Robert Nicol, PhD

Venture Partner

Robert Nicol is a Venture Partner at Raven. Robert’s primary responsibility is to focus on new company creation. Prior to Raven, Robert spent 21 years at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, most recently as the Senior Director of Technology Development and a Principal Investigator. Robert’s laboratory at the Broad focused on advanced high throughput biotechnology tools including DNA synthesis, single cell analysis, synthetic biology derived biomolecule libraries, and microbiome profiling. Robert has led multiple DARPA, IARPA, and NIH advanced technology development programs. Robert is also the co-founder of multiple biotechnology companies including HiFiBiO and Design Pharmaceuticals. Robert served on the Scientific Advisory Boards of multiple companies including DNA Script, Danaher Life Sciences, and CircBio. Robert also led the Sequencing Operations and Technology Development groups at the Broad for over 12 years, implementing industrial process control methods, developing multiple generations of high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies, and establishing an agile learning culture in the organization. Prior to his career at the Broad Institute, Robert was an MIT Leaders for Manufacturing Fellow, and a project manager for Fluor Corporation, where he managed large-scale petrochemical design and construction projects. Robert holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Houston as well as a MS in Chemical Engineering, a MBA, and a PhD in Engineering Systems all three from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.