Jack Lee brings a cross-disciplinary lens to The San Francisco Chronicle’s Weather Science team, joining as a science reporter in 2022. Over the years, he has built a versatile portfolio that spans COVID-19, songbirds, and extreme weather events, with a recent focus on cancer prevention and early detection for the National Cancer Institute.
Lee’s path to science journalism is as unconventional as it is thorough. He earned a Ph.D. in molecular biology from Princeton University, followed by work as a data engineer in the Bay Area. In 2020, he expanded his toolkit with a master’s degree in science communication from UC Santa Cruz, a combination that shapes how he translates complex research into accessible storytelling.
His background enriches the Chronicle’s coverage in several ways. The molecular biology training provides a solid foundation for understanding research findings and risk factors, while his data engineering experience helps him identify patterns and trends in large datasets. The science communication degree equips him to present these insights clearly and compellingly to a broad readership.
Expect Lee to continue linking climate and health topics, explaining how weather patterns intersect with public health, and unpacking the science behind prevention and early detection across his beat. His multidisciplinary approach aims to illuminate cutting-edge research for readers, helping them make informed decisions in an era of rapid scientific change.
Summary: Jack Lee’s blend of bench science, data analytics, and science communication informs his reporting on weather, health, and climate-related topics at the Chronicle, offering readers clear, evidence-based insight into how these fields intersect and impact daily life. His presence on the Weather Science desk also signals a thoughtful, approachable approach to communicating complex science to the public, with an optimistic view toward informed engagement and understanding.