PALO ALTO, Calif.--Molecular Applications Group (MAG), the bioinformatics software company here, has appointed new vice-presidents. Christopher Lee, one of the company's founders, has been named vice-president of research. Michael Olson, an expert in object-relational databases, will serve as vice-president of engineering.
Lee, a Harvard graduate with a PhD from Stanford, is the inventor of MAG's flagship Look software system. Since the company's founding in 1993, he has led R&D activities while also conducting research in the Department of Chemistry at Stanford. With the new appointment, he will join the company full-time.
Olson has over 10 years of experience in commercial software design and database development with Illustra Information Technologies and Informix Software. An architect of object-relational databases, he has degrees in computer science from the University of California, Berkeley. "This is a unique opportunity to work at the cutting edge of the emerging field of bioinformatics, where advances in the biological and computer sciences converge in a way that directly impacts human health," Olson commented.
Commenting on the appointments, MAG CEO Myra Williams noted, "Dr. Lee has an unparalleled breadth of understanding of genomics data, algorithms, and most importantly, the biology. These talents are further augmented by his broad vision for the integration of scientific tools and data, the automation of analyses, and the communication of results among scientists."
"Mr. Olson is an ideal complement to Dr. Lee," she continued, "bringing a strong background in both academic computer science and in commercial software development. His abilities in object-oriented programming, object-relational database technology, and software engineering management will keep Molecular Applications Group at the technical and scientific forefront in bioinformatics."