Professor Lee founded the NSF Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center for Affordable Nanoengineering of Polymeric Biomedical Devices (CANPBD) in 2004.

He conducted pioneering research in combining nanocomposites and supercritical carbon dioxide to produce high-performance, thermal-insulating nanocomposite foams with the potential to replace solid plastics and conventional foams for significant cost savings in materials and energy.

His innovative combination of polymer-based micro/nanoengineering and nanofluidics led to new materials and devices that have the potential to greatly benefit future medical diagnostic and drug delivery technologies.