USU Engineering Professor to Receive 2026 Pioneers of Progress Award for Days of '47 Celebration

Mechanical and aerospace engineering Associate Professor Juhyeong Lee has been selected to receive the 2026 Pioneers of Progress Award.

The Days of ’47 Board of Trustees selected Lee as a recipient for the science and technology category of the award, which honors individuals whose work will have an enduring impact.

"Receiving the prestigious Pioneer of Progress Award is a great honor and a reflection of years of hard work from my research group,” Lee said. “I sincerely appreciate this statewide recognition.”

Throughout his career, Lee has collaborated with government agencies, industry and international research institutes. He researches structures and materials engineered for durability under extreme conditions, using experimental mechanics, computer modeling and machine learning.

“I hope our work will have a lasting impact by advancing research in extreme composite applications and inspiring future engineers to develop innovative solutions," Lee said.

Lee earned his bachelor’s degree in material science and engineering from Chonnam National University. He earned his master’s and doctorate in aerospace engineering from Mississippi State University.

The award will be presented to Lee at a gala banquet on July 16 at The Grand America in Salt Lake City.

The Pioneers of Progress Awards are hosted by the Days of ’47 organization as one of several events to celebrate the arrival of pioneers in Salt Lake City on July 24, 1847. Lee is the second Utah State faculty member to receive this award. Mechanical and aerospace engineering Assistant Professor Nadia Kouraytem was a 2024 recipient.

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