Scott Geller is a molecular neuroscientist with a deep academic background, firsthand entrepreneurial experience, and a do-it-yourself approach to wet-lab bench science. Scott earned his undergraduate degree in Behavioral and Developmental Neurobiology, and a PhD in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, both from UC Santa Barbara.

 

During graduate school he studied gliosis in the mammalian retina following experimental retinal detachment. Scott completed two post-doctoral fellowships, first at the University of Sydney (Australia) and then at UC Berkeley, where he gained a deeper knowledge of genomics, gene therapy, and gene regulation.

 

Dr. Geller left the academic “track” and moved to Kiev, Ukraine in 2007, where he landed a position as the Chief Project Scientist (on the ground) leading a scientific team of six for large Defense Threat Reduction Agency contract (US DOD). The project involved the design and construction of BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratories specifically outfitted for the rapid identification, safe handling, and proper storage of especially dangerous pathogens. The science team was responsible for all in-country scientific expertise regarding laboratory design and construction, equipment and reagent procurement, and training of personnel in biosafety and molecular diagnostic assays for both human and animal pathogens.

 

Also, while living abroad, Dr. Geller earned a Master’s degree in Biotechnology Management (specialized MBA) from IE Business School. This business experience, combined with the formal business education from IE, laid the foundation for Scott’s future entrepreneurial endeavors. In 2012 Dr. Geller returned to the U.S. and created his own BSL-2 laboratory in West Berkeley, CA (Bay Genomics, LLC). Scott continues to leverage his unique skill set and private laboratory to support diverse biotechnology-related projects and companies, including Pinpoint Science.

 

Scott is an inventor on published patents, has published over 20 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and continues to broaden his knowledge at every available opportunity.