ProfessorKoon-Yang Lee

Professor in Polymer Engineering

Department of Aeronautics - Faculty of Engineering

BIO

Koon-Yang is Professor in Polymer Engineering at Imperial College London. He currently leads the Future Materials Group, a young and dynamic research group consisting of 'multilingual' scientists and engineers proficient in the development of chemical engineering-driven materials innovations to create a sustainable future. His research is highly interdisciplinary across the fields of materials chemistry, chemical engineering, physics and materials engineering, underpinned by the core research principles of simple design, manufacturability and radical effects.

The focus and application areas of his research group include:

(i) Nanocellulose-derived advanced composite materials
(ii) Cellulose and lignocellulose-derived sustainable materials
(iii) Valorisation of waste into engineering materials
(iv) Porous polymeric materials

He is the recipient of the 2022 American Chemical Society (ACS) Cellulose and Renewable Materials (CELL) Division KINGFA Young Investigator Award, an award recognising the outstanding contributions of young investigators under the age of 40 to the science and chemical technology of cellulose and renewable materials.

You can find out more about his research activities by visiting his research group's website. Some of his research achievements can also be found in his videos.

MEDIA

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ACADEMIC POSITIONS

  • Professor in Polymer Engineering
    Imperial College London, Aeronautics, United KingdomOct 2022 - present
  • Senior Tutor, MRes in Molecular Engineering
    Institute for Molecular Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, United KingdomOct 2023 - present
  • Co-Director, MRes in Molecular Engineering
    Institute for Molecular Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, United KingdomDec 2020 - Sep 2023
  • Reader in Polymeric Materials
    Imperial College London, Aeronautics, United KingdomOct 2019 - Sep 2022
  • Director of MSc in Composites
    Imperial College London, Aeronautics, London, United KingdomOct 2019 - Sep 2023
  • Senior Lecturer in Composites Manufacturing
    Imperial College London, Aeronautics, London, United KingdomOct 2017 - Sep 2019
  • Assistant Director of MSc in Composites
    Imperial College London, Aeronautics, London, United KingdomDec 2017 - Sep 2019
  • Lecturer in Composite Manufacturing
    Imperial College London, Aeronautics, London, United KingdomJan 2015 - Sep 2017
  • Lecturer in Chemical Engineering
    University College London, Chemical Engineering, Camden London Boro, United KingdomSep 2013 - Jan 2015
  • Senior Research Fellow
    University of Vienna, Chemistry, Vienna, AustriaOct 2012 - Sep 2013
  • Postdoctoral Research Associate
    Imperial College London, Chemical Engineering, London, United KingdomNov 2011 - Sep 2012

NON-ACADEMIC POSITIONS

  • Publicity Chair
    American Chemical Society, CELL DivisionJan 2017 - present
  • Guest editor, virtual special issue
    Carbohydrate PolymersApr 2024 - Apr 2025
  • Editorial board member
    Carbohydrate PolymersDec 2024 - present
  • Advisory board member
    RSC Applied PolymersMar 2024 - present
  • Editorial board member
    FibersMar 2018 - present

DEGREES

  • PhD
    Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom6 Oct 2008 - 1 Feb 2012
  • MEng
    Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom4 Oct 2004 - 23 Jun 2008

CERTIFICATIONS

  • Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC)
    Royal Society of Chemistry, London, United KingdomAug 2024 - present
  • Chartered Engineer (CEng)
    Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, London, United KingdomJan 2016 - present

LANGUAGES

  • English
    Can read, write, speak, understand and peer review
  • Chinese (Mandarin)
    Can read, write, speak and understand
  • Malay
    Can read, write, speak and understand

FACULTY

  • Faculty of Engineering

POSITION NAME

  • Professor in Polymer Engineering

FIELDS OF RESEARCH