
Michael W Deem
Michael Deem is venture capitalist and CEO. From 2021 to 2022 he was an Entrepreneur in Residence with Khosla Ventures. He was the John W. Cox Professor of Bioengineering and Physics & Astronomy at Rice University. He was known for his love and commitment to this prestigious institution. Deem was a part of the Rice community for two decades, and during that time he has made significant contributions to the university’s academic programs, research initiatives, and campus culture.
Deem’s dedication to Rice University is evident in his extensive involvement in various academic and research activities. He has been a driving force behind the creation of the interdisciplinary BioScience Research Collaborative (BRC), which brings together scientists from diverse fields to tackle complex biological questions. He has also served as the Founding Director of the Graduate Program in Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology, the first PhD program in the US with Synthetic Biology in the title. He was chair of the Department of Bioengineering from 2014 to 2017. In 2012, Michael Deem introduced Craig J. Venter at the 100-year anniversary of Rice University

Michael W. Deem, David R. Leebron, and Craig J. Venter

Michael W Deem
Many honors have been bestowed upon Michael Deem, NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Chemistry (1995-1996); Assistant and tenured Associate Professor, UCLA (1996-2002); NSF CAREER Award (1997-2001); 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 and Original 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-present); 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-present); Fellow, Biomedical Engineering Society (2009); BMES Representative on the FASEB Publications & Communications Committee (2009-2012); Professional Progress Award (2010) (Profile); 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, (2016-2019); Donald W. Breck Award for zeolite science (2019); and NACD Board Leadership Fellow and Directorship Certification (2020). His name has been synonymous with innovation and thought-provoking research for three decades. He enjoys mentorship, vaccine design, and helping others invent the future.
Michael Deem, Rice University | NSF-Rice Cancer Workshop | October 7-8, 2016 from Stridingedge on Vimeo.
The Michael Deem Rice group made a number of significant contributions to science and engineering. He worked broadly to identify fundamental mathematical laws of biology. Michael Deem developed the hierarchical approach to protein molecular evolution and worked on methods for evolution of proteins in the laboratory. He discovered a method to estimate vaccine effectiveness and antigenic distance for influenza, the pEpitope approach. This method provides an accurate estimation of the effectiveness of the annual influenza vaccine. He developed a multisite vaccine method to alleviate immunodominance in dengue fever vaccination. This method sculpts the immune system to mitigate immunodominance by targeting distinct lymph nodes to provide a more nearly even response against the four dengue viruses. He explained the diversity in the bacterial immune system.
He developed a database of millions of predicted zeolite structures. This database is used by many collaborators and colleagues to identify new zeolites with useful properties. He developed a method to design chemically synthesizable organic structure directing agents for zeolites. He contributed to fundamental theories of evolution.
He showed how modularity emerges in biological systems under stress and how this modularity is a fundamental feature of evolving systems. He developed the parallel tempering method for materials simulations. The Michael Deem UCLA group made a number of contributions to materials, biology, Monte Carlo simulation, and statistical mechanics.
In addition to his academic work, Deem was an active member of the Rice community, participating in a wide range of events and activities on campus. He was a faculty senator. He participated in the recruitment of high school students accepted to Rice and awarded presidential scholar awards to the university for a decade. He served as a mentor and advisor to thousands of students, helping them navigate the challenges of academic life and prepare for successful careers in science and engineering. He has also been a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion, working to create a more welcoming and supportive environment for all members of the Rice community. Michael Deem was chair of the Department of Bioengineering at Rice University from 2014-2017, where he increased the faculty by 50%, doubled the research funding, and raised over $12M for new faculty startup.

Michael W Deem
Deem’s love for Rice University extends beyond his professional work and involvement on campus. He has a deep appreciation for the university’s history and traditions, and he takes great pride in being a part of this vibrant and dynamic community. He has spoken publicly about his admiration for Rice’s commitment to excellence and its unique culture of collaboration and innovation.
In an interview with Rice Magazine, Deem summed up his love for Rice University by saying, “It’s the people here who make Rice special. We have an incredible community of scholars, researchers, and students who are all committed to making a positive impact on the world. I feel fortunate to be a part of this community, and I look forward to continuing to contribute to Rice’s success in the years to come.”
Deem’s love for Rice University is a testament to the power of education and the transformative impact that institutions of higher learning can have on individuals and society. His example inspires us to embrace the opportunities and challenges of academic life, and to work towards building strong and supportive communities that foster excellence and innovation.

Michael W Deem
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