Se Jeong, Chairman of the Junior Academy, elected as a Fellow of the
Virginia Academy of Science
|
Official Press Release
Virginia Academy of Science Virginia Junior Academy of Science |
|
Se Jeong, Chairman of the Junior Academy, elected as a Fellow of the Virginia Academy of Science
Richmond, Virginia, October 23, 2021
Richmond, Virginia, October 23, 2021
|
Each year, the Virginia Academy of Science (VAS) recognizes scientists for their scholarly accomplishments and outstanding service to the Academy. These individuals are selected based on their contribution to science in one or more ways, including outstanding scientific research, inspirational teaching of science, and significant leadership in the Academy.
At the 2021 Virginia Academy of Science 99th Annual Meeting held in May, Se Woong Jeong was named as a Fellow of the Virginia Academy of Science. He joins a distinguished group of scientists who have had a significant impact on scientific leadership in the Commonwealth of Virginia. At age 29, he is one of the youngest to be elected as a Fellow of VAS. Jeong is currently employed as Senior Research & Development Specialist at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in New York, but he has a long history with the Academy. |
Mr. Jeong is a bench scientist at Regeneron, conducting highly technical experiments and leading the execution of translational oncology projects He is an experimentalist who bridges basic science and translational research to maximize learning from human-derived clinical samples. In the laboratory, he develops new, cutting-edge technical methods which are immediately transferred into real-world applications. His research in the field of immuno-oncology advances the science of understanding the phenotypic and functional role of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and the various immune cells residing within a tumor and its microenvironment. The ultimate goal is to identify novel targets for immunotherapy in various hard to treat or therapy resistant tumor indications.
When not in the lab, Mr. Jeong spends his time volunteering to serve and cultivate the minds of our young, future scientists. He has been the Chairman of the Virginia Junior Academy of Science Board, a Committee under the Virginia Academy of Science, for the past six years. VAS announced his reappointment to a 3rd, 3-year term just this year, extending his commitment to 2024.
In his capacity as Chairman, Mr. Jeong leads the vision, strategy and operations of the Junior Academy activities – including the big event of VJAS, the Annual Meeting & Research Symposium each May. At the Symposium, 600-800 Virginia middle and high school students come together for a 3-day conference to share their research with peers and expert panel of judges. He works in close conjunction with core leadership team, VJAS Director Susan Booth, VJAS Associate Director Robin Curtis, and VJAS Committee Vice Chair Mike Lovrencic, in addition to the team of dedicated volunteers, who work year-round to achieve this herculean task.
When not in the lab, Mr. Jeong spends his time volunteering to serve and cultivate the minds of our young, future scientists. He has been the Chairman of the Virginia Junior Academy of Science Board, a Committee under the Virginia Academy of Science, for the past six years. VAS announced his reappointment to a 3rd, 3-year term just this year, extending his commitment to 2024.
In his capacity as Chairman, Mr. Jeong leads the vision, strategy and operations of the Junior Academy activities – including the big event of VJAS, the Annual Meeting & Research Symposium each May. At the Symposium, 600-800 Virginia middle and high school students come together for a 3-day conference to share their research with peers and expert panel of judges. He works in close conjunction with core leadership team, VJAS Director Susan Booth, VJAS Associate Director Robin Curtis, and VJAS Committee Vice Chair Mike Lovrencic, in addition to the team of dedicated volunteers, who work year-round to achieve this herculean task.
|
Se Jeong, VJAS Chairman's Welcome and Remarks at the 2020 VJAS Research Symposium Awards Ceremony.
|
Mr. Jeong’s leadership is only part of his history with the Junior Academy. Mr. Jeong participated in VJAS all four years of high school, while attending the Roanoke Valley Governor’s School for Science and Technology. He returned to serve as a volunteer judge as an undergraduate student at the University of Virginia. In 2013, he was tapped to serve as a Board member before becoming the Chair of the VJAS Board & Committee two years later.
|
“I am honored to be elected as a Fellow of the Virginia Academy of Science and I owe a great debt of gratitude to many individuals who trusted me with the responsibility to lead the Junior Academy. Looking back, it has been a transformative experience starting as a VJAS participant in high school, returning as a judge in college, and eventually joining the VJAS Board and Committee, where I now serve as the Chairman,” he said, while reflecting on his journey. “I am humbled to receive this recognition but my passion and service to the Junior Academy is driven by our core mission to encourage students to understand and experience the process of conducting rigorous scientific research.”
He is also proud of what he calls the VJAS experience. “We have a unique Junior Academy compared with other more traditional science fairs. The VJAS experience is able to provide our young students with an opportunity of attending a professional scientific conference in a collegiate environment,” he said. “Our program enables the development of well-rounded future scientists and thought leaders who will inspire positive change in our society. Thankfully, I am not alone in taking this mission to heart. I work with a dream team of core leadership group and of course, many dedicated volunteers and judges,” he added.
He is also proud of what he calls the VJAS experience. “We have a unique Junior Academy compared with other more traditional science fairs. The VJAS experience is able to provide our young students with an opportunity of attending a professional scientific conference in a collegiate environment,” he said. “Our program enables the development of well-rounded future scientists and thought leaders who will inspire positive change in our society. Thankfully, I am not alone in taking this mission to heart. I work with a dream team of core leadership group and of course, many dedicated volunteers and judges,” he added.
|
Mr. Jeong earned a Masters of Public Health degree at UVA (becoming a double Hoo), while continuing to volunteer hundreds of hours to advance the mission of the VJAS. At Regeneron, he received the Regeneron Volunteer of the Year Award in 2020 for his dedication. The award is given to those who “embrace the challenge and responsibility of tackling the unmet needs of community with passion, leadership, and consistent action.”
|
|
His commitment to service extends beyond Virginia as he was elected earlier this year to serve on the Board of Directors for the National Association of the Academies of Science (NAAS), another nonprofit organization that promotes scientific and science education goals of the 47 state and regional academies of science. The Virginia Academy of Science is an affiliated state academy with NAAS. He is also appointed to serve as one of VAS delegate representatives to NAAS and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
Mr. Jeong looks forward to continuing his work to make a difference. “I remain deeply committed to providing leadership and service to support, nurture, and foster our next generation scientists, leaders, and decision makers. Our society needs more individuals who acknowledge the challenges that are ahead for humankind and step up to be an agent of change. I truly want each of our students to believe that our collective effort can make a great, positive difference in this world.”
The Fellows of the Virginia Academy of Science are a group of distinguished scientists nominated and elected to the prestigious scientific society first established at The College of William & Mary in 1923. VAS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of science, promoting and expanding scientific inquiry and STEM education in Virginia. The Virginia Junior Academy of Science is a directly sponsored program of VAS. The first Annual Meeting of VJAS was in 1941 and has continued to encourage the pursuit of science, engineering, and related fields in middle and high school students. For more information on both, visit www.vacadsci.org and www.vjas.org.
For more VJAS related press releases, visit www.vjas.org/press.html.
Mr. Jeong looks forward to continuing his work to make a difference. “I remain deeply committed to providing leadership and service to support, nurture, and foster our next generation scientists, leaders, and decision makers. Our society needs more individuals who acknowledge the challenges that are ahead for humankind and step up to be an agent of change. I truly want each of our students to believe that our collective effort can make a great, positive difference in this world.”
The Fellows of the Virginia Academy of Science are a group of distinguished scientists nominated and elected to the prestigious scientific society first established at The College of William & Mary in 1923. VAS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of science, promoting and expanding scientific inquiry and STEM education in Virginia. The Virginia Junior Academy of Science is a directly sponsored program of VAS. The first Annual Meeting of VJAS was in 1941 and has continued to encourage the pursuit of science, engineering, and related fields in middle and high school students. For more information on both, visit www.vacadsci.org and www.vjas.org.
For more VJAS related press releases, visit www.vjas.org/press.html.
