2024 University Student Biological Classification Research Paper Contest Awarded Photo

From left, Shim Da-yeon, Kim Min-ji, Lee Da-yeon, Seo Ye-won

Four undergraduate students from Incheon National University (President Park Jong-tae) received the Excellence Award and Special Award in the 2024 University Biological Classification Research Paper Contest.

Under the theme of "Identifying and Identifying Microorganisms Producing Carotenoid Natural Pigment in the Korean Marine Environment," the research team (Bioenginerring major Lee Da-yeon, Seo Ye-won student) who won the Excellence Award presented the results of a study on the separation of microorganisms producing carotenoid, an antioxidant functional biomaterial.

In addition, Kim Min-ji, a student majoring in Bioengineering, and Shim Da-yeon, a student majoring in molecular life, won a special award for presenting research results related to the separation of microorganisms native to special environments in Korea and their ecological diversity under the theme of "Multi-phase taxonomic Research to Identify Biological Diversity of Hohalm Bacteria in Korea."

Four students from Incheon National University's College of Life Sciences and Bioengineering participated in the microbial biotechnology lab as undergraduate researchers under the guidance of Professor Seo Myung-ji (Bioengineering major) from 2023 to separate new and useful microbial resources from various environments and to identify their functions, and based on the results, they participated in the contest and received the honor of winning the award.

Professor Seo Myung-ji, an advisor, said, "I think it is the result of the recognition of the efforts of students who have been actively separating microorganisms from the laboratory and conducting research on ecological diversity and useful biomaterial production."

In addition, Professor Seo said, "These studies have expanded the diversity and applicability of domestic microbiology research in terms of securing microorganisms that can be applied to various bio-industries based on the separation and antioxidant functionality of extremely halophilic archaea native to the extreme environment (high salt)," and added, "We will continue to research to discover useful microorganisms and use them to develop innovative biomaterials."

For reference, Incheon National University's College of Life Sciences and Bioengineering has been cultivating human resources based on biology, a basic science, and convergence between fields such as medical/nano/information technology based on engineering.

Meanwhile, this competition is a prestigious competition in the field of biological classification research for university students in Korea, hosted and organized by the Ministry of Environment's National Institute of Biological Resources every year, and the final thesis presentation and award were held at the National Institute of Biological Resources on the 8th after months of research advice and thesis writing.