Meet Our People

SRI's innovative thinking depends directly on the people who work here. Meet members of our team in Computing and Engineering, Chemistry, Physics and Materials, Drug Discovery, Drug Development and Health, Economics and Education, Environment and Energy, Business Development, and Administration and Corporate Activities, and learn why they joined SRI—you may discover that you would like to join the team, too. Visit Careers @ SRI for descriptions of current openings.

Nathan Collins, Executive Director, Drug Discovery, Biosciences Division

Focus @ SRI:
Management of Drug Discovery and Business Development within the Biosciences Division at SRI in Menlo Park

Day in the Life @ SRI:
I am responsible for managing small molecule drug discovery in SRI's major therapeutic areas, which include oncology, neuroscience, and infectious diseases. I also manage the intellectual property portfolio in drug discovery and technology licensing to commercial partners. On a daily basis I help keep internal research programs on track, identify new government and commercial funding opportunities, and justify internal funding for new and ongoing programs. Much of my time is spent with the Business Development team, working with new and existing commercial clients to promote the many ways SRI can add value.

Before SRI:
I spent eleven years in a number of drug discovery and technology companies. My most recent positions were with San Diego-based Discovery Partners International (DPI), a drug discovery products and services company, where I was Divisional Vice President and General Manager of the company's South San Francisco site, and Corporate Vice President of New Product Development.

Academics:
B.Sc. (Honours), Chemistry with Mathematics, University of Southampton, England
Ph.D., Chemistry, University of Southampton, England
Postdoctoral studies: University of Arizona, Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Why SRI?
SRI offers a combination of academic research and entrepreneurial spirit that is unique in the life sciences. At a time when the pharmaceutical industry is in flux, SRI allows the ability to mix basic research like a university with commercial drug discovery like a biotech. This interface between academia and commercialization is both managerially challenging and intellectually rewarding at the same time.

Inspiration and Motivation:
My primary inspiration is the satisfaction of building effective teams of diverse professionals who develop and implement new technologies that have impact. The multitude of novel ideas and inventions combined with the world-leading abilities of the scientists at SRI provides countless opportunities to 'change the world'. SRI has a rich history in drug discovery and will continue to discover and develop many of the drugs of the future that will save lives and improve quality of life for people around the globe.

Away from the Office:
Hobbies include landscape gardening and following European rugby. With increasing age, playing rugby has been replaced with an alternative full contact sport with attitude: Argentine tango.

Languages:
English and some French

Proudest Professional Accomplishment:
Most of my early career involved research into disease mechanism and discovery of new therapeutic agents. However, my proudest achievement was leading the team that developed a process for purification of large numbers of drug-like compounds in a short period of time (1000s per day) to support drug screening for the pharmaceutical industry. On the surface, this seemed like a small advance in the 'state of the art' and received much opposition in its adoption, yet within one year of its implementation the improved quality this process afforded was responsible for generating over a hundred million dollars in new business. This rescued the company I was working for from a rather bleak financial future, and earned an award for scientific achievement for myself and the development team.

Words of Wisdom for New SRI Team Members:
To the new employee, the history of innovative science and technology at SRI can be at the same time breathtaking and bewildering. Take time to immerse yourself in the enthusiasm and inventiveness of the people and teams at SRI and you will find your niche. There are so many ways to contribute: it just takes a positive attitude and imagination.