Center for Self-assembly and Complexity

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I am Dr James Murray I did my undergraduate degree and PhD at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom, after that I did a short postdoc at Newcastle University, again in the UK.  Now I am at the center for self assembly and complexity in Pohang in Prof. Kimoon Kim’s lab. My research is on the synthesis and applications of new materials. In particular, we are utilizing a hollow, pumpkin-shaped molecule called curcubituril which can encapsulate guest molecules with very high affinity. We are exploring the biological applications of these molecules. I moved to Pohang because in the west basic science projects are attracting less and less funding, meanwhile Korea and the IBS are investing in these kind of projects. The offer from the CSC was by far the best option I had. I also wanted to leave the UK and experience working in another country and in another culture.

The lab is English speaking and there are a few other foreigners so I feel quite at home in the laboratory. POSTECH is great university to be at as foreigner because you can find almost everything you need on campus such as a bank, sports facilities and restaurants.  I learned some Korean before I left the UK and that has helped me a lot; being able to read Hangul and say simple things like ordering food in a restaurant or giving a taxi driver some directions has made life outside the lab much easier. The working hours here are longer than most Europeans are used to but it is important to make the most of the time I have working here and utilize the fantastic resources at the CSC. On Saturday evenings and Sundays I normally spend time with friends and my girlfriend in Ulsan and I also like to travel around Korea: I’ve already been to Busan and Seoul and I look forward to seeing other parts of Korea during my stay here.

The best things about living in Korea is the food. Since I arrived here I have eaten mostly Korean food. Some of my favorites are 갈비찜, 감자탕 and Korean bbq. I have also tried things like 육회비빔밥, which is delicious but sounds very strange to people back home. The lab often has lunch together but because I am British, Koreans often expect me not to be able eat spicy food and ask me if I am I sure I’ll like that when I order something spicy in a restaurant.

In summary, I am really enjoying my time at POSTECH and the CSC and in Korea, the lab is by the best equipped I have ever worked in! The staff at the CSC and my labmates have made settling in easy. I am looking forward to a productive research period at the CSC and also enjoying other parts of Korea.