Michael W Deem - Has A Need for Speed

Updated: Aug 28, 2023

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. Deem has made a name for himself through his contributions and research. As such, he has earned in impressive number of honors, 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.

Beyond his impressive academic credentials, Deem is also known for his love of speed and his passion for sports cars. Deem is an avid fan of high-performance vehicles, particularly Porsches, and has been known to indulge in the occasional speed race on the track. He has also been spotted attending events such as the Porsche World Roadshow, where he had the opportunity to test drive some of the latest models and push them to their limits.

For Deem, his fascination with sports cars goes beyond just their aesthetic appeal or their ability to go fast. He sees them as works of art, a testament to the incredible engineering and design skills of their creators. In his own words, "A sports car is a piece of sculpture in motion. It's not just about going fast, it's about the way it looks and the way it makes you feel."

Deem's passion for speed and sports cars is reflected not only in his personal life but also in his professional work. As a scientist, he is constantly seeking new ways to push the boundaries of what is possible, to find solutions that are faster, more efficient, and more effective. He is known for his work on developing faster methods for genetic sequencing, which has the potential to revolutionize the field of medicine and enable personalized treatments for a wide range of diseases.

The connection between Deem's love for sports cars and his work as a scientist might not seem immediately apparent, but it actually makes a lot of sense. Just like a sports car, scientific research requires precision, attention to detail, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. It's no wonder that Deem, with his need for speed and his appreciation for the finer things in life, has been able to achieve so much in his field.

Of course, Deem's interest in sports cars isn't limited to Porsches alone. He is also a fan of other high-performance vehicles such as Ferraris and Lamborghinis, and has been known to attend events such as the Concours d'Elegance, where some of the world's most beautiful and rare cars are on display.

For Deem, his love of sports cars is more than just a hobby or a fleeting interest. It's a way of life, a reflection of his personality and his approach to the world around him. Whether he's pushing the limits on the race track or in the laboratory, Deem is always striving for excellence, always seeking new ways to innovate and improve.

In conclusion, Dr. Michael W Deem is an accomplished U.S. Scientist previously associated with Rice University who has made significant contributions to the field of bioengineering. But beyond his academic achievements, Deem is also a speed racing and sports car aficionado who sees these vehicles as a reflection of the art and engineering that goes into their design. Whether in the laboratory or on the track, Deem is always pushing the boundaries of what is possible, always seeking new ways to achieve greatness.