Mary Lee

Photo of Mary Lee
Mathematician
Santa Monica Office

Education

Ph.D. in mathematics, University of California, Irvine

Media Resources

This researcher is available for interviews.

To arrange an interview, contact the RAND Office of Media Relations at (310) 451-6913, or email media@rand.org.

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Overview

Mary Lee is a mathematician at the RAND Corporation and inaugural Fellow for the RAND Center for Global Risk and Security. Her research interests include mathematical modeling and simulation of complex systems in the areas of defense/aerospace, cyber policy, and health care and chronic diseases. Projects at RAND include research on emerging Internet of Bodies technologies; analyzing communications technologies for the Air Force; creating simulation tools to help inform cyber security policies; and understanding the energy balance in obesity and the development of diabetes. Lee received her Ph.D. and M.S. in mathematics from UC Irvine and B.A. in applied mathematics from UC Berkeley. Her dissertation research focused on mathematical modeling of cancer growth and metabolism. Prior to her graduate studies, Lee worked for many years as a senior systems engineer at Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems, where much of her work centered on developing tracking algorithms for airborne radar systems.

Research Focus

Recent Projects

  • Reliable Communications in a Contested Environment
  • Internet of Bodies
  • Enabling Distributed Control in a Communications-Degraded Environment
  • Warfighting in a Cyber-Contested Environment
  • Microsimulation of Obesity Policies

Honors & Awards

  • RAND Medal Award Key Contributor
  • RAND Spotlight Award

Commentary

  • Digital image of heads with padlocks, photo by maxkabakov/Getty Images

    Now Could Be the Time to Form Policy for Emerging Brain- and Body-Enhancement Technologies

    Policymakers might consider developing appropriate policy frameworks for emerging brain- and body-enhancement technologies to ensure that innovations harnessed for societal, economic, or military benefits do not create new vulnerabilities and that governments adequately defend and manage against potential attacks. The technology is quickly moving forward. Policy may need to play catch-up.

    Jan 12, 2021 RealClearDefense

  • The Care19 mobile app, developed by the State of North Dakota to assist in contact tracing during the global outbreak of the COVID-19, April 24, 2020, photo by Paresh Dave/Reuters

    Should Communities Be Concerned About Digital Technologies to Fight COVID-19?

    Personal smart devices offer an unprecedented opportunity to identify, track, map, and communicate about COVID-19. But apps could pose privacy and security concerns.

    May 13, 2020 Inside Sources

  • Woman's eye with technology of security concept

    The Perils of Connecting Our Bodies to the Internet

    High-tech health care solutions are part of an emerging sector of medical technologies that monitor personal health data by essentially connecting your body to the Internet. As smart devices in health care evolve, the line between human and machine is blurring, and creating new concerns about consumer safety and privacy rights.

    Oct 15, 2018 The WorldPost (Washington Post)

Publications

Multimedia