkable contributions to the field of science and commitment to the ACS community.
“It is a profound honor to be recognized as a member of the ACS Fellows Program,” said Lee. “This award acknowledges my contributions to both the scientific community and the American Chemical Society (ACS), including my work in biophysical chemistry and mentoring nearly 100 undergraduate students, leading to a significant publication record.”
Last month in Denver, not only was she honored at a special awards ceremony, but her undergraduate research team, Project Symphony, was also in attendance to commemorate the special day.
“I was absolutely thrilled to celebrate this milestone event with talented students from my research group, who also presented their research to an international audience,” said Lee. “Their hard work and dedication have made this journey unforgettable.”
Project Symphony
Notably, Lee and Project Symphony have made a significant contribution to scientific literature.
Recognized for outstanding mentorship, she led members of Project Symphony to publish their latest research paper, titled “Concentration-Dependent Effects of Curcumin on Membrane Permeability and Structure,” in the reputable journal ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science.
The study explores how curcumin, a natural compound, influences cell membrane properties, offering insights that could enhance its potential as a therapeutic agent.
Alongside Lee, the following undergraduate students are coauthors:
- Jamie Gudyka ’24, Biochemistry
- Jasmin Ceja-Vega ’23, Biochemistry
- Katherine Ivanchenko ’23, Chemistry
- Zachary Morocho ’24, Biochemistry
- Micaela Panella ’25, Biology & Chemistry
- Alondra Gamez Hernandez ’23, Biochemistry
- Colleen Clarke ’23, Chemistry
- Escarlin Perez ’22, Biochemistry
- Shakinah Silverberg ’24, Biology & Chemistry
Learn more about Project Symphony here.
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona is widely recognized in prestigious rankings, including The Princeton Review’s 2025 national list of “The Best 390 Colleges” and The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse’s “2024 Best Colleges in America,” which ranked Iona at #66 in the nation overall and #8 in the nation among Catholic schools. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just six percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2023.” Iona also offers a fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with NewYork-Presbyterian. Connecting to its Irish heritage, the University also recently announced it is expanding abroad with a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.