For his outstanding contributions to the field, UCR Professor Chow-Yang Lee has been elected fellow of the Entomological Society of America, one of only four individuals nationwide to receive the honor this year. 

Founded in 1889, the society is the largest entomological organization in the world, with nearly 7,000 members. Fellows are nominated by peers and elected by the governing board of the society and will be recognized during the Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting this November in Phoenix, Arizona.

"I am truly honored to be elected as an ESA fellow,” Lee said. “This is the highest accolade the society can confer upon an entomologist, and I am humbled by the recognition from my peers for my contributions to urban entomology."

Lee, who serves as endowed presidential chair in the Urban Entomology Program, is internationally known for his research on the behavior, ecology, and physiological adaptations of urban insect pests, including cockroaches, bed bugs, termites, ants, and mosquitoes.

He seeks to understand the biological characteristics that help these urban pests thrive, and he works with graduate students to develop and test new pest management strategies. Their activities have included a focus on the insecticide resistance’s underlying mechanisms.

Lee has mentored numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers who have gone on faculty positions and leadership roles in the pest management industry. 

His outreach activities are extensive, having authored more than 290 peer-reviewed journal papers, book chapters, and books. Recently, he has co-authored several papers evaluating biodegradable boric acid gel baits meant to control Argentine ants, the potential use of an artificial sweetener against cockroaches and its impact on cockroach microbiome, and the effectiveness of new compound with a novel mode of action against cockroaches. 

He has also delivered over 240 invited presentations in more than 20 countries over the course of his career.

Born in Malacca, Malaysia, Lee conducted research on insecticide resistance in the German cockroach en route to the Ph.D. in insect toxicology he earned from the Universiti Sains Malaysia. He came to UCR in 2019.  

The list of accolades he has received includes the Entomological Society’s Recognition Award, the Mallis Distinguished Achievement Award from the National Conference on Urban Entomology, the Top Research Scientists Award from the Malaysian Academy of Science, and a Fulbright Scholarship from the U.S. Department of State.

To all aspiring young entomologists, he advised: "Find and pursue your passion, and everything else will follow. Passion is the key ingredient for sustaining a lifelong career. It will also drive you to wake up early and looking forward to going to the lab or office every morning."