A Korean couple worked together on the lab team of U.S. scientist Robert Lefkowitz, the winner of the 2012 Nobel Prize in chemistry. Lefkowitz was recognized for identifying a class of cell receptor, yielding vital insights into how the body works at the molecular level.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the prize on Wednesday to Lefkowitz at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina and another scientist, Brian Kobilika, at Stanford University. Kobilika worked for Lefkovitz at Duke before transferring to Stanford. 

Ahn Seung-kirl and his wife Kim Ji-hee, both 44, worked as an assistant professor and a senior researcher, respectively, for Lefkowitz, who is a professor of medicine, pathology and biochemistry at Duke.

Ahn has worked for Lefkowitz for more than 15 years and helped him complete 35 academic papers out of nearly 500 published.

Ahn completed his master’s degree at Seoul National University and received a doctorate from Duke with a dissertation on the influence of receptors under the guidance of Lefkowitz.

Kim earned her master’s of science degree and Ph.D. in molecular biology at Seoul National University and moved to the U.S.

After being notified of the win, Ahn said the school was in a jubilant mood. “There are so many phone calls coming to the lab,” he told local media.

The Korean professor said Lefkowitz had been considered a strong candidate for the prize ever since he discovered the receptors.

“Lefkowitz discovered G-protein-coupled receptors for the first time. He has studied the control mechanism of the receptor such as how the receptor sends signals in cells.”

Ahn also described his mentor as passionate for his work.

“Not to mention his intelligence, he motivates juniors a lot and is an enthusiastic person.”

Lefkowitz’s research team consisted of 30 members including three assistant professors, two senior researchers, two technical staffers and others. Ahn is now in charge of developing new medicines on the team.

By Park Han-na (hnpark@heraldcorp.com)