Dr. Christopher Lee has emerged as a pioneering figure in computational biology, developing innovative approaches to visualize and understand complex biological systems through advanced physical modeling techniques. He has been an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology at the University of California, San Diego since July 1, 2024, having joined the faculty in 2024 after several years of postdoctoral research at the same institution. Dr. Lee earned his B.Sc. in chemistry and B.A. in computer science from the University of Virginia, followed by a M.Sc. in biochemistry, before completing his Ph.D. at UC San Diego in 2019 under the mentorship of Drs. Rommie Amaro and J. Andrew McCammon. His academic journey includes significant collaborative work with Drs. Padmini Rangamani and Michael Holst, focusing on computational models for cellular membrane mechanics and cell signaling, which established the foundation for his current research program.
Dr. Lee's groundbreaking research centers on developing multiscale physical models that bring to life biological processes at subcellular and cellular scales, extending the paradigm established by molecular dynamics in transforming static protein structures into dynamic, actionable insights for drug discovery. His work establishes critical connections between chemically detailed membrane-protein interactions and resulting cellular morphologies, investigating how physical forces generate essential structures like the folded cristae of mitochondria. By addressing the significant knowledge gap regarding the biophysical principles governing cell shape phenomena—long correlated with disease yet mechanistically poorly understood—Dr. Lee's research has opened new avenues for understanding the physical basis of cellular abnormalities. His innovative modeling approaches complement experimental control of model organisms to derive novel biophysical insights, creating a framework that potentially connects sequence and structure to cellular morphology and function.
The impact of Dr. Lee's work extends beyond theoretical understanding, with profound implications for predicting and discovering causal mechanisms behind cell shape abnormalities that drive disease processes across multiple contexts. His laboratory's mission focuses on developing the next generation of multiscale models that bridge molecular dynamics with cellular-scale phenomena, creating a continuum of understanding from protein interactions to whole-cell behavior. Dr. Lee continues to push the boundaries of computational modeling to illuminate the physical basis of cellular life and its dysregulation in disease, potentially opening new frontiers in both basic science and translational applications. As his research program advances at UCSD, he remains dedicated to transforming how scientists understand the fundamental relationship between cellular form and biological function through rigorous computational approaches.
