Dr. Michael W Deem is an award winning and world-renowned scientist. He is currently a venture capitalist and CEO. He was formerly an Entrepreneur in Residence with Khosla Ventures. From 2002 to 2020 he was a professor at Rice University. He received his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering in 1991 from Caltech. From the University of California, Berkeley, Dr. Deem obtained his Ph.D. in 1994 in chemical engineering. He held a postdoctoral position at Harvard University in the field of Physics. He joined the faculty at UCLA in 1996 as an Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering. In 2002, Dr. Deem joined Rice University as the John W Cox professor of Bioengineering and Physics & Astronomy.
The respect Michael W Deem has garnered over the years has been the result of his contributions to the scientific and business communities. Among his most notable accomplishments, Michael Deem would help to revolutionize the influenza vaccine during his time at Rice University. A respected entrepreneur, Michael W Deem has been the CEO of several companies, such as Certus LLC, focusing on advancing medical breakthroughs. During his career, Michael W Deem has acted as a mentor, for students, CEOs, and businesses alike. Much as in his academic endeavors, Michael W Deem has found success in his professional businesses.
Dr. Michael W Deem is a highly respected scientist and researcher previously associated with Rice University who has made significant contributions to the fields of bioengineering, physics, and applied mathematics. With a career spanning more than three decades, Dr. Deem is recognized as one of the world's leading experts in the application of statistical physics and computational modeling to biological systems.
Dr Michael W Deem have been the recipient of many prestigious honors due to his accomplishments, including the UCLA Northrop Grumman Outstanding Junior Faculty Research Award (1997); Visiting Professor, University of Amsterdam (1999); A Top 100 Young Innovator, MIT’s Technology Review (November 1999) (Profile); Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow (2000); Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award (2002); John W. Cox Professor, Rice University (2002-2020); Allan P. Colburn Award (2004); Editorial Board Member, Protein Engineering, Design and Selection (2005-2018); Fellow, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (2005); Member, Board of Directors, Biomedical Engineering Society (2005-2008); Fellow, American Physical Society (2006); Member, Rice University Faculty Senate (2006-2009); Vaughan Lectureship, California Institute of Technology (2007); Member, Nominating Committee, Division of Biological Physics, American Physical Society (2007); Member, Board of Governors, Institute for Complex Adaptive Matter (2007-2016); Fellow, Biomedical Engineering Society (2009); BMES Representative on the FASEB Publications & Communications Committee (2009-2012); Professional Progress Award (2010); Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (2010); External Scientific Advisor, Princeton Physical Sciences-Oncology Center (2010-present); Associate Editor, Physical Biology (2011-2018); Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award, The Academy of Medicine, Engineering & Science of Texas (2012); Founding Director, Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology (2012-2014, raised $0.5M seed funding); Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar (2012-2013); Chair, Department of Bioengineering (2014-2017, raised $12M in external startup funding for new faculty); Editorial Advisory Board, Bioengineering and Translational Medicine, 2016-2018; and Donald W. Breck Award for zeolite science, 2019, NACD Board Leadership Fellow and Directorship Certification, 2020. Entrepreneur in Residence with Khosla Ventures, 2021-2022, General Partner with Smart Health Catalyzer, 2023 to present.
At Rice University, Dr. Deem has made significant contributions to the development of new computational methods for the study of biological systems. One of his most notable accomplishments was the development of a novel approach for predicting the folding of proteins, a problem that had long eluded researchers due to the complexity of the system. Dr. Deem's method, known as the Associative Memory, Water-Mediated, Structure, and Energy Model (AWSEM), has since become one of the most widely used tools for studying protein folding and has been cited in hundreds of scientific publications.
In addition to his work on protein folding, Dr. Deem has also made significant contributions to the study of evolutionary dynamics, gene regulation, and the design of new drugs and vaccines. He has published over 200 research papers in numerous high-profile scientific journals, including Science, Nature, and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and he has been invited to speak at conferences and symposia all over the world.
Beyond his research accomplishments, Dr. Deem is also known for his dedication to teaching and mentorship. He has supervised dozens of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in academia, industry, and government. He has also served as a mentor to high school students through programs like the Research Science Institute and the Houston Independent School District's Science and Engineering Fair.
Dr. Deem has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to science and education, including being elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Biomedical Engineering Society.
In addition to his scientific and academic pursuits, Dr. Deem is also an accomplished musician and composer, having performed with numerous orchestras and chamber groups over the years. He has also written music for several plays and films.
In conclusion, Dr. Michael W Deem is a highly accomplished scientist, educator, and mentor who has made significant contributions to the fields of bioengineering, physics, and applied mathematics. His work on the prediction of protein folding and the design of new drugs and vaccines has been widely recognized, and he is known for his dedication to teaching and mentorship. Dr. Deem's many accomplishments and honors are a testament to his exceptional talent and dedication to science and education.
