Welcoming New Faculty Member Allen Lee to CEMS
This fall, CEMS welcomes Dr. Seung Hwan (Allen) Lee as an assistant professor. With a research focus at the intersection of biological and chemical engineering, Allen brings a global perspective, deep technical expertise, and an eagerness to build both his lab and new collaborations within the department.
Allen’s journey to the University of Minnesota began in South Korea, where he was born and raised. He spent his high school years in Dubai, attending an international school where a hands-on chemistry teacher sparked his early interest in science. “Every concept we learned started with an experiment,” Allen recalled. “It completely changed how I understood and appreciated chemistry—and it shaped how I think about teaching and research to this day.”
After high school, Allen moved to the United States to study at UCLA, where he earned his undergraduate degree in chemical engineering. His academic path was briefly paused for mandatory military service in South Korea, an experience he credits with giving him space to reflect and plan his future. Upon returning to UCLA, he joined the lab of Professor James Liao as an undergraduate researcher. That formative research experience, working at the interface of chemical and biological engineering to produce biofuels, set the direction for what would become Allen’s long-term research focus. This experience inspired him to pursue academic research, leading him to complete his Ph.D. at Rice University. Under the mentorship of Professor Ramon Gonzalez, he became captivated by synthetic metabolism—the ability to reprogram microbial cells to function as living biocatalysts. During his postdoctoral research at MIT, co-advised by Professors Gregory Stephanopoulos and Benjamin Woolston, he expanded his expertise to encompass "non-model" microbial hosts that possess unique capabilities for specialized biochemical conversions.
Allen’s research centers on using biological engineering to tackle global challenges such as climate change, resource sustainability, and pollution. In particular, his lab will focus on improving the economic viability of biomanufacturing processes to produce fuels and chemicals, traditionally dominated by petrochemical methods, from more sustainable sources.
“We need to move beyond sugar-based feedstocks like corn,” Allen explained. “They’re expensive, require land and water, and aren’t as sustainable as they seem. I'm interested in developing systems that directly use CO₂ or other low-cost alternatives instead.” He also sees opportunities to improve process scalability and conversion yields.
Allen was drawn to the University of Minnesota’s culture of collaboration. “I was really impressed by how interdisciplinary the department is—seeing faculty co-author papers across areas like AI, catalysis, polymers, and materials. It’s a very collaborative environment,” he said. “That’s exactly the kind of place I want to be.”
Allen is already exploring collaborative opportunities with faculty in areas like sustainable polymers and catalysis. “There’s a real opportunity to combine biocatalysis with electrochemistry to create hybrid processes that make valuable products using electricity as a primary energy source,” he said. He’s also eager to explore new areas, including applications of AI and machine learning in synthetic biology.
In the classroom, Allen brings a student-centered teaching philosophy shaped by his early experiences. “Connecting theoretical concepts to real-world applications—that’s what made chemistry come alive for me,” he said. “I want my students to experience that too.” He looks forward to mentoring graduate and undergraduate students and is particularly excited about the opportunity to build his research group from the ground up. “I see my role as a collaborator, working alongside my students to build a shared lab culture. It’s going to be challenging, but also incredibly rewarding.”
As he prepares to relocate to the Twin Cities, Allen says he and his wife are looking forward to the move. “Minnesota seems to have the best parts of everywhere we’ve lived—great people, strong education, a reasonable cost of living,” he said. “We’re excited to make it home.”
Dr. Allen Lee is actively recruiting students and postdocs passionate about using engineering to tackle sustainability challenges. Learn more about his work at his research group's website.