Biography
Prof. Seung Jae Lee earned his Ph.D. in computational mechanics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, an M.S. in structural engineering, and a B.S. in architectural engineering. His expertise spans structural, geotechnical, and computational engineering, complemented by professional experience as a facade designer/engineer at LG Industrial Materials Research Institute.
His research centers on advanced computational approaches to study mechanics across multiple scales, with a particular emphasis on particulate systems - materials made of discrete particles such as soils and powders. These systems are important to a wide range of scientific and engineering fields, including nanoparticle-based drug delivery, lithium-ion batteries, additive manufacturing, and high-performance concrete. Prof. Lee develops computational models and tools that integrate theoretical, algorithmic, and hardware accelerations using AI and high-performance computing to enable accurate and efficient analysis and design of these systems, linking particle-scale physics with system-level performance.
Facade engineering is another major focus of his work, with emphasis on the performance of building envelopes under extreme wind events. Building facades are among the most vulnerable components in such conditions, and their behavior depends on both wind loading and the structural systems to which they are mounted. In collaboration with the FIU Wall of Wind research team, Prof. Lee creates computational models and tools to capture facade dynamics, supporting the development of performance-based design approaches for resilient and sustainable infrastructure.