Team
Core Team

Philip Sell, MS
Co-Founder, President, and CEO

Jaejin (Joey) Lee, PhD
Co-Founder, and CSO

Eric Michel, PhD
Chief Operating Officer

Negin Forouzesh, PhD
Chief Technology Officer
Co-Founder, President, and CEO
Co-Founder, and CSO
Chief Operating Officer
Chief Technology Officer
Chief Technical Officer
Negin received her Ph.D. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in Computer Science. She has a strong background in theoretical computer science, and in the design and analysis of algorithms and data structures. She has applied physics-based/mathematical modeling, high-performance computing (HPC), and machine learning to simulate and understand biomolecular systems. As a researcher, she worked on computational methods for accurate yet fast simulation of protein-ligand complexes which have vast applications in drug discovery. To this end, she uses classical physics-based methods, such as implicit solvent modeling, molecular dynamics simulations, end-point free energy methods, and utilizing modern machine learning models such as deep generative models and convolutional neural networks to aid in hit identification and lead optimization. She has acquired her computational skills from her involvement in many technical HPC projects, including the Stanford Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine (SCGPM) to develop a database of genetic variant annotation on a cloud platform, the Advanced Research Computing (ARC) at Virginia Tech building, testing, and deploying software packages on computing clusters. With extensive experience in software development and project management, Negin is leading the advancement of Metaba's innovative computational drug discovery platform technology, implementing in silico hit screening and lead optimization methods.
President & Chief Executive Officer; Co-Founder
Philip was technically trained in microbiology and virology. He received his B.S. in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics from the University of California, Los Angeles, and M.S. in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Southern California. From research on novel bacteriophages, exploring their potential use in combination with natural antimicrobials for the development of phage therapy, he transitioned into the field of metabolomics, focusing on adaptive survival mechanisms of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). His thesis work shed light on the role of desaturase enzymes in the adaptive metabolic switch that promotes Mtb persister formation, highlighting potential novel drug targets. Recognizing the importance of context in the host environment and response to infection, his research interests expanded to encompass the underlying metabolic mechanisms of how Mtb alters the host immune response through secreted metabolites. Aimed at deeper understanding of the complex relationship between pathogen and host during infection, Philip published several peer-reviewed scientific papers, scientific reviews, and a textbook chapter. He served as a Research Lab Specialist in the Covid Core at Keck School of Medicine where the team operated as a service core, providing experimental data to research labs and companies working with severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The projects ranged from brief pilot studies to extensive, multi-month endeavors, including assessing the efficacy of therapeutic compounds, testing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, generating substantial datasets from clinical samples, and validating HVAC air purification system. In addition to service projects, Philip was responsible for validating the in vitro and in vivo COVID-19 models used by the Core, characterizing strains of SARS-CoV-2 in multiple cell types and murine strains. Philip’s research, experiences, and desire to develop novel therapies for debilitating and fatal human diseases, led him to co-found Metaba with Dr. Jaejin Lee. Metaba aims to bring innovation to the treatment strategy for TB and other infectious diseases, and provide expertise in metabolomics to help advance innovation in other indications.
Chief Operating Officer
Eric received his Ph.D. from Kyung Hee University, Korea in Biomedical Engineering. He has extensive experience in providing strategic insights for the development of new products and improvements to business processes. With his technology expertise, he played a crucial role in driving business decisions, strategic planning, and identifying avenues for growth in his previous position as the Chief Technology Officer at Oysterable Co. Ltd. He was accountable for the creation and improvement of product offerings, crafting technology strategies, continually refining the technological roadmap, and integrating innovative solutions to achieve cost-effective and efficient outcomes. His handling of recruitment, resource allocation, and the implementation of analytical tools to facilitate data-driven decision-making is invaluable to Metaba’s efficient operations. Eric has over 6 years of Biomedical Engineering research experience, over 12 years of combined experience designing and building products from idea to creation for different markets, over 7 years of experience as a product manager and team leader for internal and outsourced teams across different countries, over 5 years of experience in full stack product development for B2C/B2B businesses, and 6 years of experience in managing startup companies.
Chief Scientific Officer; Co-Founder
Jaejin received his Ph.D. from Myoungji University, Korea in Molecular Biology where he developed a rapid and precise method for detecting antibiotic resistance genes on a large scale. Jaejin’s postdoctoral research focus at the University of Southern California has been on the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in microorganisms, specifically, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), and its ability to form persister cells. His investigations on metabolic patterns in Mtb during persister formation has allowed for elucidation of molecular mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, and will contribite to transformative improvements in the prevention, identification, and response to the debilitating epidemic of drug resistance. This innovation led to a deeper understanding of antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens and played a crucial role in monitoring the emergence of antibiotic resistance genes. Consequently, his work has contributed to the advancement of biological sciences research, involving intricate and inventive ideas that have unveiled fundamental mechanisms, potential targets, diagnostic techniques, and therapeutic strategies. While a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Southern California, Jaejin investigated bacterial cells that escape the effects of antibiotics without undergoing genetic changes and examined how Mtb remodels its cell wall through turnover and internalization mechanisms that fuel downstream pathways essential for Mtb viability under stress conditions. His research on Mtb metabolism and cell wall remodeling under stress was published in top biology journals, such as Nature Communications. Recently, his studies focused on creating new therapeutic strategies using lipidomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics to define cell wall-mediated phenotypic drug-resistance mechanisms. The promising results of this research have led Jaejin to co-found Metaba with Philip Sell to further develop and commercialize this technology and bring innovation to the treatment strategy for TB. It is his ongoing commitment to continue efforts and provide his expertise toward the development of novel therapeutics at Metaba.