[citation needed] She was educated at University of Melbourne, studying a BSc(hons) in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from 2000-2004.

She studied her PhD at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research,[1] which was awarded in 2007 by the University of Melbourne.

[5] Lee's research focuses on cell death and survival, and in particular the role of the BCL-2 protein and its associated homolog family.

[6] She then applies this information to animal models to understand the contributions of these proteins to normal physiology and disease.

[5] Lee’s research has subsequently extended into autophagy more broadly and its contributions to human biology.