Dr. Jiye Son is a STEM entrepreneur and the Founder & CEO of Keratin Nails now Anew Material , an innovative company specializing in bio-compatible and sustainable nail polish using peptide technology. Born in Seoul, South Korea, and raised in Long Island, NY, Jiye initially aimed for a career in pharmacy but found her true calling in chemistry during her undergraduate studies at Stony Brook University. Despite the challenge of retaking organic chemistry, she excelled and earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from The Graduate Center, focusing on peptide nanostructures under the co-supervision of Prof. Maria Contel and Prof. Rein Ulijn.

Her career path included a significant role at The Estee Lauder Companies in the Toxicology and Safety department, and a transformative position as the Associate Director of the Nanoscience Initiative at CUNY ASRC. In this role, she was instrumental in organizing student payroll, managing vendor invoices, and enhancing lab safety protocols. Jiye’s proactive approach and leadership led to the creation of initiatives such as NanoBioNYC and an entrepreneurship course for STEM graduate students.

Jiye’s entrepreneurial journey culminated in the creation of Keratin Nails now Anew Material.