Jaeheon Lee Earns Tenure

Jaeheon Lee, associate professor in MGE, was granted tenure by the University of Arizona in April 2020.

“Professor Lee is one of a handful of experts internationally who specialize in the microbial-assisted processing of valuable sulfide ore, rare earth and critical minerals,” said Moe Momayez, interim department head of MGE. “I look forward to Jaeheon's continued success and leadership in the crucial field of extractive metallurgy. The University of Arizona is lucky to have such an accomplished scientist and engineer among our faculty.”

Lee, who earned his doctoral degree in materials science and engineering at the UA in 2003, has been an associate professor at the university since August 2014. His research interests include ore characterization and hydrometallurgical processes of base metals, precious metals and rare earth elements. Lee is also an expert in biohydrometallurgical process for a treatment of refractory sulfide minerals.

"We were fortunate to attract Dr. Lee back to the University of Arizona,” said Mary M. Poulton, co-director of the Lowell Institute for Mineral Resources. “We hoped he would establish not only a strong industry partnership for extractive metallurgy but also help expand our mineral processing program in mining engineering. He is a great addition to MGE and the Lowell Institute for Mineral Resources, and we are so happy that his success has been recognized with the granting of tenure."

Lee has used his experience working at global mining companies to develop a research program in extractive metallurgy and create several new courses focusing on the needs of the industry. The Society for Mining, Metallugy and Exploration, or SME, awarded Lee a $300,000 Freeport-McMoRan Career Development Grant in 2018 to support his efforts to achieve tenure and promotion. He was also a recipient of the company’s Academic-Industry Mining Fellowship in 2017 and 2018.

Lee has served on several committees and held chair position for SME and other international conferences. He is currently a secretary/treasurer of the executive committee of Mineral & Metallurgical Processing Division of SME and member of a scientific committee for International Biohydrometallurgy Symposium. He received his BS and MS degrees in metallurgical engineering from Korea University in Seoul, South Korea.