Smart guy comedy continues to be en vogue. Comedians like Tucker Max and Ken Jeong are known for having law and medical degrees, but use comedy to express themselves outside of the rigors of academia.

Tim Lee, who brings his show to the Hermosa Beach Community Theatre on Thursday night, is no different.

After graduating magna cum laude from UC San Diego, with honors in biology, the Southern California native completed a doctorate degree at UC Davis, spending years developing simulation and analytical models of population dynamics.

Then he became a comedian.

“I read a Chinese proverb that really touched me,” Lee said. “'If we do not change our direction, we are likely to end up where we are headed.' I didn't like where I was headed.”

Normally a parent might be disappointed if their child ditched years of schooling to pursue a career in comedy, Lee said, but this wasn’t the case for him.

“Surprisingly my family has been really cool about it,” he told Patch. “If my PhD son told me that he was going to be a comedian I would send him in for electroshock therapy. My parents were really supportive. My girlfriend dumped me immediately but that's how I got my dog Lulu, so I guess it worked out.”

Lee started practicing standup along with his studies, and even used the classroom for training. His influences range from Monty Python to Bill Cosby to Steve Martin.

“I used to add gag slides to my talks in graduate school,” Lee said. “That's really where my first jokes in front of an audience were performed. I learned then that humor can make learning more fun. I also learned that not everyone has a sense of humor.”

After graduating, Lee became an underground sensation, garnering more than three million views on some of his YouTube videos. He then took his show on tour, selling out gigs across the country.

Audiences were hungry for comedy with both intelligence and wit, he said. Lee's performances use science to explain the funny nuances of life—from the hair that collects on a bar of soap to how his personal standards with women drop rapidly with abstinence.

“I am considering writing a parody of college science text,” Lee said. “Since my act is a parody of a college science seminar it seems like a natural fit.”

When asked if he thinks he made the right career decision, Lee recalled one of his favorite onstage memories.

“Steve Wozniak [Apple co-founder] came to my show in San Francisco,” Lee said gleefully. “It was a totally awesome experience to see him laughing in the audience. He's one of those people that's changed the world for the better, and it was a thrill to meet him. That's a real highlight of my comedy life.”