Sang Yup Lee

Sang Yup Lee is a distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), where he leads the Metabolic & Biomolecular Engineering National Research Laboratory. With a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University, he pioneered system metabolic engineering by integrating systems biology, synthetic biology, and evolutionary engineering. His groundbreaking work has positioned KAIST as a global leader in biomanufacturing and sustainable chemical production.

Professor Lee's research spans metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, and industrial biotechnology, with a focus on developing sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based products. His laboratory has created numerous bioprocesses for producing gasoline, spider silk proteins stronger than steel, engineering plastic materials, and completely biodegradable polymers from renewable biomass. Recent work integrates artificial intelligence with metabolic engineering for advanced pathway design and optimization.

His publication record shows consistent leadership in sustainable biomanufacturing, with recent articles focusing on AI-driven retrobiosynthesis, carbon dioxide conversion to bioplastics, and high-efficiency production of valuable compounds like lutein. His work bridges fundamental science with practical applications in materials, energy, and healthcare.

• Gregory N. Stephanopoulos Award for Metabolic Engineering (2025)
• KAIST Meritorious Service Award (2025)
• International Engineering and Technology Institute Vice President (2025-2029)
• mSystems Editor Appointment (2025)
• International Artificial Intelligence Industry Alliance Fellow (2025)

Professor Lee actively advises numerous graduate students who have received multiple awards for their research. As Vice Chairman of the National Bio Committee, he influences national policy on biotechnology and has secured significant research funding for developing microbial cell factories. His laboratory serves as a hub for international collaboration, with partnerships spanning academia and industry worldwide. The MBEL laboratory continues to push boundaries in sustainable biomanufacturing, with ongoing projects focused on AI-enhanced metabolic engineering and developing next-generation bioproducts.