Nic Lee is a computational designer whose work combines ecology, materials science, and digital fabrication to create end-to-end pipelines for sustainable architecture and construction. His research centers on the framework of Endless Ecosystems in which all of the matter used for construction systems is produced, and ultimately consumed, by ecosystems. Through his work, he aims to bridge the gap between grown and built environments, bringing the power and sustainability of the natural world to human systems.

Nic graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical engineering and a Bachelor of Arts degree in neuroscience and received a Masters Degree in Design Studies from the Harvard Graduate School of Design where his thesis centered on using artificial intelligence to model organic growth in designed environments. In 2023, he received his PhD in Media Arts and Sciences from MIT where he conducted interdisciplinary research between the Civil Engineering and Media Lab. His work has been exhibited in the Museum of Modern art and flown aboard the International Space Station.

Contact: nal@niclee.co

  • Education

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    PhD / Research Assistant, MIT Media Lab
    Cambridge, MA
    2020 - Present

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    MS, MIT Media Lab
    Cambridge, MA
    2018 - 2020

    Harvard Graduate School of Design
    MDes Technology
    Cambridge, MA
    2016-2018

    University of Virginia
    BS in Biomedical Engineering
    BA in Neuroscience
    Charlottesville, VA
    2012-2016

  • Publications

    An automated biomateriomics platform for sustainable programmable materials discovery. Lee, N. A., Shen, S. C., & Buehler, M. J. (2022). Matter, 5(11), 3597-3613.

    Computational Design and Manufacturing of Sustainable Materials through First-Principles and Materiomics.Shen, S. C., Khare, E., Lee, N. A., Saad, M. K., Kaplan, D. L., & Buehler, M. J. (2023). Chemical Reviews.

    Computational methods for the characterization of Apis mellifera comb architecture. Bader, C., Costa, J., Lee, N. et al. Commun Biol 5, 468 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-03328-6

    Sequential multimaterial additive manufacturing of functionally graded biopolymer composites. Lee, N. A., Weber, R. E., Kennedy, J. H., Van Zak, J. J., Smith, M., Duro-Royo, J., & Oxman, N. (2020). 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing, 7(5), 205-215.

    Multi-Material Printing of Multi Lengthscale Bio-composite Membranes
    Lee, N., Weber, R., Kennedy, J., Van Zak, J., Duro-Royo, J. and Oxman, N. (2019), Proceedings, of the IASS Annual Symposium.

    Designing a Tree: Fabrication Informed Digital Design and Fabrication of Hierarchical Structures
    Duro-Royo, J., Van Zak, J., Ling, A., Tai, Y-J., Hogan, N., Darweesh, B., and Oxman, N. (2018), Proceedings of the IASS Annual Symposium. 2018

    Designing (for) Decay: Parametric Material Distribution for Hierarchical Dissociation of Water-based Biopolymer Composites
    Tai, Y-J., Bader, C., Ling, A., Disset, J., Darweesh, B., Duro-Royo, J., Van Zak, J., *Hogan, N., and Oxman, N. , (2018), Proceedings, of the IASS Annual Symposium.

    “We’re all mad here”- Power and Identity in the Modern Era of Mental Illness. Intersect: The Stanford Journal of Science, Technology, and Society, *Hogan, N. (2016)., 10(1).

    Cooperative behavior emerges among Drosophila larvae
    Dombrovski, M., Poussard, L., Moalem, K., Kmecova, L., Lee, N., Schott, E., & Condron, B. (2017). Current Biology, 27(18), 2821-2826.

    *Published under former name, Nicolas Hogan

  • Exhibitions

    Museum of Modern Art
    Material Ecology (2020) - Oxman, N., Duro-Royo, J., Mogas-Soldevilla, L., Lizardo, D., VanZak, J., Tai, Y.J., Ling, A., Bader, C., Lee, N., Darweesh, B., Sharma, S., Weaver. J.

    Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum
    Aguahoja II, (2019) - Oxman, N., Lee, N., Van Zak, J., Kennedy, J., Weber, R., Bader, C., Costa, J., Shar- ma, S., Weaver, J., Duro-Royo, J.

    Cube Design Museum
    Aguahoja II Experiments, (2019) - Oxman, N., Lee, N., Van Zak, J., Kennedy, J., Weber, R., Bader, C., Costa, J., Sharma, S., Weaver, J., Duro-Royo, J.

    Centre Pompidou
    Aguahoja Artifacts (2018, 2019), Oxman, N., Duro-Royo, J., Mogas-Soldevilla, L., Lizardo, D., VanZak, J., Tai, Y.J., Ling, A., Bader, C., Lee, N., Darweesh, B., Sharma, S., Weaver. J.

    San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
    Aguahoja (2018) - Oxman, N., Duro-Royo, J., Mogas-Soldevilla, L., Lizardo, D., VanZak, J., Tai, Y.J., Ling, A., Bader, C., Lee, N., Darweesh, B., Sharma, S., Weaver. J.

  • Awards

    MIT Martin Family Society of Fellows for Sustainability
    2022-2023

    Fastcompany’s World Changing Ideas
    2020 - Aguahoja, Mediated Matter Group

    Fastcompany’s Most Innovative Sustainability Projects, finalist
    2020, Aguahoja II, Mediated Matter Group

    Dezeen Sustainable Design of the Year
    2019 - Aguahoja, Mediated Matter Group

    Dezeen Design Project of the Year
    2019 - Aguaohja, Mediated Matter Group

    Harvard MDes Research and Development Award
    2018

  • Teaching

    Kaufman Teaching Certificate Program
    2022

    Space Technology for the Sustainability Leader, Teaching Assistant at MIT, 2022

    Growth, Agency, and Adaptivity, Computational Design workshop for the Architect’s Association Visiting School, Curriculum Development and Teaching, 2021

    Research Mentorship

    Hannah Gazdus
    2019 - 2022*

    Branden Spitzer
    2022*

    Aliai D’Acuil
    2022*

    Moises Quinteros Morales
    2022

    Joe Faraguna
    2017 - 2019

    Danielle Gray-Stewart
    2018 - 2019

    Amelia Wong
    2018

    Ava Iranamesh
    2018

    Natasha Hirt
    2018

  • Selected Press

    Aguahoja I by Mediated Matter Group is a robotically fabricated structure made of organic matter
    Dezeen

    Aguahoja - Programmable Water-Based Biocomposites
    Creative Applications

    Neri Oxman: Bio Architecture
    Abstract: The Art of Design - Netflix

    This crazy sculpture is made by an MIT-engineered machine that 3D prints biopolymers to replace plastic
    Fast Company

    Neri Oxman and MIT Develop Programmable Biocomposites for Digital Fabrication
    Arch Daily

  • Invited Talks

    Materials Research Society Spring Conference, 2023.
    A Library of Sustainable, Functional Biocomposites, Co-Author

    Materials Research Society Fall Conference, 2022.
    Biopolymer Composites with Tunable Biodegradation Rates, Presenter

    Materials Research Society Fall Conference, 2022.
    The Impact of Mycelium Inoculation on 3D Printed Structural Composites, Co-Author

    Materials for Humanity 2022.
    A 3D Printable Biocomposite Scaffold for Mycelium Structural Materials, Presenter

    MIT Technology Review EmTech 2021
    Invited speaker for live interview portion

    MIT Media Lab Fall Members Meeting
    2019 - Keynote Address for the Mediated Matter Group with Sunanda Sharma on behalf of Neri Oxman

    MIT Media Lab Spring Members Meeting
    2019 - Keynote Address for the Mediated Matter Group with Rachel Smith on behalf of Neri Oxman

    International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures
    2019 - Conference presentation on Multi-Material Printing of Multi Lengthscale Bio-composite Membranes in Barcelona