Dr. Sang Yup Lee is a pioneering biochemical engineer and global leader in the field of systems metabolic engineering. He currently serves as Distinguished Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Vice President for Research at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology where he has held faculty positions since 1994. After completing his B.S. in Chemical Engineering at Seoul National University and earning his Ph.D. from Northwestern University, he established himself as a transformative figure in biotechnology through his innovative research at KAIST. His leadership roles have included serving as Dean of KAIST Institutes for six years and directing both the BioProcess Engineering Research Center and BioInformatics Research Center, demonstrating his commitment to interdisciplinary research and institutional development.
Dr. Lee's groundbreaking contributions have revolutionized the bio-based production of chemicals and materials through the development of systems metabolic engineering as a comprehensive framework. He has successfully engineered numerous microbial strains and bioprocesses for the fermentative production of diverse compounds including polylactic acid, succinic acid, gasoline, diamines, and various natural compounds, establishing practical alternatives to petroleum-based production methods. His research impact is evidenced by an impressive H-index of 97 and more than 33,000 citations on Google Scholar, with authorship of over 700 peer-reviewed papers and holdings of approximately 840 patents in biotechnology and related fields. This remarkable productivity has translated into tangible industrial applications, with many of his developed strains and processes being implemented in commercial biomanufacturing operations worldwide.
Beyond his direct research contributions, Dr. Lee has shaped the global biotechnology landscape through extensive leadership roles in international scientific organizations and advisory capacities. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of Biotechnology Journal and holds editorial positions with numerous other scientific publications, while also contributing to global policy discussions as a former Chairman of the Global Future Council on Biotechnology at the World Economic Forum. His exceptional contributions have been recognized with Korea's highest honors including the National Science Medal and National Order of Merit, alongside prestigious international awards such as the Eni Award and Ho-Am Prize in Engineering. As a Fellow of multiple national academies including the US National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and the Royal Society, Dr. Lee continues to advance the frontiers of metabolic engineering while mentoring the next generation of scientists in sustainable bioproduction technologies.
