Eun Jin Lee (Assoc)

Dr. Eun-Jin Lee is a Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) Research Scientist in the Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

At NIST, Dr. Lee's research, conducted with Dr. Mandy B. Esch, focuses on developing human microphysiological cell culture systems (MPS). These innovative systems mimic human physiology to evaluate new drug candidates in a human context, providing an alternative to conventionally used animal models. Her work also significantly contributes to advancing the development of standards for multi-organ MPS by identifying operational parameters that can influence experimental outcomes.

Prior to her current role, Dr. Lee served as a Senior Research Associate at the American Dental Association Science & Research Institute (located at NIST). There, she developed and utilized organ-on-a-chip models as diagnostic tools for drug testing and identifying new targets in inflammatory oral, bone, and craniofacial diseases. She also contributed expertise in molecular and cellular biology studies related to inflammation in oral epithelium.

Dr. Lee completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under Drs. Thomas C. Hart and David J. Hall, investigating the function of Son of Sevenless-1 in gingival fibromatosis and the role of SirT1 in osteoarthritis. She earned her Ph.D. in Medical Science from Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea, and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University, USA.