Inorganic chemistry Ph.D. candidate Min Kyu Lee (Kaner group) has received three awards for poster presentations at two different conferences held this summer, recognizing his research on sustainable polymers and antifouling property medical devices.
Lee, a graduate student in Professor Richard Kaner’s group, received two awards at the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) 51st World Polymer Congress (MACRO 2026), held in July. His poster, “Development of Biodegradable Thermoplastic Elastomers for Single-Use Medical Devices: A Sustainable Alternative to Conventional Polymer,” received the IUPAC Poster Award Gold Prize and the Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Japan (BCSJ) Award for Poster Presentation.
The research covered in the poster focuses on developing biodegradable thermoplastic elastomers that could provide a more sustainable alternative to conventional polymers used in single-use medical devices. The work addresses the environmental challenges associated with medical plastics while maintaining the properties needed for medical applications.
In August, Lee received another top honor at the US-Korea Conference 2026 (UKC 2026). His poster, “A Scalable Zwitterionic Surface Treatment for Biofilm-Resistant Implantable Medical Devices,” won first place in the Biology, Biotechnology, & Health poster session. This project explores a scalable surface treatment designed to prevent biofilm formation on implantable medical devices, addressing a major challenge in biomedical applications.
“I’m very grateful to have had the opportunity to present the collaborative research between Professor Kaner’s group and Silq Technologies at these international conferences and to receive these awards,” Lee said.
Drawing on his background as a U.S. Army healthcare specialist and clinical research team lead, Lee brings a translational, systems-level perspective to materials chemistry. His work bridges inorganic chemistry, polymer science, and scalable manufacturing to advance sustainable, real-world solutions.
A true Bruin, Lee received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from UCLA in 2021. After serving four years on active duty in the United States Army as a medic, Lee returned to UCLA and received his Master of Applied Chemical Sciences, Materials Chemistry degree in 2025.
Starting in the fall, Lee will take a leadership position in the Veterans in Research program, a UCLA Veteran Resource Center career path service that connects military-connected students with research opportunities across campus. Breaking into undergraduate research at UCLA is notoriously competitive, and for veterans navigating an already demanding transition back into academic life, that barrier can feel especially steep.
Lee’s research spans sustainable polymer systems and functional materials for energy, environmental, and biomedical applications. His work focuses on developing biodegradable, high-performance polymeric materials to address challenges such as plastic waste, carbon emissions, and the environmental footprint of modern commodities.
In addition to biodegradable polymers for medical devices, Lee conducts research on conductive polymers, sustainable composite materials, and polymer membrane systems for water filtration. He is also investigating next-generation battery separator materials, aiming to replace conventional polyethylene and polypropylene separators with safer, more sustainable alternatives without sacrificing electrochemical performance.
Penny Jennings, UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, penjen@g.ucla.edu.
