Research Associate Professor Jason Lee Kai Wei promoted to Full Professor
Published: 01 Oct 2026
Congratulations to Prof Jason Lee Kai Wei, on his promotion from Research Associate Professor to full Professor, with effect from 1 October 2026.
Prof Lee is an internationally recognised scientist and leader in heat resilience and human performance, whose work has transformed the understanding and management of heat stress across research, policy and practice. He currently directs the Heat Resilience & Performance Centre and co-leads the Human Potential Translational Research Programme at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore. His multidisciplinary scholarship integrates environmental physiology, occupational and public health, and translational science to tackle one of the world’s most pressing challenges: protecting human health and sustaining performance in an increasingly warming climate.
Prof Lee has built a distinctive body of research in human thermoregulation, fluid balance, and strategies to mitigate passive and exertional heat stress. His scholarship is informed by his earlier experience as a Commando Officer in the Singapore Armed Forces and his 12-year tenure at DSO National Laboratories, where he ultimately led its Human Performance Programme. Spanning fundamental physiology to real-world implementation, his research has generated insights with direct relevance to individuals, workplaces and communities. Through Project HeatSafe and other major research initiatives, he has significantly advanced the understanding of the effects of occupational heat exposure on worker health and economic productivity, particularly within tropical environments.
A hallmark of Prof Lee’s work is his ability to translate scientific discovery into meaningful societal impact. His research directly shaped heat management protocols, military training directives, workplace safety regulations, and occupational health practices. He previously chaired the Scientific Committee on Thermal Factors of the International Commission on Occupational Health, as well as Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower Heat Stress Work Group. He currently co-chairs the Ministry of Health’s Heat Injury Clinical Practice Guidelines.
Prof Lee’s leadership and contributions extend internationally. He serves on the Management Committee of the WHO-WMO Global Heat Health Information Network (GHHIN) and leads its Southeast Asia Hub, connecting science, policy and practice to strengthen regional heat resilience. A Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine, he serves on the Technology Advisory Panel for Temasek Trust and the Expert Advisory Group for The Rockefeller Foundation. He remains equally committed to education and mentorship, serving as Co-Programme Director of the Master of Science in Human Potential and Performance.
As Professor, Prof Lee will continue to advance environmental physiology and human performance, deepen strategic partnerships across academia, government, industry and international organisations, and nurture the next generation of researchers and practitioners. Through a career spanning discovery, translation, education and service, he exemplifies NUS Medicine’s commitment to translating scientific excellence into meaningful impact for Singapore, Southeast Asia and beyond.
