Image
Carmichael is a founding partner of Material Impact, a fund that builds valuable companies that solve real-world problems using innovative materials technology. In addition to Material Impact, Dr. Roberts is also a senior member of Breakthrough Energy, a mission-oriented group chaired by Bill Gates committed to creating and building companies that address climate change and the long-term sustainability of the planet. Carmichael started his career in venture as a general partner at North Bridge Venture Partners, where he financed and built several successful companies that create innovative products by applying material science, including Arsenal Medical, Lyra Therapeutics and Foro Energy.
Prior to his career in venture, Dr. Roberts co-founded several companies where he served in an executive and/or chairman capacity for each of his companies. Before starting his career as an entrepreneur, he worked in business development at GelTex Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Genzyme) and at Sentry Products, a life science venture wholly owned by Union Carbide Corporation (acquired by Dow Chemical).
Dr. Roberts received his B.S. and Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Duke University and was a National Science Foundation Fellow at Harvard University's Departments of Chemistry and Chemical Biology. He earned his M.B.A. from the MIT Sloan School of Management. Carmichael was recently selected as the Edison Achievement Award winner for his contributions to innovative technology solutions and was ranked #1 on the Boston Globe’s Tech Power Players 50 list.
Dr. Roberts serves on the boards for the Consumer Technology Association, GBH and Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Roberts is a Finance Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a member of the Council of Foreign Relations.
Dr. Roberts and his wife, Sandra Park, G’93, L’96, live in Brookline, Massachusetts with their three children.
Elected to the Board of Trustees of Duke University in 2013, Dr. Roberts currently serves as vice chair and a member of the Executive Committee. In 2017, Dr. Roberts was appointed to the Duke University Health System Board of Directors. He previously served as chair of the External Engagement Committee and on the Audit & Compliance Committee.
Dr. Roberts served on the Board of Directors of the Duke Alumni Association from 2007-2013, and on its Executive Committee from 2008-2013.
July 2024