Justin Lee

Justin Lee’s first exposure to research began in high school and has played a prominent role in the development of his interests in computer science and physics. Justin has conducted independent research in computational astrophysics and developed an optimized n-body simulation algorithm with minimal runtime and simulation error by utilizing the principles of pre-computed vector spaces and interpolation techniques. Furthermore, Justin conducted research regarding asteroid ring formation mechanisms and utilized his previously created optimized n-body simulation algorithms to discover several mechanisms of ring formation around asteroids and other exoplanetary bodies. As a result of his work, Justin was recognized as a Finalist for the 2018 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) and Finalist for the 2018 National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS).

To expand his research horizons during the summer of 2017, Justin conducted bioinformatics research at the University of Chicago under the guidance of Professor Samuel Armato and developed a methodology for the optimization of response classification criteria for pleural mesothelioma patients using statistical algorithms. In particular, Justin investigated the viability of several statistical metrics such as positive and negative predictive values and true and false positive rates. Furthermore, during the summer of 2015, Justin worked to design an algorithm to detect and make volumetric measurements of brain tumors from MRI images. The following summer, he designed an algorithm to track the cilia movement of zebrafish.

In high school, Justin was heavily involved in his school’s science research club as an executive board member and peer review leader. Furthermore, Justin was a core member of his school’s math team throughout high school. Beyond academics, Justin is committed to playing the violin and had been a member of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra for four years. He performed at Carnegie Hall as concertmaster of the Honors Performance Series Orchestra and soloed at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Hall. All things aside, Justin enjoys fencing, having competed at the varsity level throughout high school. In the future, Justin aspires to pursue a career in computer science, hoping to conduct research in machine learning and artificial intelligence.