Education

Ph.D., Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2007

B.S., Chemistry, Pusan National University, South Korea,1989

Bio

Dr. Kang began her research as an undergraduate using organic-inorganic hybrid compounds and moved forward to gain training in Organic-Inorganic hybrid Material and Pharmaceutical Chemistry in Prof. Peng's research group at the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2003. Throughout her Ph.D. studies, she focused on developing organic/inorganic hybrid materials and triphenylene-based dendrimers, which have diverse applications, including light-harvesting nanomaterials. Her research during this period resulted in the publication of eight papers and several presentations at national meetings of the American Chemical Society.

Upon completing her Ph.D., Dr. Kang moved to New York City for a postdoctoral position at the City University of New York Graduate Center. Under the guidance of Dr. Ruel Desamero, her research focused on synthesizing small organic inhibitor molecules for dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR) and investigating the inhibition mechanism. She also worked on a project studying the regulation of the Src kinase enzyme by peptide inhibitors targeting both the active site and the SH2 domain of the enzyme.
In the fall of 2008, Dr. Kang joined the faculty of St. Joseph's University. She is an active member of the American Chemical Society and the New York Section of the American Chemical Society. She has established a strong research environment for undergraduate students at SJU and has promoted scholarly and educational activities for undergraduate and younger grade school students around the tri-state area.

Scholarly & Professional Interests

Dr. Kang’s research interests encompass the development of functional organic materials, focusing on synthesizing and applying photosensitive materials for drug delivery systems. By harnessing light-responsive properties, these materials offer the potential for precise control over drug release, enhancing the efficacy and safety of treatments. Additionally, her exploration of artificial anthocyanidin compounds opens up new possibilities in biomimetic design, where these compounds can be tailored for specific interactions in biological systems or used as novel colorants and antioxidants in various applications. This interdisciplinary approach positions her research at the cutting edge of materials science and biomedical engineering, with the potential to contribute significantly to advancements in targeted therapies, sustainable materials, and smart technologies.

Select Publications

Jeonghee Kang, Ketevan Basilashvili, Barney Yoo, Jong I. Lee. “pH-Induced Orthogonal Photoresponse of trans-Chalcone Isomers and Related Compounds in Equilibria” Colorants 2023, 2, 58–72 (https://doi.org/10.3390/colorants2010005)

Jeonghee Kang; Adam Profit; Ruel Desamero; Dhabih Chulhai; Jong I. Lee. “Revisiting the basis of the excited states for solvated fluorinated benzenes and pentafluorophenylalanine” Results in Chemistry 2023 Volume 5,100770. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rechem.2023.100770)

Anthony Pagan, Jong I. Lee, Jeonghee Kang, “Concentration Dependent Association of Flavylium Chloride with Differential Hydroxy Moieties in Ethanol” Colorants 2022, 1(1), 20-37. (https://doi.org/10.3390/colorants1010004)

André Barrella, Nia H. Rene, Kisha Jezel Ali, Jeonghee Kang, Jong I. Lee, “Synthesis of first generation dendron, GABA caged bis-1,2 -(4-acetylphenylethynyl)-4,5- dimethoxybenzene for photo-release study” Letters in Organic Chemistry 2019, 16, 718-722.