People

Steve (Ssang-Taek) Lim, Ph. D, Principal Investigator

Dr. Lim received his bachelor’s and master’s degree in Cell and Molecular Biology from Seoul National University, South Korea, and Ph.D. in Cell Biology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2003. He completed his postdoctoral training at the Scripps Research Institute and the University of California San Diego Moores Cancer Center where he became an Assistant Project Scientist before joining the University of South Alabama’s faculty as Assistant Professor in 2012 and earning promotion as Associate Professor in 2019. Then, he started his new position at the Department of Pathology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2022. He was promoted to full Professor in 2025.

James Murphy, Ph.D (August 2018-present), Scientist

James received his bachelor’s and master’s in mathematics from Spring Hill College and the University of South Alabama, respectively. In 2018, James graduated with a Ph.D. in basic medical science from the University of South Alabama. James was a postdoctoral fellow in the lab between 2018-2024 before becoming a Scientist I.

While not in the lab, James enjoys watching sports and hanging out with friends.

Sora Jin, Ph.D (April 2025-present), Postdoctoral fellow

Sora received her bachelor’s degree in Biology from Incheon National University and her master’s and Ph.D. in Life Science from the Gwangju Institute Science and Technology, South Korea, in 2016. She trained as a postdoctoral researcher at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH, working in labs focused on DNA damage and colorectal cancer from 2019 to 2024. She joins in Dr. Lim’s lab to research disease-related mechanisms, as she is interested in a studying signaling pathway to develop treatments for patients.

Seung Hun Jang, Ph.D. (July 2025-Present), Postdoctoral Fellow

Seung Hun received his bachelor’s degree in Biology from Jeonbuk National University, South Korea, in 2016. He earned his master’s degree in 2018 and Ph.D. in Molecular Biology in 2025 from Korea University. His research interest centers on uncovering molecular mechanisms of cell signaling pathways and protein-protein interactions involved in cancer and human disease development.

Duyen Tran, B.S./M.S. (March 2023-Present), Ph.D Graduate Student

Duyen received her bachelor’s degree in Biology from University of Science, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam in 2019. Then, she has completed her master’s degree in Biotechnology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2021. Currently, she is studying Ph.D. program in the GBS program at UAB.

Songwon Woo, B.S./M.S. (October 2025-present), Researcher

Songwon received her bachelor’s degree in Systems Biology and Sport Leisure from Yonsei University and her master’s degree in Exercise Biochemistry from Seoul National University, Korea. She worked as a research assistant at the Exercise Biochemistry Lab, studying exercise-induced regulation of neutrophils in the tumor microenvironment. Songwon joined Dr. Lim’s lab as a visiting scientist to deepen her knowledge of cancer mechanisms. She plans to pursue a PhD program.

Annie (Quynh) Nguyen, B.S. (July 2025-present), Master’s Graduate Student

Quynh received her bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from International University, HCMC, Viet Nam. During the internship and Thesis, she worked at Vietnam Acadamy of Science and Technolog. Currently, she is studying her Master’s degree in the Department of Biotechnology at UAB. To gain more research experience, she joined the lab. She plans to pursue a PhD program.

Esther Lee, B.S. (September 2025-present), Post-baccalaureate Researcher

Esther received her bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania in 2025. She joins Dr. Lim’s lab to gain research experience on potential treatment of breast cancer. She plans to pursue a medical degree in the future to become a surgeon.

Shawkat Kochi (November 2024-present), Undergraduate Student

Shawkat is a junior at the cancer biology program and interested in TNBC. He will take a course that allows him to shadow the lab activity. He is a member of UABTeach where I tutor middle school to high school students.

Sadie Sharpe (December 2025-present), Undergraduate Student

I am a junior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Cancer Biology at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. I also compete in NCAA Division I athletics as a part of the UAB beach volleyball team. I am joining Limlab to gain research experience. After graduation, I hope to pursue a degree in medicine.