Written by Amare Williams, 2026 PROMISE Scholar
Far from his lab coat and office desk, Lee’s childhood took place in the Northeast part of the United States, in the dense suburbs of South Windsor Connecticut. He grew up as a lifelong Star Wars fan and spent his free time playing golf with friends, a hobby he continues to enjoy today. And when he’s not chasing birdies, he is hitting the dance floor; for over twenty years, he’s enjoyed dancing anywhere from ballroom, swing, and country, a joy he’s carried into his marriage to his loving wife.
When asked who the most influential person in his career was, Dr. Lee immediately credits his master’s research advisor. With him during his first research experience, his advisor was described as a positive motivating force who recognized his potential early on. “She encouraged me to tap into that potential and skill set and pursue a career.” When asked where he might be without this push. He admits that nothing he can imagine would have offered greater satisfaction than the career he found in biomedical research. He believes that not only his students, but everyone needs an encouraging mentor in their lives: someone who can challenge and believe in you.
Dr. Lee describes himself as very supportive and scientifically minded. He sees his role not just as a researcher, but as someone who can strive to nurture and champion the next generation of future scientists. “I strive to lift people up and support people… I try to make that an important part of what I do daily.”
As Director of Higher Education at Sanford Research, Lee oversees secondary education and graduate students, leading in the selection and training of promising students both internationally and across the United States. In addition to his leadership at Sanford, he is an associate professor at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine. For Lee, mentorship is one of the most rewarding parts of his career as watching his students grow into well-rounded individuals and succeed in their personal lives is one of his greatest joys. “Being able to watch their success… and then seeing them go on to careers and do amazing things -I love seeing that.”
Through years of dedicated research, Dr. Lee has remained focused on his goal to make groundbreaking discoveries! He stresses that science needs “bright motivated minds.” Driven by an intense sense of purpose, he hopes to lay out the groundwork for future treatments. “I hope to continue to make discoveries... so that ultimately a meaningful treatment can be developed for the disease.” He enthusiastically embraces the scientific process behind his discoveries, loving to learn new things, and creating positive collaborative dialogue between his lab’s latest experiments.
Educational and Career Pathway
Dr. Lee’s educational journey began at Boston College, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry. He then completed a master’s in genetics at the University of Connecticut before pursuing a Ph.D. in Cell and Developmental Biology at Stony Brook University, a process he describes challenging and transformative. “It was a lot of hard work. It takes a lot of perseverance, but when you finish, it feels like you’ve achieved something.” After earning his doctorate, he continued onto a post-doctoral at Boston Children’s Hospital, where he began studying motile cilia and primary ciliary dyskinesia. There, he developed the research program that he later brought with him to Sanford Research in Sioux Falls, where he has spent the past sixteen years and proudly calls “home.”