Seongkyu Yoon

Seongkyu Yoon is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at the Francis College of Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell. He serves as co-Director of the Massachusetts Biomanufacturing Center, UMass Site Director of the NSF/IUCRC Research Center (AMBIC - Advanced Mammalian Bioprocessing Innovation Center), and UMass technical lead for Manufacturing USA in Biomanufacturing (NIIMBL). His academic appointments and leadership roles position him at the forefront of biopharmaceutical manufacturing innovation and workforce development.

Dr. Yoon's educational background demonstrates his interdisciplinary expertise:

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering (2001), McMaster University - Hamilton, Canada
• MBA (2017), Babson College - Wellesley, MA
• M.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (1990), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology - Daejon, Korea
• B.S. in Chemical Engineering (1988), Yonsei University - Seoul, Korea

His research program focuses on systems engineering approaches to life sciences with three primary thrusts: Gene and Cell Therapy, Biomanufacturing Innovation, and Formulation and Drug Delivery. Within Gene and Cell Therapy, his group explores alternative hosts for Adeno-associated Virus production, gene therapy media optimization, CRISPR-CAS9 mediated genome engineering of HEK293 cells, and develops analytical methods for quantification of full, partial, and empty capsids in AAV products. His Biomanufacturing Innovation research includes AI-enabled hyperspectral imaging for cell culture monitoring, metabolic flux analysis of iPS cells, integrated MPC systems for bioprocess engineering, and digital-twin model development. In Formulation and Drug Delivery, his team works on single vial mass flow rate monitoring for pharmaceutical freeze-drying heterogeneity.

Analysis of Dr. Yoon's recent publications reveals a strong trend toward advanced biomanufacturing technologies, particularly in viral vector production for gene therapy. His work integrates systems biology, metabolic modeling, and process analytics to address critical challenges in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. A significant portion of his research focuses on CHO cell culture optimization, glycosylation control, and continuous bioprocessing technologies, reflecting industry needs for more efficient and robust manufacturing platforms.

Among his notable recognitions:

• Ward Chaired Professor of Biomedical Material Sciences (2016)
• NSF/IUCRC: AMBIC, Advanced Mammalian Bioprocessing Innovation Center (2016)
• Control and estimation of glycosylation profile via media supplementation based on intracellular models in mammalian cell cultures (2017)
• Data-fusion based platform development of population PKPD modeling and statistical analysis for bioequivalenc (2015)

Dr. Yoon has mentored numerous graduate students, with many now working at major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies including AbbVie, Alexion, BMS, Amgen, Takeda, and Genentech. His research group has received substantial funding from NSF, FDA, and industry partners, supporting an integrated approach to biomanufacturing innovation. He has also developed and led numerous professional training programs in bioprocessing, contributing significantly to workforce development in the biopharmaceutical industry.

His research group operates within the Advanced Mammalian Biomanufacturing Innovation Center (AMBIC) and collaborates closely with the Biomanufacturing Innovation Institute. The team includes postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and research staff working on various aspects of bioprocess engineering, systems biology, and biomanufacturing analytics. They maintain strong industry partnerships that ensure their research addresses real-world challenges in biopharmaceutical manufacturing.