Lee joined the department of chemistry at the
University of Chicago in 1998, and was made a full professor in 2008. She has made significant contributions to the understanding of molecular behaviour in lipid films. She investigates the functionality of
lung surfactant, mechanisms of
antimicrobial peptides, sealing effects of polymers and recognition of lipids in receptors that regulate immunity. She looks to control
biomembranes that can mimic real-life systems to understand
Alzheimer's disease and
respiratory distress syndrome.
Lung surfactant, a lipid-protein mixture, forms at the alveolar air-water interface. A lack of surfactant in premature infants can result in
infant respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). In an effort to improve interventions for patients with RDS, Lee's research group look to identify the relationships between structure and function in lung surfactant, as well as establishing how the surfactant interacts with nearby proteins. She also studies the role of
amyloid beta, a residue generated by the processing of the
amyloid precursor protein, and
Alzheimer's disease. Using
atomic force microscopy the Lee group monitored the interactions of
antimicrobial peptides with biomembranes. She demonstrated that peptides share a common interaction which is driven by membrane line tension reduction. Her research group developed a self-healing gel that works underwater; a synthetic version of the substance that mussels use to anchor to rocks in the ocean. Mussels contain
byssal threads, which resist material failure by limiting crack propagation. The Lee group identified ways to control the crosslinking of
catechol and
Fe3+ using
pH. Lee has also demonstrated that geometric tools can be used to study complex and non-linear biological interfaces. She showed that thin elastic membranes can adopt both periodically wrinkled or folded morphologies. When compression of membranes exceeds one third of their 'wrinkled wavelength', the membranes fold, eventually transforming into a symmetry-broken state that looks crumpled. Lee is committed to increasing opportunities for women and minority students to take part in scientific research, and regularly hosts students for summer research programs. Lee is an advocate for women in science, and was a founding member of the Chicago Collaboration on Women in Science. The collaboration supports women faculty members in
Northwestern University and the
University of Chicago. Lee served as a member of the steering committees of the University of Chicago centres in Beijing and Hong Kong. Lee was appointed vice provost for research in August 2018. In that capacity, she worked with faculty and deans to enhance and expand research activities at the University, and oversaw large-scale research structures, including University Research Administration, University of Chicago Consortium for Advanced Science and Engineering(CASE), Office of Research Safety, Research Computing Center and Research Development Support. She stepped away from the role in March 2023 to assume the position of executive vice president for strategic initiatives at the university. == Awards and honors ==