Keunsub Lee is Research Scientist IV and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University.  Lee’s research focuses on the development and improvement of Plant Biotechnology tools for crop genetic transformation and genome engineering. Lee’s group aims to broaden the spectrum of transformable crops by engineering Agrobacterium strains and implementing new technologies for genotype-independent plant transformation.

Lee’s group has successfully implemented CRISPR/Cas9 and Cas12a systems for maize genome editing using B104 inbred line and expanded the application of CRISPR/Cas9 for targeted mutagenesis in fast flowering minimaize (FFMM), rice, and the model plant Nicotiana benthamiana. In rice, targeted T-DNA integration into predefined chromosomal location was demonstrated using a CRISPR/Cas9 system. Using a biolistic gene delivery approach, a recalcitrant wild Zea mays ssp. parviglumis (teosinte) was successfully transformed and target genes were precisely edited by CRISPR/Cas9 system. Lee constantly seeks for innovative genome engineering tools for Agrobacterium strains and has generated useful strains for plant transformation. Resulting auxotrophic and recombination-suppressed Agrobacterium strains have been shared with the research community.