Amir Nashat is a general partner in our Boston office.  Amir joined Polaris in April 2002 and focuses on investments in the life sciences.

Experience:
Prior to joining Polaris, Amir completed his PhD as a Hertz Fellow in Chemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a minor in Biology under the guidance of Dr. Robert Langer.  During his time at MIT, Amir completed an internship in the London office of Goldman, Sachs & Company.

Boards:
Amir currently represents Polaris as a Director of Athenix Corporation, aTyr Pharmaceuticals, Avila Therapeutics, Bind Biosciences, Fate Therapeutics, Living Proof, Pervasis Therapeutics, Promedior Pharmaceuticals, Selecta Biosciences, and Sun Catalytix.  Amir played an instrumental role in the inception of Living Proof, and Pervasis, serving as the founding President of both companies. Additionally, Amir has served as a Director of Adnexus Therapeutics (acquired by Bristol Myers Squibb) and Hydra Biosciences, and as an Observer of GI Dynamics and Advion. 

Amir currently serves on the Board of the New England Venture Capital Association, on the Advisory Board of the Simmons School of Management Entrepreneurship Initiative, and is part of the Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation at MIT.

Education:
Prior to obtaining his PhD at MIT, Amir earned both his MS and BS in Materials Science and Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley.