A conversation with 2024 Keynote Speaker Seong-Gi Kim (OHBM 2024 keynote interview series pt. 7)

Seong-Gi Kim received his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Washington University in 1988 for investigating blood flow using NMR spectroscopy, after which he did postdoctoral research at the University of Washington on the determination of biomolecular structure by NMR. Dr. Kim then moved to the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research at the University of Minnesota and joined the human functional MRI (fMRI) research team, which produced one of the first human fMRI papers in 1992. After spending a decade at the University of Minnesota and advancing to full Professor, Dr. Kim moved to the University of Pittsburgh in 2002 where he was appointed as the Paul C. Lauterbur Chair and built a state of the art neuroimaging center. In 2013,  Dr. Kim moved back to Korea to direct the Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research (CNIR) and take on a faculty position at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul. 

In the early days of fMRI, he led the field in researching everything related to fMRI including its physiological underpinnings, limits and methodology, particularly regarding its contrast mechanisms. To further explore these ideas, he embraced the much more difficult but ultimately more incisive work of fMRI on animal models. Seong-Gi is now a world leader in research on the interplay of pulse sequence weighting, neurophysiology, and fMRI contrast. He continues to push the limits of our understanding of the biological underpinnings of fMRI contrast towards answering systems neuroscience questions. This year he was appropriately honored by the International Society for Magnetic Resonance Imaging with their highest honor—the Gold Medal. If you’d like to read a summary of one of Dr. Kim’s recent works, see our Brain Bites summary here.

Omer Faruk Gulban (OFG): Please introduce yourself, and the research journey you had.

Seong-Gi Kim (SGK): I am Seong-Gi Kim, the founding director of the Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research at the Institute for Basic Science and Emeritus Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University in Korea. After my graduate and postdoctoral training in MR physics, I joined the pioneering human fMRI project at the University of Minnesota in 1992, under the guidance of Seiji Ogawa and Kamil Ugurbil.  This crucial experience directed my research focus towards brain science using fMRI. Since then, I have advanced in my career from Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota to Professor at both the University of Minnesota and the University of Pittsburgh, eventually reaching my current position at Sungkyunkwan University.  

Joon-Young Moon (JYM): You began with human experiments but now are performing animal experiments. Why did you make this  change?

(SGK): Initially, my focus was on advancing fMRI techniques and applying them to humans. I developed several novel fMRI techniques, including perfusion imaging, oxygen consumption imaging, and spin-echo BOLD imaging. The early stages of this work were very exciting. However, I soon realized that human studies alone couldn't fully elucidate the physiological origins of fMRI signals. Therefore, in the early 2000s, I made the decision to shift my focus to the fundamental science behind fMRI signals, using extensively researched animal models such as cortical columns and layers.  

(OFG): As a researcher and a mentor, what were the most impressive and memorable moments for you?

(SGK): As a scientist, I have experienced numerous memorable moments, both big and small, such as securing new positions, generating fresh ideas, publishing new papers, obtaining grants, recruiting top postdocs, and more. Sustaining my research has often relied on smaller daily achievements, as setbacks are far more common than successes. One of the most memorable highlights of my career was being appointed as the "Paul C. Lauterbur Chair in Imaging Research” at the University of Pittsburgh in 2009. This was a particularly significant milestone for me, as Paul Lauterbur is a Nobel laureate in the MRI field. Having my professorship named after him was a dream come true in the MRI research field. However, despite the initial excitement, my tenure in this position was relatively short-lived, leading me to start on a new chapter in my career in Korea in 2013.

(JYM): What was the most difficult challenge in your academic journey?

(SGK): Navigating uncertainty when faced with limited faculty positions and opportunities can be challenging, especially with family responsibilities. During my graduate and postdoctoral training, balancing these responsibilities became even more crucial. Consequently, I could not afford to pursue opportunities indefinitely. After completing my PhD, I shifted my research focus to the structural NMR field in hopes of securing a faculty position quickly. However, after two years in this field, I made the decision to transition to the MRI field, believing it offered better prospects for future academic positions. Making such decisions is inherently difficult, as predicting their outcomes can be uncertain.

(OFG): What was the most impressive failure in your research, what did you learn from it, and how did it affect your research afterward?

(SGK): Despite encountering many setbacks with my initially planned experiments, I do not consider these setbacks as failures in my research journey. More often than not, the projects I carry out do not initially yield the expected results. In fact, I find that if a project progresses smoothly without any challenges, it tends to be less exciting for me. When faced with failure, I always take the time to think about what went wrong: whether it was due to a lack of skills, my own mistakes, flawed ideas, or ill-conceived projects. Through this process, I often find novel discoveries that are typically highly impactful. As a result, I have never been discouraged by the setbacks in my studies; instead, I have used them as opportunities for discovery.

(JYM): If you are chosen to know one, and only one, ultimate truth about the brain, what would it be?
(SGK): In my research, I aim to understand the mechanisms of neurovascular coupling. Although fMRI has been extensively utilized, the biological and physiological underpinnings of its signals remain incompletely understood. Consequently, I seek to further investigate the biological foundations of hemodynamic responses induced by neural activity. 

(OFG): What are the fundamentally important things that you should never lose sight of in life as a researcher?

(SGK): The life of a researcher is similar to running a marathon. In both research and life, there are ups and downs. What may seem like a setback now could very well turn into an opportunity later. It is impossible to predict which path/project is better, so I maintain a steady pace, whether the days are good or bad. While I have met many challenges and made numerous mistakes such as transitioning to the high-resolution NMR field, I have never been discouraged by the difficulties associated with these decisions. In every circumstance, I have given my best effort to figuring out existing issues, no matter what I was working on.  

(JYM): When you are overloaded, or burnt out in your research, is there a tip to revitalise your energy and motivation?

(SGK): I typically manage my workload by establishing clear priorities. In my case, I have found it beneficial to take short naps to refresh my mind. When I feel burnt out from my research, I seek out new opportunities to reignite my excitement. This is why I have changed my position and major research directions approximately every 10 years, allowing for fresh perspectives and renewed enthusiasm.

(OFG): What do you think the young OHBM attendees would most profit from learning about? In other words, if you could organise your dream “educational session”, what would be the topic?

(SGK): Learning basics, regardless of the topic.  In my research area, a session about “how to interpret human fMRI data” will be useful and important for fMRI users.  

(JYM): At the end of your career, how would you like to be remembered among your colleagues, friends, and family?

(SGK): A basic scientist who enjoys research. 

(OFG): Would you like to share some memorable pictures for our interview?

Photo1: International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Annual Meeting in 1995 (Nice, France) with (from left) Kamil Ugurbil, Seiji Owaga and Ravi Menon (S-G Kim on the right)

Photo 2: A picture taken in the endowment lecture for “Paul Lauterbur Chair” Professor at the University of Pittsburgh in 2012