Claiming My Titles: Chemist, Biochemist, Biologist—Who Am I, Really?

Lately I’ve been thinking that it’s time I introduce myself as more than just the founder of Cotton Bubble.

I hold a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Chemistry.

But when someone asks me, “So, what are you?” I still pause.

My training has been deeply rooted in chemistry from day one. As an undergrad, I went through serious coursework: physical chemistry, organic chemistry, quantum mechanics, and all kinds of labs. I didn’t just get by—I exceled. It was this strong foundation that led me to the chemistry Ph.D. program at UC San Diego, one of the most competitive in the country.

In my master’s work, I helped pioneer research in biochemistry; real bench science that contributed something novel to the field. At this point, you’re not the one doing an original research yet.

 

And during my Ph.D., I led my own cancer biology research, creating knowledge that didn’t previously exist. The scientific community—my peers and UCSD—validated that work by granting me a doctorate. That moment cemented my identity as a biochemist, but it was also just the beginning.

 

Then came biotech. As a drug discovery biologist in oncology, I explored the biological impact of drug candidates and applied a lot of gene editing, mechanistic studies, and high-throughput screening. I outperformed as a biologist.

 

From here, I could venture out to immunology and neuroscience, the areas I hadn’t formally studied, but which I could dive into because once you understand how the discovery works, it becomes a matter of choosing which problems to solve.

 

At this point, I understand the inner workings of multiple scientific disciplines: chemistry, biology, and everything in between. I’ve seen what it takes to move a drug from idea to preclinical proof-of-concept. I know how hard it is to get it right.

 

The more I get deep in it, I hesitate to call myself a "chemist" again.

Why? The more reverence you gain for the specialists who live and breathe one corner of the scientific universe. Out of respect, we become cautious about claiming titles.

 

But lately, something’s shifted. I’ve seen people online calling themselves “award-winning” chemists and selling skincare formulation courses with nothing beyond a high school-level understanding of chemistry.

To be clear, I’m not dismissing high school education. But I had taught college-level chemistry labs for five years. I taught students how to properly use a pH meter for the first time, and that pH isn’t just a color on litmus paper (orange paper strips). It’s a logarithmic scale tied to hydrogen ion concentration. That level of depth is exactly what’s missing from most of these Instagram masterclasses.

 

So maybe this is the universe nudging me to stop being humble and stop having an identity crisis.

I am a chemist.
I am a biochemist.
I am a biologist.

 

I am someone who understands how these disciplines connect, how molecules translate into cellular signals, and how those signals influence life and disease. I’ve done the work, and I still do the work—whether in a lab or in formulating products reading actual research data that serve people’s skin, health, and well-being.

 

Maybe it’s time to stop asking who I am and start owning it.

 

Juyeon

Founder of Cotton Bubble Soap