Robert Nicol

Robert Nicol is the director of Sequencing Operations and Technology Development for the Genome Sequencing Platform at the Broad Institute. He is responsible for managing all sequencing operations and technology development.

Rob was previously a project manager for Fluor Corporation, the largest U.S.-based, publicly traded engineering and construction firm. He was responsible for the design, engineering, logistics, construction, and start-up of large-scale overseas projects for major petrochemical companies. In 1999, Rob moved to MIT, where he was a fellow in the Leaders for Manufacturing Program, performing research on manufacturing systems and processes at Raytheon Missile Systems and Boeing.

Upon completing his fellowship at MIT in 2001, Rob moved to the Whitehead Institute/MIT Center for Genome Research, now part of the Broad Institute, as the director of sequencing operations. In this role, he is responsible for implementing industrial process design, control, and improvement techniques to biological research. At the Broad Institute, Rob manages both production and technology development in the Genome Sequencing Platform, applying industrial process improvement and innovation techniques to high-throughput DNA sequencing.

Robert received his M.B.A. and M.S. in chemical engineering from MIT, and a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Houston. He earned his Ph.D. from the MIT Engineering Systems Division.