Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology, minor in Biochemistry, Honors Distinction, The University of Arizona, 2024
Bachelor of Science in Physiology and Medical Sciences, minor in Emergency Medical Services, The University of Arizona, 2024
Hello! My name is Sun! I was born and half-raised in Seoul, South Korea, and half-raised in Phoenix, Arizona. I came to Tucson to earn my Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Physiology and Medical Sciences with minors in Biochemistry and Emergency Medical Services from the University of Arizona. I am part of the Honors Early Assurance Program cohort 4.
During my undergraduate, I worked with Dr. Gothard's lab at the University of Arizona studying neurophysiology and social behavior in: gaze following and adolescent brain development in Rhesus Macaque monkeys. My research on gaze following studied social attention mechanisms, revealing that viewer monkeys are more likely to follow the gaze of those exhibiting appeasing behaviors, contrary to initial hypotheses. This work extended into an independent project, highlighting the importance of social interactions in directing attention. In my thesis, I studied how adolescent brain development influences reward processing, combining behavioral data and MRI tractography.
In addition, I worked at Dr. Ferrari's Lab at the Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod under Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in France. I examined the impact of early-life adversities on rhesus macaques and investigated the spatial numerical association of the response codes effect.
Some of my hobbies are baking macarons, sleeping, and finding more hobbies.
Molecular and Cellular Biology Outstanding Senior Graduation Speaker
Graduated Summa Cum Laude with Honors - University of Arizona
Biology Research Abroad: Vistas Open! Alumni
University of Arizona Academic Year Highest Academic Distinction (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Phi Beta Kappa (Science Honors Society) member
Professional Societies:
Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA)
American Medical Association (AMA)
American Physician Scientists Association (APSA)
Kim, S., Bowman, A., Morrison, A., & Gothard, K. M. (2024). How Brain Maturation of Adolescent Primates Influences Reward Processing.
Champ, T. M., Lee, S., Martin, A. B., Bolles, C. M., Kim, S. W., & Gothard, K. M. (2022). Social engagement revealed by gaze following in third-party observers of simulated social conflict. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 952390
Selected Presentations:
Kim S, Bowman A, Morrison A, & Gothard K M. “How Brain Maturation of Adolescent Primates Influences Reward Processing”. Franke Honors Pinnacle. 24 April 2024. Poster.
Kim S, Bowman A, Morrison A, Bolles C M, & Gothard K M. “Adolescent Monkey Brain Maturation Correlates with Behavioral and Physical Development”. Undergraduate Biology Research Program 35th Conference. January 2024. Poster.
Bowman A I, Morrison A A, Kim S, Bolles C, Chang S W, & Gothard K M. “Longitudinal Study of Social and Non-Social Reward Valuation in Adolescent Primate Development: Initial Report”. Society for Neuroscience 2023 Conference. 11-15 November 2023. Poster.
Kim S, Bowman A, Morrison A, Bolles C M, & Gothard K M. “Delay Discounting and Physiological Development in Primate Adolescents”. Undergraduate Biology Research Program 34th Conference. January 2023. Poster.
Champ T, Lee S, Martin A B, Bolles C, Kim S, & Gothard K M. “Social Engagement Revealed by Gaze Following in Third-party Observers of Simulated Social Conflict”. Society for Neuroscience 2022 Conference. November 2022. Poster.
Kim S, Bolles C M, Champ T M, Lee S, O’Neill D, Martin A, & Gothard K M. “How do observers divide visual attention between interacting social partners?”. Undergraduate Biology Research Program 33th Conference. January 2022. Poster.
Jacobson N N, Lee S, Dennis B R, Bolles C M, Kim S, Seaton B T, Champ T M, O’Neill D, & Gothard K M. “Does Social Rank Subvert Attention Allocation to Novelty?”. Society for Neuroscience 2021 Conference. November 2021. Poster.
Cardenas M A, Lee S, Champ T M, Jacobson N N, Hillier E A, Bolles C M, Kim S, O’Neill D, Martin A B, & Gothard K M. “Autonomic State Predicts Engagement of Macaques with Videos of Conspecific Social Interactions”. Society for Neuroscience 2021 Conference. November 2021. Poster.