Esak (Isaac) Lee, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Cornell University
Education
Ph.D. Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University (Advisor: Aleksander S. Popel), 2014
M.S. Pharmacy, Seoul National University (Advisor: Youngro Byun), Korea, 2008
B.S. (summa cum laude) Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, 2006
Appointment
Assistant Professor, Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University (July 1, 2019 – Present)
Nancy and Peter Meinig Family Investigator in the Life Sciences, Cornell University (July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2025)
Postdoctoral Associate, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University & Boston University, Advisor: Christopher S. Chen (July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2019)
Honors & Awards
NAE US Frontiers in Engineering participant, National Academy of Engineering, 2025
Cellular & Molecular Bioengineering (CMBE) Rising Star, Biomedical Engineering Society, 2025
KBMES Young Innovator Award, The Korean-American Biomedical Engineering Society (KBMES), 2024
NSF Career Award, 2024
Cellular & Molecular Bioengineering (CMBE) Editors’ Choice Award, BMES, 2024
James and Mary Tien Excellence in Teaching Award (the highest award for teaching in the college), College of Engineering, Cornell University, 2023
Cellular & Molecular Bioengineering (CMBE) Young Innovator, Biomedical Engineering Society, 2023
Emerging Leaders in Biological Engineering, Journal of Biological Engineering, 2022
Microcirculatory Society (MCS) Award for Excellence in Lymphatic Research, 2021
Nancy and Peter Meinig Family Investigatorship selected by Provost, Cornell University, 2019
Young Investigator Conference Award, Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Lymphatics, Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LE&RN), 2018
LE&RN Postdoctoral Fellowship, Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LE&RN), 2016 – 2018
TL1 Postdoctoral Fellowship, NIH (NHLBI), 2015 – 2016
MOGAM Science Scholarship, MOGAM Foundation, 2013
Runner-up Award, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 2012
Funding
NSF Career Award (PI: Lee) 2024 – 2029
NIH R01 CA279560 (PI: Lee) 2023 – 2028
NIH R01 HL165135 (PI: Lee) 2022 – 2027
NIH R21 AI168886 (PI: Lee) 2023 – 2025 (MPI: Deok-Ho Kim)
NIH R21 CA252162 (PI: Lee) 2022 – 2024
NIH R21 AI166772 (PI: Lee) 2021 – 2023
Adam Rachel Broder Grant for Cancer Research (PI: Lee) 2021 – 2022
Multi-Investigator Seed Grant (PI: Lee) 2020 – 2022
Nancy and Peter Meinig Family Investigator Fund (PI: Lee) 2019 – 2025
Teaching
Introduction to Biomedical Engineering (ENGRI 1310, undergraduate course): Fall 2020-present
Cancer and Immuno-Engineering (BME 6230, graduate course): Spring 2022-present
Engineering Seminar (ENGRG 1050, undergraduate courses): Fall 2020, 2025
Biomedical Engineering Graduate Colloquium (BME 7900, graduate course): Fall/Spring 2021-2023
Core Concepts in Disease (BME 7310, graduate course): Spring 2020