Victor Wedia Sadongo

I am a biophysical chemist and recent PhD graduate from the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), South Korea, with expertise in single-molecule force spectroscopy, membrane protein biophysics, and protein folding. My research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms that govern protein interactions, dynamics, energetics, and assembly within complex biological environments.During my doctoral research, I specialized in investigating transmembrane (TM) protein dimerization within lipid bilayers using single-molecule approaches. By integrating magnetic tweezers, molecular simulations, protein engineering, and quantitative biophysical analysis, I explored how membrane proteins assemble, dissociate, and respond to regulatory molecules at unprecedented resolution. This work led to the development of a novel single-molecule tweezer platform for probing membrane protein interactions directly within membrane-mimetic environments, enabling the identification of previously hidden intermediate states, domain-specific kinetic and thermodynamic contributions, and mechanisms by which therapeutic peptides modulate protein assembly.Beyond membrane protein interactions, my scientific interests span protein dynamics, metalloproteins, protein oxidation, protein bioenergetics, protein folding and biogenesis, molecular chaperones, and the effects of small molecules, peptides, and antibodies on protein structure and function. I am particularly interested in uncovering how proteins navigate complex energy landscapes and how these processes influence cellular signaling, transport, quality control, and disease mechanisms.My broader goal is to develop innovative experimental and analytical approaches that bridge biophysics, chemistry, and molecular biology to reveal the hidden principles governing protein behavior. I am passionate about translating fundamental mechanistic insights into applications relevant to biotechnology, drug discovery, and human health.I am always interested in connecting with researchers, collaborators, and organizations working at the intersection of biophysics, structural biology, membrane proteins, single-molecule methods, and protein science.