About
Sangsuk Lee
Postdoctoral scholar
I am a researcher passionate about advancing sustainable water and energy solutions through membrane processes, computational modeling, and AI-driven analysis. My academic journey spans a Ph.D. in Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder with Prof. Anthony Straub, an M.S. at Carnegie Mellon University with Prof. Kelvin Gregory, and early training at Korea University with Prof. Seung Kwan Hong. Currently, I am a postdoctoral researcher at UCLA working with Prof. Eric Hoek, where I lead projects on engineering novel reverse osmosis system, and mass transport mechanisms in membranes. Alongside research, I enjoy physical, water, and wellness activities such as lifting, dancing, pilates, and cold plunge.
Vision
Research agenda
Water-Energy-Data Nexus
The rise of artificial intelligence adds a transformative data dimension to the traditional water–energy nexus, redefining how we understand and sustain environmental systems. My research addresses this paradigm by integrating multiscale modeling, data-driven analytics, and physicochemical membrane technologies to couple contaminant removal, thermal control, and intelligent process operation. Together, these approaches form a unified framework for resilient and sustainable infrastructures that safeguard human and ecosystem health in the digital age.
Water
I develop membrane systems that address the coupled chemistry and physics underlying the water–energy nexus. By integrating aquatic chemistry with multiscale transport modeling and data-driven analytics, my research elucidates how emerging contaminants such as PFAS and volatile organics sorb, diffuse, and transform at water–membrane interfaces, ultimately determining their persistence and fate in membrane-based water treatment systems. These mechanistic and data-informed insights guide the design of novel membranes and process-intensified systems that maximize contaminant removal while minimizing energy demand, advancing sustainable and intelligent water management.
Energy
My research advances membrane processes that recover or discharge thermal energy within water infrastructure. Through reactive distillation membranes with vapor-gap configurations, I investigate how thermal and vapor pressure gradients can be harnessed to drive water purification and cooling. These systems leverage liquid–gas phase-change transport and interfacial chemistry to enhance heat recovery and discharge, as surface chemistry governs evaporation and condensation at membrane interfaces, thereby reducing the energy required for purification and cooling. Integrating data-driven modeling and optimization, my work develops cross-scale frameworks that maximize energy recovery and minimize losses, linking water purification, energy efficiency, and intelligent control toward sustainable infrastructure.
Data
At the molecular-to-system scale, my work integrates aquatic chemistry, thermodynamics, and data science to decode the complex interactions among contaminants, membranes, and operating environments. Using Graph Neural Networks and physics-informed machine learning, I develop predictive models that capture how chemical fingerprints, sorption dynamics, and interfacial transport govern the rejection of emerging contaminants and thermal energy recovery across diverse applications. These data-driven frameworks link molecular chemistry to system performance, enabling energy-efficient design, risk forecasting, and adaptive operation of sustainable water infrastructures and forming the decision-making layer of the water–energy–data nexus.
Research
Research projects
Processes
Studied advanced membrane processes such as forward osmosis, osmotic distillation, membrane distillation, and pressure-driven distillation, developing a better understanding of membrane interfacial chemistry such as evaporation and condensation, improving water reuse efficiency, and demonstrating high productivity and selectivity in desalination systems.
Surface modification
Engineered re-entrant nanostructures and chemically functionalized omniphobic surfaces on anodic aluminum oxide substrates, achieving enhanced wetting resistance through tailored surface energy modulation and interfacial molecular interactions, enabling wastewater reuse and organic solvent separation.
Data-driven analysis
Built machine learning and statistical models including neural networks and random forests to predict reverse osmosis/nanofiltration rejection, integrating molecular fingerprints for accurate solute transport predictions. In addition, I have been building time-series forecasting models based on sensor data from a portable water filtration device, a project supported by the US Navy.
Molecular dynamics
Designed simulations to study thermal transport in breathing porous crystals and investigated gas adsorption mechanisms, revealing heat transfer behaviors that guide material design for separation applications.
Optimization
Performed techno-economic and thermodynamic modeling of desalination systems and energy recovery devices, identifying operating conditions that minimize energy use while maintaining high separation performance.
Computational fluid dynamics
Simulated membrane transport phenomena, including pore size distribution effects on rejection efficiency, to link nanoscale membrane properties with macroscale separation performance.
Processes
Organic fouling during FO dewatering of activated sludge
Surface modification
Nanoreentrant strcutures to increase liquid entry pressure
Data-driven analysis
Molecular fingerprints aided data-driven models for membrane rejection predictions
Molecular dynamics
Thermal conductivity calculations for breathing porous crystals
Optimization
Bypass flow rate optimization in reverse osmosis pressure vessel
Computational fluid dynamics
Simulating flow velocity through ultrafiltration membrane pores with different pore size distributions
Teaching
Teaching experiences
Teaching Assistant
- Water Environmental Plant Engineering (Korea University)
- Environmental Engineering (Korea University)
- Water Chemistry (University of Coloardo Boulder)
- Fundamental of Environmental Engineering (University of Coloardo Boulder)
Guest Lecturer
- Water Environmental Plant Engineering (Korea University)
- Fundamental of Environmental Engineering (University of Coloardo Boulder)
- Membrane Separations in Aquatic Systems (University of California Los Angeles)
Mentor
- Discovery Learning Apprenticeship Program (University of Coloardo Boulder)
- UCLA Grad Slam (University of California Los Angeles)
Professional Development
- NSF I-Corps Regional Program (University of California Los Angeles)
- Aademic Teaching Workshop (University of Colorado Boulder)
Services
Community involvement
Community service, outreach, and volunteering
I served in the Republic of Korea Navy at the Naval Headquarters, as part of the Facility Support Squadron.
I worked on a water well drilling team in Ethiopia for a year, constructing wells in rural villages.
I volunteered as a private English tutor for North Korean refugee students.
I volunteered to teach science classes by incorporating dance at local elementary schools during my Ph.D.
I volunteered with the Farm Club in Boulder, helping to manage community gardens on campus and in the city.
I volunteered to prepare and serve meals for people experiencing homelessness.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Pesonal opinions and hot takes
What is the most frequent question you receive as a water researcher?
Is tap water safe to drink?!?!
Do you prefer coffee or tea?
Coffee in the morning for an immediate wakeup and matcha in the afternoon for a mild but long-lasting effect.
What does movement mean to you in your life?
My background as an amateur powerlifter and dancer has given me a profound appreciation for movement. I'm fascinated by the intricate mechanics of how the body moves and its powerful effect on the mind.
What is your favorite quote from a scientist?
Louis Pasteur 'Chance favors the prepared mind'