Dr. Lee is the co-director of the Center for Cognition and Sociality, established in July 2012. He earned his B.A. in Chemistry from The University of Chicago before getting his Ph.D. from Columbia University in 2001, and later worked in Department of Pharmacology at Emory University as a postdoctoral fellow. In 2004 he joined KIST as a senior research scientist and later served as the Director of Center for Neuroscience. In 2009, he founded the WCI Center for Functional Connectomics as a part of World Class Institute Program. In 2015 he became the recipient of Creative Research Investigator Award to establish the Center for Glia-Neuron Interaction at KIST to serve as the Director of the Center before taking up his position in IBS.
Undergraduate:
The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
B.A. in Chemistry, June 1990
Graduate:
Columbia University, New York, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics
PhD, May 16th, 2001
Thesis advisor: Dr. Amy B. MacDermott
Dissertation Title: The Expression and Function of Kainate and AMPA Receptors in Nociceptive Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons.
Post Doctoral:
Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA, Department of Pharmacology
Post Doctoral Fellow, Mar 2001 ~ Aug 2004 (Sponsor: Dr. Stephen Traynelis)
Project Scope: Modulation of NMDA receptors by protease activated receptors (PAR).
| 2017-04-21 | Science Day 2017, Korea Science & Technology Development Medal of Honor |
| 2016-11-04 | The Kyung Ahm Prize in Arts & Sciences, 2016 |
| 2014-11-28 | The Korean Academy of Science and Technology, FILA Basic Science Ward |
| 2014-11-08 | Korean Society for Brain and Neuroscience, Jang Jin Award |
| 2013-12-20 | The University of Science & Technology, Star Professor Award |
| 2013-08-27 | The University of Science & Technology, Outstanding Mentor Award |
| 2012-12-20 | The University of Science & Technology, , Best Mentor Award |
| 2011-06-29 | The University of Science & Technology, Best Mentor Award |
| 2011-06-29 | The University of Science & Technology, Outstanding Mentor Award |
| 2011-02-10 | KIST, Scientist of the Year Award |
| 2011-02-10 | KIST, Outstanding Research Team Award |
| 2010-12-31 | Outstanding Researcher Award, Prime Minister of Korea. |
| 2010-12-29 | Scientist of the Month Award, Ministry of Science & Technology, Korea |
| 2010-12-02 | KIST, Scientist of the Month Award |
| 2009-12-21 | KIST, Outstanding Project Award |
| 2009-06-23 | The University of Science & Technology, Outstanding Teacher Award |
| 2009-05-26 | The University of Science & Technology, Outstanding Mentor Award |
| 2009-02-10 | KIST, Outstanding Researcher Award |
| 2008 - Present | Editorial Board & Managing Editor, Molecular Brain |
| 2004 - Present | Editorial board, Molecular Pain |
| 2003 | Association of Korean Neuroscientists Outstanding Researcher Award, Nov 11th |
| 2000 | Association of Korean Neuroscientists Outstanding Researcher Award, Nov 7th |
| 1996 | Society for Neuroscience, member since 1996 |
| 1985 | National Honors Society |
| 1985 - 1989 | Illinois State Scholarship |
| Junior Research Assist. | 1986/9 - 1990/6 | Louis Seiden’s Lab. U of Chicago |
| Research Assistant | 1990/7 - 1991/6 | Emily Foster’s Lab. Michael Reese Hosp. |
| Graduate Research Assist. | 1991/9 - 1992/12 | Columbia University |
| Research Technician | 1993/1 - 1994/6 | Martin Low’s Lab. Columbia University |
| Research Technician | 1994/6 - 1996/9 | MacDermott’s Lab. Columbia University |
| Graduate Research Assist. | 1996/9 - 2001/3 | MacDermott’s Lab. Columbia University |
| Post Doctoral Fellow | 2001/3 - 2004/8 | Traynelis’s Lab. Emory University |
| Senior Research Scientist | 2004/9 - 2010/2 | Korea Institute of Science and Technology |
| Principal Research Scientist | 2010/2 - 2018/11 | Korea Institute of Science and Technology |
| Tenured Research Scientist | 2017/3 - 2018/11 | Korea Institute of Science and Technology |
| Director | 2018/11 - Present | Institute for Basic Science |
