Connections and memories that last throughout decades

Meet Boston Network member Mike Kim ’96, ’00 (MA), ’02 (PhD)

Share a bit about yourself! What are you up to now?

Professionally, I am a co-founder and the chief operating officer of a start-up biotechnology company called Nexo Therapeutics. We are a preclinical stage company working on new treatments for cancer. It’s amazing to see how much we have learned about what drives the growth of certain cancer cells and the technologies that can be applied to create potential treatments. I get to be on the leading edge of science and business in the mission to improve human health – not a bad place to be.

Outside of work, I’m working on my golf game (one of these days, I’m actually going to get better…) and I’ve picked up curling! I was skeptical about curling at first but give it a try if you get the chance! It’s more fun than I could have imagined–SWEEEEEEEP!!!!

What are your most cherished memories from your time at the University of Rochester?

It was a long time ago, so I have feelings about day-to-day life more than specific recollections. They relate to places I’ve lived and the communities I was part of, starting with the basement of Gilbert Hall to the house on East Henrietta Rd. with barely any heat. I remain close with my college housemates, and we still laugh about how cold that house was! Being a part of the Track team with the hours of practices, lingering meals in Douglass, long bus rides to meets, and the parties… we had some good ones. And of course, late nights in the computer lab working on problem sets! It’s amazing to see that the connections made through these experiences have lasted 30 years!

How did campus life and any co-curricular involvement (clubs, organizations, teams, etc.) impact your personal and professional growth?

Every element of college life has contributed to what I am today. Classes and activities provided an environment conducive to making life-long connections (I’ve already mentioned this, but can’t emphasize its importance enough), exploring intellectual and professional curiosities, and convincing yourself of how much you are capable of. All of this allowed me to figure out that chemical engineering (my undergraduate major) wasn’t for me after 4 challenging years to get that degree but pushed me to continue to the BME graduate program on track for an academic research career, then change course again into an industry career focused on strategy and operations. I had the luxury of applying what I learned in different fields and gained the confidence to make those leaps – I’m fortunate to have found a place that provided so many options and supportive friends and faculty to guide me through.

What University resources or initiatives were most impactful to your next steps after graduating?

Resources for networking and career development were more limited when I graduated. It would have been great to have the alumni network that exists today to learn about what others have done with their degrees and different jobs and career paths that you wouldn’t hear about just through coursework. I strongly recommend current (and former) students take advantage of this network!

How did your experience at the University of Rochester influence your life?

…big question without a simple answer, but I’ll emphasize the importance of an environment where you get to discover yourself and what you like (and don’t like) doing. Learning early that you don’t have to keep doing what you have been doing has been critical in my career.

What sparked your initial interest in volunteering with the University? What role(s) have you held?

I started out doing admissions interviews, wanting to provide an environment where there was less stress and pressure so prospective students could show their best selves… a little Pollyanna, I know, but totally worth the effort. Lately, I’ve been more involved with the Regional Alumni Network. There’s a great group of people out there who already have a strong Rochester connection and would be awesome to know both professionally and socially. Let’s get together!

What advice do you have for fellow alumni and friends who may be interested in taking a more active role in our alumni and friends’ community?

Just do it! Come to a networking event. Have some snacks and great conversations. Who knows… if you’re brave, you might just end up out singing karaoke at the end of the evening. It’s been known to happen.

What’s the most rewarding part of staying connected with your alma mater?

The opportunity to provide different (maybe broader) perspectives to the students and young alumni who are still making their way. When I was in their shoes, I would have valued being able to talk openly to someone about my misinformed ideas on career building and how to be ‘successful’. It seems like these discussions always turn into an interview and honest conversations about this stuff never happen. Everyone needs to craft the perfect story and pretend that success is a straight line of consecutive wins… Well, that hasn’t been my experience. Having access to people who have been through it, are willing to share their experiences (including the things that didn’t go perfectly) and provide some guidance and moral support for those of us who aren’t perfect all the time, is pretty cool.