Ahyoung’s PhD research focused on advancing nanotechnology by creating novel nanomaterials and understanding their self-organizing principles. Specifically, she developed a strategy to design nanoparticles with precise molecular patterns; these materials can aid applications in cloaking, targeted drug delivery, and shock absorption.
As a Schmidt Science Fellow, Ahyoung will pivot from Materials Science to Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering, working in the Shapiro Lab and the Daraio Lab at California Institute of Technology. She aims to explore strategies for designing and operating functional biological and artificial materials, leveraging an ultrasonic platform. Specifically, she will arrange living cells and inorganic elements into hybrid organoids for healthcare and implantable electronics.
Living organisms create and operate vital materials in an energy-efficient way using building blocks. Inspired by this, Ahyoung aspires to advance materials design and operation that could improve the quality of human life, particularly in healthcare and human-machine interfaces.