Jack Gill

Dr. Jack Gill is a Managing Director investing in telecommunications and Life Sciences at Vanguard. During his career, Jack has earned distinction and honors as a scientist, senior executive, entrepreneur, venture capitalist and philanthropist. Prior to co-founding Vanguard Ventures in 1981, Jack was Executive Vice President and Group Manager of the Scientific Divisions of Spectra Physics, the world's largest manufacturer of commercial, scientific and industrial lasers. In 1970, he founded Autolab, a pioneer in microprocessor-based instruments and computers for chromatography laboratory applications, which was later acquired by Spectra Physics. He remained as Vice President, General Manager, growing the business into a $70 million market share leader in laboratory automation computers. Prior to Spectra Physics, Jack served as Director of Research and Engineering in the Aerograph Division of Varian Associates, focused on developments in gas chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography, laboratory computerization, and advances in instrumentation. Previously, he was a Senior Research Chemist at Monsanto Company. Jack has enjoyed a life-long passion for education. He currently serves as Senior Advisor to the Director of CIMIT, the Center for Innovative Minimally Invasive Therapy, lectures at Harvard Medical School and is an adjunct professor at Rice University and Indiana University. In 1999, he and his wife Linda created The Gill Foundation, which is dedicated to education philanthropy, and that same year was awarded the Horatio Alger Award for distinguished Americans. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Engineering from Lamar University, and a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Indiana University.