Curriculum Vitae

Education

Ph.D. Degree
Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea
Department of Physics, Feb. 2022
Advisor: Prof. Seok Ho Song
Thesis Title "Topological Metasurfaces Based on Leaky-Mode Resonances"

B.S. Degree
University of Seoul, Seoul, Korea
Department of Electrical engineering, Feb. 2015

Academic Positions

Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM, USA
Nanophotonics and Optical Materials Division at the Center for Integtated Nanotechnologies, Mar. 2024 – Present
Advisor: Dr. Alexander Cerjan

Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea
Sejong Science Fellow (Principal Investigator) at the Research Institute for Natural Sciences, Mar. 2022 – Feb. 2024
Advisor: Prof. Jae Woong Yoon

Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Korea
Full-Time Intern Research Associate at the Nanophotonics Center, Mar. 2015 – Feb. 2016 

Honors & Awards

Sejong Science Fellowship (100,000 USD/Year, Early termination of a 5-Year grant due to an overseas job transfer)
National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), Mar. 2022 – Feb. 2024
Project Title "Topological metasurfaces for next-generation nanophotonic applications"

Global Ph.D Fellowship (100,000 USD over 5-Years)
National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), Mar. 2017 – Feb. 2022
Project Title "Topological natures in optical metasurfaces for novel nanophotonic applications"

Brain Korea 21+ Best Paper Award (First prize)
Department of Physics, Hanyang University, Aug. 2021 

Research Interests

Theoretical optics and photonics

• Principles for flat optical devices (Metasurface physics, Optoelectronic modulation, surface-emitting lasers)

• Non-Hermitian and topological physics, photonic band structures, polaritons, and temporal coupled mode theory

• Mathematical and computational electromagnetic wave analysis (Hamiltonian dynamics, light-matter interactions, finite element methods, & rigorous coupled wave analysis)

• Nanofabrications and characterizations for nanophotonic devices (Metasurface fabrication & angle-resolved reflection/transmission/emission measurements)

Lecture

• Graduate Course: Topological Photonics, Department of Physics, Hanyang University, 2023 fall semester
  Lecture Notes 

Invited Talks & Seminars

[5] “Revealing new topological effects in metasurfaces,” Theory division at Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Erlangen, Germany, Dec. 13th 2023.

[4] “Topological effects in optical metasurfaces,” Center for integrated nanotehcnology at Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, USA, Dec. 05th 2023.

[3] “Topological metasurfaces,” Basic Research Lab at Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea, Nov. 07th 2023.

[2] “The topology of guided-mode resonance metasurfaces,” OSK Optics and Photonics Congress 2023, Jeju, Korea, Aug. 30th 2023.

[1] “Out-of-plane radiation of the topological metasurfaces,” APNFO+14, Busan, Korea, Jun. 22th 2023.

Conference Presentation since 2024

[5] K. Y. Lee, W. W. Chow, & A. Cerjan “Symmetry-protected line of bound states in the continuum for surface-emitting lasers”, FIO, Denver, CO, USA, Oct. 2025. 

[4] K. Y. Lee, W. W. Chow, & A. Cerjan “Superstructured-cavity surface-emitting lasers”, CINT Meeting, Santa Fe, NM, USA, Sep. 2025. 

[3] K. Y. Lee, H. Yang, C. F. Doiron, & A. Cerjan “Polarization angular selective Bragg mirrors”, CLEO, Long Beach, CA, USA, May 2025. 

[2] K. Y. Lee, S. Wong, S. Vaidya, T. Loring, & A. Cerjan “Local Classification of Fragile Topology”, APS March Meeting, Anaheim, CA, USA, Mar. 2025. 

[1] K. Y. Lee, C. F. Doiron, & A. Cerjan “Polarization angular selective Bragg mirrors”, CINT Meeting, Santa Fe, NM, USA, Sep. 2024. 

Patents

[1] S. H. Song, J. W. Yoon, and K.Y. Lee, “PN junction light modulator and method of fabrication of the same” Korea Patent Registration No.10-1842393