The Biological Sciences Dean’s Leadership Council

The Dean’s Leadership Council is the Division of Biological Sciences preeminent volunteer group that plays a key role in advancing Biological Sciences by providing key leadership and sage counsel, and by helping the Division acquire the resources essential to our growth and progress in the 21st century global economy.

Richard Atkinson is president emeritus of the University of California and professor emeritus of cognitive science and psychology at the University of California, San Diego. He served as president of the UC system from 1995 to 2003. Before becoming president he served for fifteen years as chancellor of UC San Diego. He is a former director of the National Science Foundation and was a long-term member of the faculty at Stanford University.
Bob Balderas, UCSD Parent, VP of Research & Development, BD Biosciences, is responsible for developing and driving R&D programs for BD Biosciences. As a corporate scientist, site manager, collaboration builder and marketer in the field of biotechnology, he has contributed to the growth of BD Biosciences and Pharmingen. He has more than three decades in leadership positions in both academia and the biotechnology industry. Mr. Balderas holds a MBA from the University of San Diego and received his BS degree in Microbiology from San Diego State University.
Julia R. Brown, UCSD Parent, served as an EVP of Amylin from January 2000 to July 2003. Ms. Brown served as an Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer of Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc., from July 2003 to September 2008. She has been a Strategic Consultant to the life sciences industry since 2003. She has more than 30 years of diverse life-science industry experience in areas such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, drug delivery, and medical devices and diagnostics. Ms. Brown worked for 25 years with Eli Lilly & Company. She is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University where she studied Microbiology and Biochemistry.
Abbie Celniker, '80 and UCSD Parent, CEO, Eleven Biotherapeutics has been building biologics-focused businesses for more than two decades. Prior to joining Eleven Bio Dr. Celniker was at the helm of biotech startup Taligen, and previous to this she was Global Head of Biologics at Novartis where she built and managed the infrastructure and strategy for the late-stage discovery and development of novel protein therapeutics. Previously, she held senior research and development position leadership roles with successful startups: Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Wyeth BioPharma (Genetics Institute) and Genentech. She earned her PhD in molecular biology from the University of Arizona and her BS in biology from UCSD.
William Comer, co-founder/Chairman of Neurogenetics (re-named Torrey Pines Therapeutics in 2005), serving as interim CEO until April, 2002 and Chairman until 2005; he remains a member of the board of directors of Torrey Pines Therapeutics. Prior, he CEO of SIBIA Neurosciences, which was acquired by Merck in 1999. From 1961-1991 he was employed by Mead Johnson & Co. which was acquired by Bristol-Myers; he was responsible for discovery and worldwide clinical development of pharmaceutical agents and was President of Pharmaceutical Research and Licensing until the merger in 1989. He received his BA in Chemistry from Carlton College in 1957 (Alumni Achievement Award 1997) and a PhD in Organic Chemistry and Pharmacology from the University of Iowa in 1961.
Gary Curtis '69, CEO, URSA Technologies, is a serial biomedical entrepreneur who has launched, built and managed and/or sold 8 companies over the span of decades, including Concentric Medical, a global leader in ischemic stroke therapies and Radio Therapeutics Corporation, which was sold to Boston Scientific in 2002. Prior, he built ValleyLab and Advanced Cardiovascular Systems each into multi hundred million dollar businesses. In 1992, he established one the first alumni endowed scholarships at UCSD in memory of his father, Thomas Curtis. Revelle College, '69. 2009 Distinguished Service Award, UCSD Alumni Association.
Tyler Dylan' 89 PhD , EVP & General Counsel, Cardium Therapeutics, has focused on the development of biologics and devices for cardiovascular and ischemic diseases for more almost two decades. He served as General Counsel and VP of Collateral Therapeutics and has advised both privately-held and publicly-traded companies that are developing, partnering or commercializing technology-based products. Before joining Collateral, he was a partner at Morrison & Foerster. Dylan received his PhD in Biology from UCSD, his JD from UC Berkeley and BS in Molecular Biology from McGill University.
Erik Engelson, '82 & '84, is Partner at Foundry, LLC, a premier medical device company incubator. Since its inception in 1998, the Foundry has founded/financed over a dozen medical device companies which have generated in excess of $1B. Engelson is the former CFO of Fluidigm Corporation and CEO at Cierra, Inc. He holds patents on more than 45 medical devices, several which have helped define the practice of non invasive brain surgery and non interventional neuro-radiology. Muir College '82, microbiology, M.S. '84, engineering science. Jacobs School Alum of the Year 1999.
Dave Goeddel '72, is Managing Partner at The Column Group, a leading venture capital firm dedicated to creating the next generation of biotechnology companies. Goeddel co-founded Tularik in November 1991, served both as VP of R&D then CEO, when Tularik was acquired by Amgen. He served as Amgen's first Senior Scientific VP. Prior, he was the first scientist hired by Genentech from 1978 to 1993 served in various positions, including Fellow, Staff Scientist and Director of Molecular Biology. His pioneering work in the fields of gene cloning and expression of human proteins has been the basis for five significant marketed therapeutics including human insulin, human growth hormone, interferon-alpha, interferon-gamma and tissue plasminogen activator. Revelle College '72, biochemistry Outstanding Alumnus 1996.
Kirk Haney, is CEO at SG Biofuels, a sustainable plant oil company with operations in San Diego and Latin America. SG Biofuels specializes in the development of Jatropha as a low -cost, sustainably produced oil that can be used for a variety of bio-based materials including biodiesel and feedstock substitutes for the petrochemical and jet fuel industries. Kirk has held senior and executive management positions for 3Com Corporation, ArrowPoint Communications (acquired by Cisco Systems), Cisco Systems and Green Millennium, Ltd. Kirk holds an MBA from Pepperdine University and is fluent in Spanish and German.
Don Jones, '81 VP, Business Development, QUALCOMM. In this role, he is responsible for leading QUALCOMM's efforts to incorporate wireless technologies into the healthcare and medical devices markets. Prior to joining QUALCOMM, Jones spent 22 years developing and growing healthcare enterprises. He served as chief operating officer of MedTrans, which is now American Medical Response, the world's largest emergency medical services provider. Jones also served as founder and chairman of EMME, Mexico's largest subscriber based health service, and senior vice president of marketing for HealthCap, at the time, the second largest provider of women's healthcare in the United States. Jones holds degrees in biology and bio-engineering from UCSD and an MBA from UC Irvine.
Mark L. Lewis, '75, is SVP, Product Development at Illumina, a leading supplier of tools for genetic analysis including systems for genotyping and sequencing. Mark has been involved with the development and marketing of tools for life sciences research for over three decades. Prior to joining Illumina in 2008, Mark held several general management and business development positions at BD Biosciences, managing molecular biology, high content imaging, and custom flow cytometer businesses. Prior to joining BD Biosciences, Mark held senior management positions in product development, marketing and sales at Molecular Dynamics, later acquired by Nycomed Amersham. Previously, Mark held positions in development and marketing at Beckman Instruments. Mark earned a BA in biology from UCSD.
Magda Marquet, Co-founder, Althea Technologies and served as its Co-CEO until 2008. Dr. Marquet has over 20 years of experience in the biotechnology industry in the U.S. and Europe. She served as an Executive Director of Pharmaceutical Development at Vical Incorporated, where she established herself as a leader in the production of clinical grade DNA for use in gene therapy and DNA vaccines. Dr. Marquet held senior level positions at Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Protein Polymer Technologies, Syntro Corporation and Transgene. She serves as Co-Chairperson of the Board at Althea Technologies and Director of AltheaDx, Inc. She serves as a Director of BIOCOM, Inc. Dr. Marquet received numerous awards, including the 2005 UCSD Athena Pinnacle award. Dr. Marquet holds a Ph.D in Biochemical Engineering from the University of Toulouse/INSA.
Brian Pollok, Life Technologies' Chief Scientific Officer and Head of Global Research and Development. He oversees the allocation of more than $350 million in R&D funds annually, which has yielded innovative new products in the areas of DNA sequencing, cell analysis, and molecular biology. Dr. Pollok has been with Invitrogen since 2003, previously serving as CSO and Head of Global R&D. Prior, Pollok served as VP of Discovery Biology at Aurora Biosciences/Vertex Pharmaceuticals in San Diego (1997-2002), as a Senior Research Investigator at Pfizer (1993-97), and as an Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Wake Forest University (1987-93). Dr. Pollok received his B.A. in biology and chemistry from the University of Virginia, and his Ph.D. from the University of Alabama in Birmingham.
Dan Rosen, '79 PhD, President, Rosen & Associates, an early-stage technology investment and consulting firm. In 2000, Dan was founding Managing Partner of Frazier Technology Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund in Seattle, where he stayed until 2006. FTV specialized in category-defining technology companies in communications and software. From August 1997 through May 2000, he was GM of New Technology at Microsoft; in that role, Rosen was also responsible for technology transfer into Microsoft's product groups. Prior, Rosen was at AT&T for 15 years, where he served as VP of Consumer Interactive Services, where he designed and implemented AT&T's first consumer-oriented Internet service offering, and Managing Director for Northern & Eastern Europe.
Nimesh (Nim) Shah. Principal, Domain Associates, serves as a co-founder and on the board of Zyga Technology, on the boards of Apnex Medical, Benvenue Medical, Foundry Newco XII, Miramar Labs, and Sequent Medical, and as an observer at NeuroPace, ReVision Optics and Tandem Diabetes Care. He also previously served as an observer with REVA Medical and Zogenix, both of which completed successful public offerings. Prior to joining Domain, Shah was at Cutlass Capital and Alex. Brown & Sons (now Deutsche Bank), where he covered the full spectrum of the medical device industry. Shah received his B.S.E. from Johns Hopkins University and also spent time at Johns Hopkins Hospital on a project that aimed to map the functional areas of the brain.
Jay Short, Founder & CEO of BioAtla and a General Partner at Biotech Investment Group. He is the Founder and former CEO/President/CTO of Diversa Corp. where he achieved the largest biotech IPO at that time of over $200M. Short also served as President of Stratacyte, and VP of R&D for Stratagene Cloning Systems (now Agilent). Short's board experience includes Invitrogen (now Life Technologies), Senomyx, Femta Pharmaceuticals, BioDuro, Taxon Biosciences and Ciris Energy. He is a member of YPO/WPO and founder of both Capia IP and the EO Wilson Biodiversity Foundation. Short serves as an advisor to City National Bank, Genalyte, San Diego Science Festival, SG Biofuels and Rho Ventures. He received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from CWRU. Spouse is Carolyn Anderson, '87
Mel Simon, Founder, Agouron Pharmaceuticals and serves as a Director of Agouron Institute. He has been a Professor in the Division of Biology at the California Institute of Technology since 1982, where he is the Anne P. and Benjamin F. Biaggini Professor of Biological Sciences. From 1965 to 1982, Simon was a member of the faculty in the Department at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Simon served as a Director of Diversa Corp. since May 1994 until March 12, 2008 and as a Director of Verenium Corporation from May 1994 to March 12, 2008. He received a B.S. from the City College of New York and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Brandeis University.
Cynthia (C.J.) Warner, President, Sapphire Energy. She brings more than 27 years of experience in the energy, refining and transportation industries. At Sapphire Energy, Ms. Warner is tasked with driving the company's initiative to transition technology trials and research into commercial-scale crude oil operations. A chemical engineer by training and one of the very few senior women in the oil and gas industry, Ms. Warner served as an executive with energy industry giants British Petroleum, Amoco Oil Company and UOP. Ms. Warner led the groundbreaking cooperative effort with the US EPA to shape a framework for Clean Air improvements which was eventually signed on by the entire US Refining industry. Ms. Warner has a BS degree in Chemical Engineering from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from Illinois Institute of Technology.
John Wehrli, Partner at Latham Watkins LLP. Mr. Wherli joined the San Diego office in 2008 from the firm's Silicon Valley office where he has practiced since 2003. Wehrli's practice focuses exclusively on the representation of life science companies in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device industries. Prior to joining Latham, Mr. Wehrli was Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary for Pharsight Corporation from 2001-2003, a publicly held clinical development biotechnology company. Wehrli also held numerous positions as a research chemist and in scientific computing management at a major multinational pharmaceutical company, Syntex Corporation. Although Mr. Wehrli spent much of his scientific career as a classical bench chemist, his scientific specialty is in the development of software and use of computational and mathematical tools in the field of physical organic chemistr. Mr. Wehrli holds a graduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley.