November 2025 — Researcher Exchange Program kicks off with first student placement in Edinburgh
Edinburgh, UK
KRIBB student Seongkun Bak shares details of his experiences as an exchange student at The University of Edinburgh, Stracquadanio Lab, as part of the UK-Korea International Partnership on Engineering Biology.
Author: Seongkun Bak, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB)
Image: SeongKun Bak and Professor Giovanni Stracquadanio at the Edinburgh Genome Foundry
What is the title of the project you are currently working on?
Computational analysis and modelling of a self-generated Deep Mutational Scanning (DMS) dataset
Can you explain what the project is about, and what you are doing.
Data-driven engineering is becoming increasingly important in Engineering Biology. The Biological data refers to Genotype (DNA sequence) and Phenotype (translated protein function).
In Korea, working alongside Prof. Haseong Kim's lab (KRIBB) we have developed a high-throughput data collection technique that can collect genotype and its phenotype simultaneously. With this technique we generated thousands of data for certain protein mutants.
In the UK, with Prof. Giovanni Stracquadanio's lab, I am now developing the pipeline to analyse mutation effect and model to search for further improved mutants.
What do you plan to do next on this project, on return to Korea?
It will take some time to organize the amazing experiences and thoughts I have had! In the meantime, I plan the paperwork about previous results, and we look forward to reporting these results.
Once the pipeline of data collection, analysis and modelling are established, we would like to perform this to new targets; that may be other protein interests in Korea or related to Prof. Stracquadanio's Lab.
What are the main differences in the facilities and ways of working between your host institution and home institution?
Regarding differences…everything! I feel like living in a different universe here, so I want to talk mainly from social to research area. I came here as a scientific researcher; however, I am very interested in the lifestyle, and society's effects on organizational systems.
Despite my brief experience, I have learnt the people here all have different hobbies and lifestyles. They seem adept at sharing the emotions from their diverse experiences and thoughts. These connections extend beyond the lab into the school level during frequent teatimes. In contrast, conversations in Korea typically focus on external matters such as the new contents, transfer of knowledge, so internal matters are shared only in close relationships.
In terms of education, Korea focuses mainly on knowledge spreading than self-improvement, so students acquire a lot of knowledge, but they should absorb and develop themselves. In the UK, it seems the opposite.
Now to talk about labs: Korea is relatively technical. We are interested in the process and systems of conducting research as well as purpose and utility of the research. Many researchers conduct their research to improve certain processes, systems, and most people are interested in improving the systems within the lab or the organization.
In the UK, researchers are focused on how the result can impact humanity, from a humanistic and utility perspective. Sometimes I feel the system is less organized than in Korea, but also it seems to have powerful drive to achieve it's intended result.
What have you enjoyed most so far during your time in Edinburgh?
More than anything, I enjoy meeting and talking with people. We talk about everything from silly things to serious (history, culture, philosophy). All of the experiences I've had here are completely different to my expectations, so I enjoy analysing the fundamental reasons through discussion.
Overall, there are amazing people who inspire and help me to learn, and I feel influenced by them.
What are you hoping to do next in your career?
Nothing about my future I can be sure of. Currently, I'm looking forward to being an independent scientist like Profs Kim or Stracquadanio. I am the type of person who needs to find something that can burn my soul. Scientific research is one of the most enjoyable experiences I've ever had. Thus, I just want to follow this feeling, devote passion and time to it.
I'm still having so much experience and inspiration, and I can't imagine how I will digest these thoughts when I return to Korea. The certain thing is that one day I will miss these feelings and times very much.
Finally, I would like to give thanks to my kind supervisors, Prof. Haseong Kim and Prof. Giovanni Stracquadanio, and the members of SBL (Synthetic Biology Research Center in KRIBB) and Stracquadanio Lab (School of Biological Sciences in University of Edinburgh).