Assist. Prof. Dr Seungyeol Lee | Nanomaterial | Best Researcher Award

Seungyeol Lee Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Chungbuk National University, South Korea, is a distinguished geoscientist whose work bridges planetary science, mineralogy, and geochemistry. He earned his Ph.D. and M.S. in Geoscience from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, USA, and his B.S. and earlier M.S. from Pusan National University, South Korea. Dr. Lee’s academic journey is marked by extensive research and collaboration with prestigious institutions, including the NASA Johnson Space Center, Lunar and Planetary Institute, and the Planetary Science Institute in the United States. His research explores planetary materials, mineralogical processes, and geochemical signatures that reveal insights into the origin and evolution of terrestrial and extraterrestrial systems. He has contributed significantly to NASA projects such as the Ryugu asteroid sample analysis and studies in astrobiology, focusing on mineralogy, spectroscopy, isotopic systems, and the detection of life-related processes on planetary bodies. As a leading scholar, Dr. Lee has played vital roles in major national and international research initiatives funded by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), investigating critical metals, natural hydrogen accumulation, and deep-sea mineral resources. His teaching at Chungbuk National University includes mineralogy, ore deposit geology, and general geology, where he mentors future geoscientists with a balance of theory and field-based understanding. Dr. Lee has received numerous accolades, including Best Paper Awards, Outstanding Research Awards, and international poster prizes, recognizing his excellence and innovation in geological sciences. Serving on the editorial boards of journals such as Minerals and Universe, and reviewing for leading publications like American Mineralogist and Science Advances, he contributes actively to the advancement of scientific publishing and peer review. Through his interdisciplinary expertise and commitment to discovery, Professor Seungyeol Lee continues to shape the future of geoscience research, bridging Earth and planetary systems to better understand the materials, environments, and processes that define our solar system.