"I want to be at the intersection of science and service. That's where I've found the most meaning."

When Tobey Kim '27 first stepped foot on Bucknell's campus, it was almost by accident.

"Bucknell wasn't really on my radar at first," he says. "It ended up being the last stop on a long East Coast college tour. I almost skipped it — I was tired, ready to go home — but we decided to squeeze in one more visit. And I'm so glad we did. 

"It was one of those perfect weather days, the lawn was freshly mowed, and the campus just felt alive. I remember walking past the library and into Dana [Engineering Building], and thinking, 'I could really see myself here.' That's when Bucknell clicked for me."

Originally from Davis, Calif., Kim took a gap year before coming to Bucknell — a decision that would profoundly shape both his worldview and his academic path.

"I was part of AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps on a disaster response team," he says. "We traveled the country helping people rebuild their lives. We worked with hurricane victims in Texas, ran shelters during the migrant crisis in Denver and helped after tornadoes hit Little Rock. It was emotionally and physically taxing, but I wouldn't trade those experiences for the world."

That year of service confirmed Kim's desire to pursue research with real human impact — work that he's now doing as a cell biology/biochemistry major.

"My mom is a plant biologist, and so from a really young age, I saw research going on," Kim says. "I didn't always know what it meant, but I saw her passion for science as a way to feed and serve others. That was inspiring."

Tobey Kim '27, a cell biology/biochemistry major, has been named a 2025 Goldwater Scholar. Photo by Emily Paine, Marketing & Communications

Initially a biology major, Kim found himself increasingly drawn to the microscopic details of life. "I'm interested in how everything works together at a micro level," he says. "That's why I switched majors — it lets me explore the world from that really detailed perspective."

That perspective now drives his research in Bucknell's engineering labs, where Kim works with Professor Olivia Boerman, biomedical engineering, on investigating how ultrasound might help chronic wounds heal faster.

"We think ultrasound is triggering angiogenesis — basically, the formation of new blood vessels," he says. "But no one really knows how it works. Right now, it's like a black box. So we're trying to open that up, to understand the mechanisms behind it." 

Kim's work involves culturing blood vessel cells and exposing them to ultrasound under various conditions, then measuring the proteins those cells release. "Proteins are like a cell's way of texting," he says. "By analyzing the proteins, we can figure out what's going on inside the cell in response to the ultrasound."

He's been involved in this research since day one — literally. "I was still in Arkansas with AmeriCorps when we set up the Zoom interview," he says. "She started explaining her research, and I was hooked. I told her right there, I want in. She sent me a 110-page paper to read, and the rest is history."

Now a Goldwater Scholar — one of the most prestigious undergraduate awards in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics — Kim has already presented his work at national conferences, including the Biomedical Engineering Society meeting and the Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering Conference. The scholarship, awarded by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, will support his continued research and academic development as he prepares for a career in science and medicine.

He credits Bucknell's culture of undergraduate research for his early success. "Being able to work directly with Dr. Boerman has really allowed me to grow intellectually," he says. "She thinks about things I never would, and that's exactly why I want to keep learning from people like her."

Kim ultimately hopes to pursue both a medical degree and a doctorate, aiming to become a physician-scientist. He traces his commitment to medical research back to his AmeriCorps service, where he met people enduring unimaginable hardships, many of whom were also battling chronic health conditions.

"That experience lit a fire in me," he says. "I want to be at the intersection of science and service. That's where I've found the most meaning."

His passion for service is rooted not only in his time with AmeriCorps but also in his deep faith. A leader in campus ministry, Kim is actively involved in faith-based student organizations and leads a weekly Bible study. "My faith is a big part of why I do what I do," he says. "I feel called to serve the underprivileged and underrepresented."