From Lab to Classroom: Ida Su's Impact on Research and Students
Recognizing Ida Su for the Postdoctoral Scholar Spotlight at Georgia Tech
For Dr. Ida Su, the educational journey is more like a marathon than a sprint—a mindset she’s cultivated as a long-distance runner with seven half-marathons under her belt. This philosophy of slow, steady progress carried her from earning a Ph.D. at the University of Washington to postdoctoral training in Gabe Kwong’s lab at Georgia Tech.
At Georgia Tech, she focuses on groundbreaking research to treat cancer and prevent autoimmune disorders. Throughout her studies, Su has earned prestigious awards and published 24 papers in peer-reviewed journals. But like any marathon, her journey has come with its share of challenges—ones that have shaped her resilience and drive.
Overcoming challenges contributes to Su’s strength in mentoring others. During Su’s time as a teaching assistant at the University of Washington, she realized how rewarding it is to teach and mentor students. This experience has motivated her to pursue an academic career ever since.
“Her hard work and dedication to her students are seldom acknowledged or rewarded to the extent they deserve. Despite this, she remains tirelessly committed to our growth and success. I am incredibly fortunate to have her as a mentor.”
About the Su Lab
The Su Lab at UCLA is advancing the frontiers of cell engineering to develop transformative immunotherapies for cancer, autoimmune diseases, and beyond. We bring together biomolecular engineering, nanotechnology, immunology, and cell engineering to build platform technologies that reshape how immune therapies work. By focusing on antigen specificity, precision immune modulation, and disease-tailored cellular responses, we aim to overcome the major barriers that limit current treatments—such as non-specific immune activation, severe side effects, and poor outcomes against solid tumors.
