Gard Nelson

Gard is a computational chemist whose research interests center on free energy calculations of critical molecular processes. His previous role as a principal scientist at ImmunityBio primarily involved calculating binding free energies between drug candidates and cancer or infectious disease targets. These candidates ranged from small molecules to modified protein-protein interfaces. Free energy calculations provide the basis for optimizing the drug-protein interaction, whether it is a small molecule or biologic drug candidate. He also used molecular dynamics simulations to map protein conformational changes in the presence or absence of mutations. Gard did his undergraduate studies at Brigham Young University. He completed his doctorate at the University of Chicago where he studied the interactions and free energies governing proton transport inside cytochrome c oxidase. In his free time, Gard enjoys taking his wife and kids on adventures in the mountains or ocean.