MinJu Lee

Welcome to my personal website!

I’m a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pittsburgh. I study how and why people build relationships that feel risky—but offer potential for growth.

My research explores how individuals navigate dyadic relationships—especially those involving feedback, friendship, career advice, and upward voice—across psychological or demographic boundaries. I study how people at work weigh the potential benefits and risks of reaching out to others, particularly in contexts marked by uncertainty, power differences, or identity-based divides. I'm especially interested in what drives connection under such conditions, and how mindsets like learning orientation or instrumental motivation shape the pursuit of relationships that foster trust, development, and performance.

I received a Ph.D. in Management from the University of Texas at Austin (2024; Organizational Behavior), an M.A. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania, and two B.A.s in Economics and Statistics from the University of Chicago.

Before academia, I worked as a data scientist and consultant, building algorithms to improve decision-making. I still occasionally freelance with organizations looking to understand their relational networks: who speaks up, who’s included, who serves as a critical bridge, and how team members really connect.

Outside of work, I’m usually chasing after my two little kids, who keep me grounded, curious, and (mysteriously) both very awake and very tired at the same time. I enjoy cooking (strictly with recipes), jogging, and occasionally getting way too excited about a new dataset or coding problems. Thanks for visiting!

Google Scholar Profile link

Curriculum Vitae link