Jae Yong Suk is the Director of the California Lighting Technology Center (CLTC), a Professor in the Department of Design at UC Davis, and Arthur H. Rosenfeld Endowed Chair in Energy Efficiency. During his tenure, he has guided the center from a lighting-focused research facility into a multidisciplinary hub advancing smart building technologies, human-centered lighting, electrification, and next-generation energy solutions. In the classroom, he teaches Lighting Technology & Design (DES 136A), Design with Light (DES 136B), and Daylighting Design Studio (DES 137B), integrating research, emerging technologies, and hands-on experimentation into student learning. He holds a Ph.D. in Architecture and a Master of Building Science from the University of Southern California, and a Bachelor of Engineering in Architecture from Ajou University in South Korea. Working closely with the California Energy Commission, utilities, industry partners, and international research institutes, Suk leads initiatives that accelerate innovation, inform energy policy, and advance California’s decarbonization and resilience goals.

Suk’s research integrates lighting, daylighting, human factors, and emerging building energy technologies to promote well being. In the last few years, he expanded CLTC’s portfolio to include smart home energy systems, residential smart panels, electric vehicle charging technologies, integrated building control systems, circadian and stress-mitigating lighting, and grid-interactive exterior lighting environments. As Principal Investigator, Suk secured major grants from the California Energy Commission, CalNEXT, Panasonic, Toyota Boshoku America, Seoul Semiconductor, UC Davis Health, and the California Workforce Development Board. These projects advance energy-efficient technologies, improve occupant well-being, and support the transition toward flexible, grid-responsive buildings.

Suk contributes to leading journals such as Building and Environment, Energy and Buildings, Journal of Building Engineering, The Design Journal, and Advances in Building Energy Research. His research—which spans glare, visual comfort, daylighting performance, lighting for health, and the emotional and physiological impacts of light—has earned him Best Paper awards from the Architectural Research Centers Consortium (ARCC) and the Passive and Low Energy Architecture (PLEA) conference. Beyond his academic output, Suk provides technical expertise for state-level codes and standards, including Title 24 lighting updates, circadian design guidance, and recommendations for biologically appropriate exterior lighting. He also serves on national and international committees such as ISO technical groups, the Illuminating Engineering Society, the DesignLights Consortium, and CalNEXT working groups, while leading various global research collaborations.

Previously, he was a decorated lighting designer whose work earned top honors from the IALD, IES, PLDC, and AIA. His notable projects include the United States Courthouse in Los Angeles, the LAX Tom Bradley International Terminal, and Playa Vista Central Park, along with numerous award-winning daylighting projects in Washington, D.C.