Promotions 2023: Q&A with Jeff Lee

What is your role in LMP?

I am a faculty member and researcher in LMP. Our laboratory is located in the Medical Science Building on the main UofT campus. We strive to understand the molecular mechanisms that viral and cellular fusogens use to modulate the mergers of membranes in viral entry and fertilization. 

In addition to research, I am the Undergraduate Coordinator for the Pathobiology Specialist program and Coordinator of the LMP Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program.

Why did you pursue an academic career?

Since my earliest days as a student, I have always enjoyed trying to figure out how things worked. I know no better career that satisfies my passion for learning and science than to be an academic researcher and professor.

This career also allows me to give back by teaching and inspiring the next generation of scientists. Along the way, I have been fortunate to have great mentors who supported me to get to this stage. 

What does this promotion mean to you?

I am greatly honoured and glad that my academic contributions are worthy for promotion to full professor at the University of Toronto.

Most importantly, I believe this promotion is also an opportunity to acknowledge the creativity, hard work, dedication and productivity of my staff, postdoctoral fellows, graduate, and undergraduate students that I have had in my lab. There would be no promotion without the people in my lab. 

If you can go back, what advice would you give your younger self?

If I had to give advice to a younger self, I would say take bigger risks. I was always careful and tended to do things within my comfort zone. I would pick interesting questions and solve harder problems. 

What advice would you give faculty who would like to apply for promotion?

For me, finding time to put together the promotion dossier was the most difficult. If I had to do it again, my suggestion would be to set aside proper time to do it.

Also helpful is to start a file and save any material that might be relevant for your academic dossier.

How did you manage your time in putting your dossier together considering your multiple priorities?

I don’t think I did a very good job at managing my time in putting together the dossier. It took me a couple of years, if not more, to complete it.

My first priority was always my research, trainees and teaching, thus I worked on the dossier in small bits and pieces when I had free time. 

I would like to give a big thank you to the HR administrative staff and LMP promotions committee for their generous advice and support in putting together the dossier.

Find out more about promotion

Promotion guidelines: to Associate Professor and Professor

Contact lmp.hr@utoronto.ca if you are a faculty member in LMP and want to learn more about the promotion process, workshops, and more.