Lee Chih-Kung

Lee Chih-Kung
Born	Taipei, Taiwan
Occupation(s)	Applied physicist, engineer, professor
Years active	1987–present
Known for	Piezoelectric modal sensors and actuators, precision measurement, optoelectronic systems, MEMS, Nano-Systems

Lee Chih-Kung (also known as C.K. Lee; ; born October 1959) is a Taiwanese expert in applied physics and engineering, currently serving as a distinguished professor in the Department of Electronics Engineering at National Taiwan University.

Early life and education

Originating from Taipei, Taiwan, Lee grew up with three siblings: Howard, Adam, and Ben. His parents are Lee Wen-hsiung and Lee Shu-lien.

Lee completed his undergraduate education at National Taiwan University, earning a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in civil engineering in 1981. During his studies, he secured victories in two engineering competitions by submitting papers focused on fire safety in tall buildings and dam structural analysis.

Following a two-year tenure in the Republic of China Air Force, Lee advanced to graduate studies at Cornell University through a fellowship program. There, he attained a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in 1984 under the mentorship of Yih-Hsing Pao, and subsequently earned a Ph.D. in 1987 specializing in theoretical and applied mechanics alongside applied physics. At Cornell, Lee pioneered the development of novel piezoelectric modal sensors and actuators. His doctoral dissertation, supervised by Professor Francis C. Moon, was entitled "Piezoelectric laminates for torsional and bending modal control: theory and experiment."

Career

Lee began his professional journey in 1987 at IBM's Almaden Research Center located in San Jose, California, initially as a research staff member before advancing to serve as staff to the Laboratory Director. His research spanned multiple disciplines including magnetic disk technology, optoelectronic systems, precision measurement (metrology), and piezoelectric devices. Among his accolades is the IBM Outstanding Technical Achievement Award, granted for innovations that significantly reduced thermal track mis-registration on the commercially successful 3.5-inch, 320 MB IBM 0661 hard disk drive. Additionally, Lee received two prestigious Invention Awards recognizing patents related to laser encoder technologies, nanometer-scale fly height measurement systems, piezoelectric strain rate gauges, and acceleration sensors designed for early shock detection.

Research interests

In 1994, Lee returned to Taiwan to join the Institute of Applied Mechanics at National Taiwan University, where he co-established the Nano-Bio-MEMS research group. He is widely acknowledged for his proficiency in controlling flexible structures, shock sensing technologies, and the design of distributed piezoelectric sensors and actuators. His leadership has driven projects involving ultra-high precision laser Doppler interferometers, laser encoders, ellipsometry analyzers, curved piezoelectric sensor/actuator arrays, dot matrix writing devices, diffractive optical components and systems, as well as laser writing equipment. His core expertise lies in integrating various systems encompassing mechanics, optics, electronics, semiconductor technology, mechanical design, metrology, and interface engineering to create cutting-edge innovations.

Holding more than 110 patents with numerous successful industrial technology transfers, Lee collaborates extensively across academic disciplines—including medicine, chemistry, electronic engineering, and biotechnology. His team has developed notable commercial products such as the Sparkle holographic mastering system and the AVID interferometer/vibrometer. The AVID system notably earned Photonic Spectra's Circle of Excellence Award in 1998 as one of the world’s top 25 optoelectronic systems—the first time this recognition was bestowed upon a Taiwanese company. Other technologies transitioned to industry include an ellipsometer device, an ultrasonic sensor featuring an anisotropic beam pattern, the SARS No. 1 antiviral compound, and a flexible electret speaker.

Specializations

Expertise includes Optoelectronic and Piezoelectric Systems, MEMS and Nano-Systems, Design of Optoelectronic Systems, Precision Measurement Techniques, Automation Technologies, Biochip Technologies, and Technology Management.

Professional Experience

• Chairman, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Taiwan (October 2017–present)
• Distinguished Professor, Graduate Institute of Electronics Engineering, National Taiwan University (August 2016–present)
• Distinguished Professor, Institute of Applied Mechanics, National Taiwan University (August 2007–present)
• Distinguished Professor, Department of Engineering Science and Ocean Engineering, National Taiwan University (August 2007–present)
• Advisor, Ministry of Education, Taiwan (January 2002–July 2004; October 2010–present)
• Consultant, Taiwan Intellectual Property Training Academy (January 2007–present)
• Board Member representing Taiwan, Pan Wen Yuan Foundation (September 2007–present)
• President, Institute for Information Industry, Taiwan (August 2010–September 2012)
• Executive Vice-President, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Taiwan (October 2007–July 2010)
• Director General, Industrial Economics & Knowledge Center (IEK), Institute for Information Industry, Taiwan (May 2009–October 2009)
• Director General, Information and Communications Research Laboratories (ICL), Institute for Information Industry, Taiwan (September 2009–December 2009)
• Director General, Department of Engineering and Applied Science, National Science Council (August 2004–July 2007)
• Researcher, National Applied Research Laboratories, Taiwan (March 2004–September 2007)
• Managing Supervisor, Photonics Industry & Technology Development Association, Taiwan (April 2006–July 2007)
• Director of Biomedical Research and Development at Hsinchu Biomedical Science Park, National Taiwan University (October 2003–August 2006)
• Committee Member on the Commission for Research and Development, National Taiwan University (August 2002–July 2005)
• Director of Strategic Planning Division, Office of Research and Development, National Taiwan University (February 2002–July 2004)
• Program Director for MEMS & Nanotechnology Engineering Advancement Program and MEMS Program at National Science Council, Taiwan (March 1999–April 2001)
• Director of NDT&M Laboratory at Tjing Ling Industrial Research Institute, National Taiwan University (January 1996–December 2000)
• Research Staff Member at IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, California, USA (June 1987–February 1994)

Recognitions and Awards

• National Science Council Outstanding Research Award, Taiwan (1999–2005; 2010–2013)
• Fellow of the Society of Theoretical & Applied Mechanics, Taiwan (November 2012)
• Recipient of the Gold Medal Prize at The 26th World Genius Convention (October 2012)
• Industry Contribution Award from SEMI Taiwan (2010–2012)
• Inducted into the International Invention Hall of Fame and awarded Lifetime Achievement by the Taiwan International Invention Award Winners Association (2011)
• Chief Editor of the International Journal of Automation and Smart Technology (since March 2011)
• Fellowships awarded by the Chinese Society for Management of Technology and the Chinese Institute of Automation Engineers, Taiwan (both in 2010)
• Optical Engineering Award granted by the Taiwan Photonics Society (December 2009)
• Flexio honored with Red Dot Award Design Concept (2009); FleXpeaker received The Wall Street Journal Technology Innovation Award in Consumer Electronics category (2009)
• Excellent Project Award for ITRI Innovative Research Project under the supervision of the Executive Yuan of Taiwan (2008)
• TECO Science & Technology Award from TECO Technology Foundation (November 2008)
• Awarded the TWAS Prize in Engineering Sciences for the year 2007
• Recognized with Excellence Teaching Award and appointed Distinguished Professor at National Taiwan University since 2007
• Editorial board memberships include The Open Electrical and Electronic Engineering Journal and Journal of Smart Materials & Structures
• Fellowships with American Society of Mechanical Engineers and Institute of Physics
• Numerous honors from Acer Foundation; Photonics Industry & Technology Development Association; Ministry of Economic Affairs; Optical Engineering Society; Chinese Institute of Engineers; IBM; AIAA; among others spanning from 1983 to 2002