Down to a Science

When Yunsun Nam moved away from her home in South Korea at the age of 8, she faced a new world of unknowns in Jakarta. What she was sure of, however, was that wherever life — or her parents — would take her, she would one day become a scientist.

To say she fully achieved that goal would be an understatement. Her path after graduating from JIS took her to Harvard University, then a postdoctoral research fellowship at Harvard Medical School. Today, Yunsun is a researcher and professor of biochemistry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, where her work moves at the forefront of scientific discovery and could help uncover new approaches to treating disease. Adding to an already distinguished career, she was further recognized with the 2026 O'Donnell Award in Biological Sciences for pioneering RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) research, transforming gene regulation, and cancer therapy.

Yunsun can trace her long-held love of science to the story of Marie Curie, which she read in Elementary School and continued to serve as a profound source of inspiration. But it was at JIS that she deepened her understanding of chemistry, expanding a childhood hobby into a defining calling.

“Even though I was already drawn to the subject, Mr. Herbert helped me appreciate chemistry at the fundamental level. He was the best teacher I have ever had in my life,” she recalls. “I am deeply grateful for his help in kindling my passion for chemistry.”

A proud third-culture kid, she thanks her international upbringing at JIS for not just broadening her perspective, but also instilling in her the resilience needed to persevere through the uncharted territories of science, “where many failures accompany each meaningful discovery”.

“JIS was an environment where students were encouraged to grow and learn. Its international culture fostered acceptance of differences and allowed individuals to develop without pressure to conform to a single identity.”

We connected with Yunsun to learn more about her important work and her journey from JIS to a career in biochemistry and ribonucleic acid (RNA) research.

Can you tell us a bit more about what brought your family to Jakarta? And how long were you a student at JIS?

I was born and raised in South Korea until I was about 8, and then my father’s job brought our family to Jakarta in 1986. I attended the Korean Embassy School for three years before entering JIS. I was a student at JIS from 1989 to 1995, Grade 7-12. 

Where are you based now? And how would you describe what you do to someone outside of the scientific community?

I am in Dallas, Texas. I am a professor of biochemistry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. I primarily teach graduate and medical students in courses. Most of my time is spent on research, which also includes training students and postdoctoral researchers (trainees who earned their PhDs or MDs elsewhere) in my laboratory. My research laboratory investigates mechanisms of disease that involve RNA. We dissect, at the atomic level, how RNAs interact with other molecules, such as proteins. Understanding how these molecules work and how the system can break down enables us to find new ways to understand and treat disease. 

Did you always imagine or plan on taking this career path? Looking back, which particular JIS experiences, classes, or teachers helped shape the decisions you made to reach this point in your life/career?

I have always wanted to be a scientist since elementary school. I was struck by Madame Curie's strength when I read her biography at 8. My favorite subject at JIS was chemistry in all my years there. Even though I was already drawn to the subject, Mr. Herbert helped me appreciate chemistry at the fundamental level. He was the best teacher I have ever had in my life. I am deeply grateful for his help in kindling my passion for chemistry. 

I learned about different ways to apply chemistry to biology while majoring in biochemistry in college. Dissecting complex biological problems down to the atomic details is a powerful approach. I ended up getting a PhD in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology in graduate school, and continued my research in this area. 

Attending JIS opened up the whole world to me. At that time, the United States was by far the strongest leader in science and technology. Graduating from JIS enabled me to go directly to the US to pursue a career in science. 

Do you think growing up internationally, as a “third-culture kid”, helped provide a unique perspective in the work you’re doing today? 

I enjoy sharing my experiences at JIS and take pride in being a third-culture kid. Growing up internationally taught me to appreciate differences and to approach situations from multiple perspectives. When I was younger, this ability could be confusing and slow my decision-making. However, thinking beyond the obvious and examining problems from different angles is a critical skill, particularly in science. I make a conscious effort to welcome perspectives from people with diverse backgrounds, as science is inherently collaborative and strengthened by different viewpoints.

When I was 12 and first started at JIS, my English was still limited. I remember arriving in class one day to find everyone turning in homework, not realizing an assignment had even been given. Despite moments like this, JIS was an environment where students were encouraged to grow and learn. Its international culture fostered acceptance of differences and allowed individuals to develop without pressure to conform to a single identity. 

As a teenager, I found navigating cultural differences challenging, but within this supportive environment, I learned perseverance and ultimately thrived. That resilience continues to serve me well, as scientific research often involves venturing into uncharted territory, where many failures accompany each meaningful discovery.