The Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association and Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies have named former ASA president Ji-Hyun Lee 2026 Scientist of the Year. She will be recognized at the US-Korea Conference in Orlando in August.
In the award citation, the organizations described Lee as a “distinguished biostatistician whose career has strengthened the role of statistics in biomedical science and expanded the visibility of Korean American scientists in international scientific leadership.”
Lee is a professor of biostatistics at the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions and the University of Florida College of Medicine. She also serves as the director of the UF Health Cancer Center Division of Quantitative Sciences, where she focuses on improving the lives of people affected by cancer. Her research interests include clinical trial designs, health disparity, cancer prevention interventions (including smoking cessation), and the application of AI in cancer research. Throughout her career, she has advocated for the statistics field and its vital role in society.
Lee began her service to the ASA as a volunteer for the ASA Florida Chapter. She served as a district representative to the Council of Chapters Governing Board and represented the Council of Chapters on the ASA Board of Directors. Lee is also a member of the Caucus for Women in Statistics and Data Science and served as its president in 2017, as well as the Korean International Statistical Association, for which she served on the board of directors from 2017–2022.
Read more about Lee’s leadership on the University of Florida’s website.
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