Lee Research Group at University of Pennsylvania

Principal Investigator
Daeyeon Lee Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering B.S. Chemical Engineering, Seoul National University, 2001 Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, MIT, 2007 Postdoctoral training: Experimental Soft Condensed Matter Group, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, 2007-2008 email: daeyeon@seas.upenn.edu phone: 215.573.4521 Current Focus of Research The goal of our research group is to extend the basic understanding of soft matter such as colloids, polymers, and nanomaterials to fabricate functional structures with properties designed for advanced applications. The techniques used in the group include layer-by-layer assembly, microfluidics, optical microscopy, electron microscopy, scanning force microscopy, and dissipative quartz crystal microbalance. Using these techniques, we study the interactions of various materials at gas-liquid, liquid-liquid and liquid-solid interfaces. Intermolecular and capillary forces between materials are used to generate functional thin films and microcapsules for applications in renewable energy, sustained release, and encapsulation. Honors and Awards: * 2011 KSEA (Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association) Young Investigator Award * 2011 NSF CAREER Award * 2010 Victor K. LaMer Award for Graduate Research in Colloid and Surface Chemistry, American Chemical Society * 2006 Gold Award in Materials Research Society (MRS) Graduate Student Award Competition * 2006 MIT Materials Day Best Poster Award * 2006 Grand Prize Award for Excellence in Polymer Research Sponsored by MIT PPST and Schlumberger * 2005 Omnova Solutions Signature University Award for Excellence in Polymer Research
Postdoctoral Fellows
Name: Sang-Wook Lee, Ph.D. Graduated From: Seoul National University Hometown: Boryeong-city, South Korea Major: Electrical Engineering Joined Lab: October 2011 Research: Transport and mechanical properties of skin Interests: Watching movies, Reading books, Cooking
Name: Bum Jun Park, Ph.D. Graduated From: University of Delaware Hometown: Seoul, South Korea Major: Chemical Engineering Joined Lab: December 2010 Research: Janus particles at fluid interfaces Interests: Hiking, biking, traveling, eating, thinking, playing tennis, watching movies, etc.
Name: Lei Zhang, Ph.D. Graduated From: Michigan Technological University Hometown: Heilongjiang, China Major: Materials Science and Engineering Joined Lab: Fall 2011 (co-advised by Dr. Feng at Villanova University) Research: Mechanics of nanoparticle thin films Interests: Reading, music, traveling, etc.
Graduate Students
Name: Kwadwo Tettey Year: PhD Candidate Graduated From: Johns Hopkins University Hometown: Gaborone, Botswana Major: B.S/M.S.E in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Joined Lab: Spring 2009 Research: Adsorption of Colloids at Interfaces Interests: In my free time, I enjoy playing sports, particularly soccer and squash. In addition to this, I enjoy visiting and exploring new places in Philly and all over the world.
Name: Teresa Brugarolas Year: PhD Candidate Graduated From: Universidad de Alicante Hometown: Alicante, Spain Major: B.S. in Chemical Engineering Joined Lab: Spring 2010 Research: Generation of Functional Suprastructures Using Microfluidics Interests: I enjoy reading a good book, meeting new people and going out with friends, visiting new places, etc.
Name: Jacob Prosser Year: PhD Candidate Graduated From: University of California at Davis Hometown: Stockton, CA Major: B.S in Chemical Engineering Joined Lab: Fall 2010 Research: Cellulosic biomass conversion Interests: Baseball, golf, fishing, cycling, woodworking, watching movies, reading
Name: Fuquan Tu Year: PhD Candidate Graduated From: Tsinghua University, China Hometown: Sichuan, China Major: B.S in Materials Science and Engineering Joined Lab: Fall 2010 Research: Microfluidic Generation of Functional Particles Interests: I love sports especially badminton and tennis. My dream is to travel around the world.
Name: Ankit Kumar Year: PhD Candidate Graduated From: B.Tech. from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India Hometown: Ranchi, Jharkhand (India) Major: Chemical Engineering Joined Lab: Fall 2011 Research: Janus Particles Interests: I like listening to music, playing computer games, net surfing and spending time with friends.
Name: Wonjae Lee Year: PhD Candidate (co-advised by Prof. Hammer) Graduated From: University of Texas at Austin Hometown: Daegu, Republic of Korea Major: B.S. in Chemical Engineering Joined Lab: Fall 2011 Research: Functional polymersomes Interests: I spend most of my pastime traveling or playing sports: tennis, basketball, jogging, and weightlifting, in order of preference.
Name: Weifeng Wang Year: MS Candidate Graduated From: University of Colorado, Boulder Hometown: Shanxi, China Major: B.S in Chemistry & MSE in Chemical Engineering Joined Lab: Fall 2011 Research: Nanoparticle Thin Films Interests: I enjoy watching movies, hiking,traveling, and singing in my bathroom.
Name: Lakshmi Madhavan Year: MS Candidate (co-advised by Dr. Rebecca Wells, SOM) Graduated From: Brown University Hometown: Conshohocken, PA Major: Chemical Engineering Joined Lab: Spring 2012 Research: Biomedical application of polyelectrolyte multilayers Interests: Outside of academics I like catchy music, cities, running, lounging, and current events.
Undergraduate Students
Name: Steven Lee Year: Class of 2014 Hometown: Saratoga, California Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (at Penn Engineering) Joined Lab: June 2011 (Penn PURM) Research: Nanoparticle thin films Interests: I enjoy reading fiction and cooking.
Name: Will Mulhearn Year: Class of 2012 Hometown: West Chester, Pennsylvania Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (at Penn Engineering) Joined Lab: June 2011 (Penn MRSEC REU) Research: Fundamental Investigation of Layer-by-Layer Assembly Interests: Other than video games and science fiction novels, I enjoy riding my bike and trying to improve my golf game (it's a work in progress)
Name: Michele Saums Year: Class of 2013 Hometown: Ledyard, CT Major: Biological Basis of Behavior Joined Lab: September 2010 Research: Biomedical application of LbL films Interests: I enjoy dancing, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
Visiting Scientists
Name: Jung Tae Park Year: Visiting scientist Graduated from: Yonsei University (Seoul, Korea) Hometown: Seoul, South Korea Major: B.S. in Chemical Engineering Joined Lab: January 2012 Research: Structure and Morphology Control of Multi-Functional Nanomaterials for Renewable Energy Devices Interests: Thinking, meditation and watching movie
Alumni
Name: Rohan Nagrath Current affiliation: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Penn Joined Lab: September 2010 Research: Nanocomposite LbL thin films
Name: Eungjin Ahn Current affiliation: UNIST, Korea Joined Lab: Summer, 2011 Research: Janus particles at an oil-water interface
Name: Yile Gu Current affiliation: Rose Hulman Institute of Technology Joined Lab: March, 2011 Research: Layer-by-layer films of extracellular matrix proteins and thin film characterization
Name: David Kim Current affiliation: Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Penn Joined Lab: July 2010 (Rachleff Scholar) Research: Mechanical Properties of Layer-by-Layer Assembled Amorphous Nanotubes
Name: Iris Shangchun Yi Current affiliation: Soft Nanomaterials Laboratory, Penn Joined Lab: Fall 2010 Research: Mechanical properties of polymer thin films
Name: Majemite Dafinone Current affiliation: Bloom Energy Joined Lab: Spring 2010 Research: Enhance Mechanical Properties of Layer-by-Layer Assembled Thin Films
Name: Samuel Tell Current affiliation: Joined Lab: September 2010 Research: Layer-by-Layer Assembly of Nanocomposite Films
Name: Myung Han Lee Current affiliation: LG Chemicals, Korea Joined Lab: August 2009 ~ February 2011 (Postdoc) Research: Microfluidic Generation of Functional Structures
Name: Greg Cameron Current affiliation: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Penn Joined Lab: September 2010 Research: Mechanical Properties of Layer-by-Layer Films
Name: Kyoung Wan Kim Current affiliation: Gachon Medical School, Korea Joined Lab: September 2009 Research: Generation of Nanocomposite Microcapsules Using Microfluidics
Name: Diya Li Current affiliation: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Penn Joined Lab: September 2009 Research: LbL Thin Films for Membrane Separations
Name: Joan Liu Current affiliation: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Penn Joined Lab: September 2010 Research: Artificial Enzyme for Cellulose Hydrolysis
Name: Imran MacMillan Current affiliation: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Penn Joined Lab: September 2010 Research: Self-cleaning thin films
Name: Dominique Koster Current affiliation: Chemistry at Ruhr University Bochum Joined Lab: Summer 2010 Research: Fabrication of Stable Nanoparticle-Shelled Bubbles
Name: Joohwan Koh Current affiliation: Chemical Engineering PhD Candidate at Yonsei University (Korea) Joined Lab: Summer 2010 Research: Structural control of dye sensitized solar cells
Name: Taeyeong Yun Current affiliation: Nano Biotechnology & Chemical Engineering at UNIST, Korea Joined Lab: Summer 2010 Research: LbL Thin Films
Name: Carl Beigie Current affiliation: Chemical Engineering at Rowan University Joined Lab: Summer 2010 (MRSEC REU) Research: Mechanical Properties of Polymer Thin Films
Name: Peter Forzaglia Current affiliation: Chemical Engineering at Manhattan College Joined Lab: Summer 2010 (NBIC REU) Research: Layer-by-layer assembly of functional thin films
Name: Jennifer Kunkel Graduated From: University of Massachusetts, Amherst Major: B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Joined Lab: Spring 2010 Current Affiliation: Life Technologies Research: The development of functional microcapsules through the use of microfluidic technology for utilization in drug delivery applications.
Name: Bomyi Lim Year: Class of 2010 Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Joined Lab: September 2009 - May 2010 Current Affiliation: Princeton University (PhD Program) Research: Measurement of Water Permeability through Membranes Using Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM-D)
Name: Chad Greco Year: Class of 2010 Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Joined Lab: Spring 2010 Research: Using layer-by-layer depositions to create nanoparticle thin films under varying conditions.
Name: Jeanne Ho Major: UPenn CBE, Class of 2010 Joined Lab: February-December 2009 Current Affiliation: Bristol-Myers Squibb Research: Creation of nanoparticle thin films using layer-by-layer deposition under various processing conditions. Creator of this website
Name: Michael Yee Major: UPenn BE and MSE, Class of 2011 Joined Lab: September-December 2009 Research: Characterizing nanoparticle thin-films created using layer by layer deposition in organic solvents.
Name: Varesh Prasad Major: UPenn BE, Class of 2012 Joined Lab: February-August 2009 Research: Microfluidic fabrication of suprastructures primarily with the use of stabilizing nanoparticles.
Name: Earnest Long Major: UPenn CBE, Class of 2012 Joined Lab: May-August 2009 Research: Expanding the processing window of nanoparticle thin films made by Layer-by-Layer Deposition (LbL).
Name: Jennifer Kay Major: Chemical Engineering (minor in Bioengineering), Class of 2011 Joined Lab: June-August 2009 Research: Optimizing biocompatible capsules using a microfluidic technique.