Nelson has been at Geno since 2011 and currently serves as Chief Technology Officer. He leads Research Develop & Engineering at the San Diego Innovation Center from ideation through process design package delivery. From 2000 to 2011, Nelson held several roles at Verenium Corporation (formerly Diversa Corporation), becoming Sr. Vice President of R&D in 2009. During this time, he led the development and commercialization of multiple enzyme-based processes providing more sustainable approaches to animal nutrition, edible oil refining, pulp & paper production, and Gen 1 & Gen 2 ethanol. In 2010, he became Head of R&D at BP Biofuels when they acquired Verenium’s biofuels business.
Nelson holds a BA in Molecular Biology from the University of California, Berkeley and a Ph.D. from University of Miami, School of Medicine. Following his Postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University, he completed his academic training as a Howard Hughes fellow at University of California, San Diego.