Biography
About Han
My name is Han Lee and I am a researcher, engineer, and U.S. Army veteran. I am currently a Ph.D. candidate at Prof. Cunningham’s Nanosensors group in Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I earned my B.S. in ECE from Binghamton University (2014) and served as a Human Resources Sergeant in the U.S. Army from 2015–2019.
My research focuses on the development of novel Point-of-Care (POC) cancer and disease detection platforms, with a strong emphasis on diagnostic device instrumentation and machine learning-driven data analysis. Translational diagnostics inherently require the integration of breakthroughs across biochemistry, instrumentation, and data science. Due to its multidisciplinary nature, this field thrives on collaboration and demands clear communication among researchers to align scientific objectives and technical approaches. Throughout my Ph.D., I’ve come to recognize a critical importance of systems-level understanding—spanning from assay execution to diagnostic result delivery—in driving meaningful innovation, an insight that continues to shape my approach to research and development.
What motivates me
I am deeply motivated by the opportunity to contribute to translational medicine through practical innovations that can deliver immediate, real-world impact. In recent decades, we’ve witnessed remarkable advances in many areas of science, particularly in the development of highly sensitive and specific assays for detecting biomolecules in bodily fluids as well as the signal transducer modalities. While scientific innovations continue to advance rapidly, translating these breakthroughs into accessible, real-world applications remains a significant challenge. Through my research, I aim to extend the reach and utility of cutting-edge diagnostic technologies—bridging the gap between scientific innovation and everyday accessibility. Currently, I am building a fully automated single-molecule detection system that expands upon my previous work on LOCA-PRAM—a deep learning–enabled, image-based diagnostic method capable of single molecule, digital-resolution biomolecule detection. This effort is driven by the goal of democratizing diagnostics and making early disease and cancer detection possible and accessible to all communities.
Outside of laboratory
My personal hobbies are playing tennis, running marathon, and camping. Recently, I have completed a half marathon, which was an amazing experience. I am training myself for the full marathon next year.
