Dr Yee Mun Lee is an Associate Professor in Human Factors and Automated Transport at the Institute for Transport Studies (ITS), University of Leeds, and a leading international expert on road‑user interactions with connected and automated mobility (CAM) systems. Trained as an experimental and cognitive psychologist, her work focuses on how humans perceive, interpret, and act on information in complex traffic environments. She specialises in designing experimental studies to understand behaviour, ranging from pedestrians’ interactions with automated vehicles (AVs) to the challenges faced by marginalised groups navigating both current and future transport systems.

Dr Lee has pioneered research into real‑time interactions between pedestrians and AVs using state‑of‑the‑art distributed simulation. As the lead researcher for the HIKER pedestrian simulator, she has developed novel methodologies and behavioural metrics that have reshaped how road‑user interaction is studied. Her research has produced high‑impact insights into communication between AVs and other road users, including evaluations of external human–machine interfaces and the role of vehicle kinematics in shaping behaviour. A systematic review has identified her as one of the world’s most influential and highly cited researchers in pedestrian–AV interaction.

She has an extensive publication record, with 49 peer‑reviewed journal articles, over 20 conference papers, and 17 project deliverables. Her work is widely cited and used by policymakers, including the Wales Centre for Public Policy, the Norwegian Institute of Transport Economics, and the OECD International Transport Forum. She has been interviewed by international organisations and has provided expert advice to government, industry, and academia on future mobility systems.

Dr Lee has successfully secured a diverse portfolio of competitive funding as Principal Investigator and Co‑Investigator from sources including the ESRC, Road Safety Trust, Active Travel England, EPSRC-DTP, and multiple EU Horizon programmes. She co‑led the User Sub‑Project of Hi‑Drive, a flagship €60m European programme involving global automotive manufacturers, where she shapes the strategic research agenda and leads work spanning over 40 collaborators.

Her leadership extends to shaping international standards for AV behaviour through her membership in ISO/TC22/SC39/WG8 and the BSI CAV Standards Coordination Group. She co-authored the ISO PAS 23720 and is leading further work to translate behavioural science into technical guidance for automated driving systems.

Dr Lee’s research vision spans three pillars: enabling safe and socially acceptable AV deployment, improving traffic safety in developing countries, and promoting inclusiveness for groups often overlooked in transport design — including children, older adults, and people with disabilities or neurodiversity. Her recent project, Autistic Children Matter, exemplifies her commitment to inclusive infrastructure and has already influenced local authority plans in Leeds.
She is also a dedicated educator and mentor, contributing to master’s and undergraduate teaching, supervising PhD students, and supporting visiting researchers. She serves on the Editorial Board of Transportation Research Part F and is an invited speaker at major academic, industry, and public‑engagement events worldwide.

Driven by a commitment to safe, equitable, and human‑centred transport futures, Dr Lee’s work continues to shape the development, governance, and real‑world implementation of intelligent and automated mobility systems across the UK and internationally.