Carmichael Roberts
Carmichael’s graduate work focused on synthesizing complex carbohydrates that are often found on the surfaces of cells. These carbohydrates are responsible for the anchoring of several classes of proteins. These proteins are often important targets for discovering new therapeutics for a variety of diseases. The molecules that Carmichael made in graduate school are now being used by a number of biologists to figure out disease mechanisms. He graduated with a Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1995.
Carmichael, who married another Duke alum and now has a 9-month-old daughter, continued his association with institutes of higher learning through an NSF fellowship at Harvard, and earned an MBA at MIT’s Sloan School of Business. He also worked as a project manager at Union Carbide. Now he’s combining his knowledge of business and science as the co-founder and president of a Boston-based biotechnology company, Surface Logix, which makes microdevices that are used with proteins and cells to discover new drugs. He was selected in 1999 by Technology Review Magazineas one of the top 100 entrepreneurs in the United States.
“The parts of my Duke experience that are most helpful to me now are the broad training in science I received, and learning to balance fun and work, which helps me to network and keep my sanity. I think Duke was a great place for social and academic development.”