Andrew Williamson, PhD

Prior to joining Physic Ventures, Dr. Williamson spent 10 years leading materials science research and development projects at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). He has developed materials for a broad range of applications, including chemical and biological sensing, thermoelectric cooling, photovoltaic power generation, and hydrogen storage. Dr. Williamson has published over fifty scientific articles, three book chapters, and two patents in the field of nanostructured materials.

In recent years, Dr. Williamson also played a leading role in developing LLNL's strategy for identifying and investing in new technologies and commercializing those technologies. He was a member of the Laboratory Directed Research and Development committee, which funded $95 million of strategic research and development projects in 2007. Dr. Williamson was responsible for evaluating investments in new materials technologies at the interface of nanotechnology, biotechnology, and information technology. He also worked with the Industrial Partnering and Commercialization office to identify LLNL technologies suitable for spinning out or licensing. He recently produced business plans and development plans for the commercialization of LLNL technologies ranging from medical devices, to bio-sensors, and water filters.

In 2006 and 2007, Dr. Williamson was also an Executive Management Fellow in the University of California Industry-University Cooperative Research Program (IUCRP). In this role, he worked with IUCRP fellows from each of the University of California campuses to implement new initiatives for enhancing strategic partnerships between the University of California and regional and national industry. These initiatives included establishing industrial alliance programs for new University of California research centers in nanotechnology, micro-fluidics, foods for health, and stem cell research. The program also developed initiatives for supporting the creation of new companies based on University of California technology through the use of University of California Discovery matching grants, new University of California Connect programs and development incubators. Dr. Williamson holds a BA and PhD in Physics from the University of Cambridge and an MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.