114th ANNUAL TECHNICAL MEETING

Academy Luncheon and Speaker
Sung-Kun (Sean) Kim, Ph.D.

Dr. Sung-Kun “Sean” Kim is a Professor of Biochemistry and Program Chair of the Master of Science in Natural Sciences program at Northeastern State University in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry and Biochemistry from Texas Tech University in 2002, following M.S. and B.S. degrees in Chemistry from Hanyang University in Seoul, Korea. Before joining Northeastern State University in 2014, Dr. Kim served as an Assistant Professor at Baylor University and completed postdoctoral training at both the University of Pennsylvania and Texas Tech University. His research integrates enzyme inhibition, drug discovery, and molecular biochemistry, with particular emphasis on histone deacetylases (HDACs) and metallo-β-lactamases. Dr. Kim has published more than 60 peer-reviewed papers and holds three U.S. patents related to metallo-β-lactamase inhibition. His research frequently involves undergraduate and graduate students as co-authors, reflecting his dedication to student mentorship and collaborative discovery. His contributions to research and education have been recognized with several awards, including the Circle of Excellence in Research Award and the RiverHawk Top Ten Influential Faculty Award at Northeastern State University, as well as the Young Investigator Development Award from Baylor University.