Biography
Dr. Joon Seon Lee is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Brigham Young University–Hawaii, where he leads research in plant biology, ethnobotany, and genomics with an emphasis on Pacific Island and Asian plant species.
His work integrates bioinformatics and traditional botanical approaches to explore plant diversity, adaptation, and cultural significance. Prior to joining BYU–Hawaii, Dr. Lee worked as a Computational Biologist at the University of British Columbia’s Michael Smith Laboratories, where he directed large-scale genomic projects in epigenomics and transcriptomics. He also held a Senior Research Associate position at Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Applied Genomics Centre, leading initiatives in molecular breeding, genotyping, and pathogen detection for plants and animals.
Dr. Lee earned his Ph.D. in Botany from the University of British Columbia, focusing on gene expression under abiotic stress in crops, and conducted research collaborations with INRAE in France. His academic journey also includes an M.Sc. in Biological Sciences from SungKyunKwan University and a B.Sc. in Biology from BYU–Hawaii. With extensive experience in research leadership, student mentorship, and cross-disciplinary projects, Dr. Lee is passionate about advancing plant science and training future scientists.
Dr. Lee was born and raised in Seoul, Korea, and served a full-time mission in the California Anaheim Mission. He has held various church callings, including service in the Bishopric and Elder’s Quorum. He also served in the Korean Army, where he taught Biology and Chemistry to trainees. He is married to his wife, Jayoung, who grew up on Jeju Island, and together they are the proud parents of two children.
Education
Ph.D. The University of British Columbia – Vancouver (Botany – Plant Genomics)
M.Sc. SungKyunKwan University (Biological Sciences - Plant Systematics)
B.Sc. Brigham Young University – Hawaii (Biology, Cum laude)
Minor: Biochemistry
Selected Publications
Lee, J.S., Jahani, M., Huang, K., Mandel, J.R., Marek, L.F., Burke, J.M., Langlade, N.B., Owens, G.L., Rieseberg, L.H. 2022. Expression complementation of gene presence/absence polymorphisms in hybrids contributes importantly to heterosis in sunflower. Journal of Advanced Research 42: 83-98.
- Highlighted as a Notable Korean Scientist rewarded by Biological Research Information Center in Korea
Lee, J.S., Gao, L., Guzman, L.M., Rieseberg, L.H. 2021. Genome-wide expression and alternative splicing in domesticated sunflowers (Helianthus annuus L.) under flooding stress. Agronomy 11 (1): 92.
Lee, J.S., Kim, S.-H., Kim, Y., Kwon, Y., Yang, J., Cho, M.-S., Kim, H.-B., Lee, S., Maki, M., Kim, S.-C. 2021. Symplocarpus koreanus (Araceae; Orontioideae), a new species based on morphological and molecular data. Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy 51 (1): 1-9.
- New species description paper
Lee, J.S., Adams, K.L. 2020. Global insights into duplicated gene expression and alternative splicing in polyploid Brassica napus under heat, cold, and drought stress. The Plant Genome: e20057.
Lee, J.S., Kim, S.-H., Lee, S., Maki, M., Otsuka, K., Kozhevnikov, A., Kozhevnikov, Z., Wen, J., Kim, S.-C. 2019. New insights into the phylogeny and biogeography of subfamily Orontioideae (Araceae). Journal of Systematics and Evolution 57 (6): 616–632.
- Selected for the special issue paper award
Hübner, S., Bercovich, N., Todesco, M., Mandel, J.R., Odenheimer, J., Ziegler, E., Lee, J.S., Baute, G.J., Owens, G.L., Grassa, C.J., Ebert, D.P., Ostevik, K., Moyers, B.T., Yakimowski, S., Masalia, R.R., Gao, L., Calic, I., Bowers, J.E., Kane, N.C., Swanevelder, D., Kubach, T., Muños, S., Langlade, N.B., Burke, J.M., Rieseberg, L.H. 2018. Sunflower pan-genome analysis shows that hybridization altered gene content and disease resistance. Nature Plant 5: 54–62.
- Leading transcriptome analysis of the pan-genome of sunflower cultivars