Dr. Richard J. DeSa
President, Chief Scientist, Inventor, Founder

The president and founder of Olis, Inc., Dr. Richard J. DeSa, left a tenured University of Georgia faculty position in the Department of Biochemistry to commit himself full-time to the company. His post-doctoral years introduced him to computer control; his doctoral project was the computerization of the first Gibson/Durrum stopped-flow in Dr. Quentin Gibson's lab at Cornell University. From this single instrument in 1970 to over 70 instruments spanning 35 brand-names in 2000, the Olis repertoire of successful software and hardware installations continues to expand.

DATE OF BIRTH: August 4, 1938

PLACE OF BIRTH: New York City, New York

EDUCATION: B.S., Biology, St. Bonaventure University, 1959; Ph.D., Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, 1964

DOCTORAL DISSERTATION: "The Discovery, Isolation, and Partial Characterization of a Bioluminescent Particle from the Marine Dinoflagellate Gonyaulax polyedra."

PUBLICATIONS: Over twenty scientific papers published by reputable science journals from 1959 through 1979.

EMPLOYMENT: Present - 1980 President, On-Line Instrument Systems, Inc. (Olis);
Direct research and development efforts in the successful implementation of microcomputers and spectrophotometers in kinetic and spectrophotometric research environments.

Career History

1980-1974  Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, University of Georgia.

The application of digital computer techniques to biochemical problems. Extensive experience in Assembly language programming, data acquisition, video display of data, and related activities. Concurrently, was rated among the best undergraduate and graduate instructors in biochemistry courses, notably "Enzyme Kinetics." Tenure granted, 1974.

1974-1968  Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, University of Georgia.

1968-1965  Post-doctoral Fellow, Dept of Biochemistry, Cornell University. Advisor: Quentin H. Gibson, M.D., Ph.D.

Developed analog and digital computer software for high speed data acquisition and analysis as applied to chemical kinetics and biochemical problems.

1965-1964  Post-doctoral Fellow, Biochemistry, Johnson Research Foundation, University of Pennsylvania. Advisor: Quentin H. Gibson, M.D., Ph.D.

1964-1961  Pre-doctoral Fellow, National Institute of Health, Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana.   Advisor: Dr. Woody Hastings.

1961-1959  Pre-doctoral Fellow and Teaching Assistant, Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana.

Relevant Publications

"Robust Multicomponent Analysis applied to the Separation of Components in a mixture of Absorbing Species," I. B. C. Matheson and R. J. DeSa, Computers and Chemistry, 14, 157-164 (1990).

"Rapid-scanning Stopped-flow Study of the Oxidation of PMNH₂ by O₂ Catalyzed by Bacterial Luciferase," G. J. Faini, Richard J. DeSa, and John Lee, Flavins and Flavoproteins, T. P. Singer, Chapter 7 (1976).

"Recording Polarization of Fluorescence Spectrometer - A Unique Application of Piezoelectric Birefringence Modulation," John E. Wampler and Richard J. DeSa, Analytical Chemistry, 46563 (1974).

"A Laboratory Computer System for Biochemical Research," Richard J. DeSa, Computers in Chemical and Biochemical Research, 1, (1972).

"An On-Line Spectrofluorimeter System for Rapid Collection of Absolute Luminescence Spectra," John E. Wampler and Richard J. DeSa, Applied Spectroscopy, 25, No. 6, 623-627 (1971).

"A Practical Automatic Data Acquisition System for Stopped-flow Spectrophotometry," R. J. DeSa and Q. H. Gibson, Computers and Biomedical Research, 2, 494-505 (1969).

Click here for Dr. DeSa's expanded curriculum vitae.

Click here to view some of the firsts experienced at Olis under the leadership of Dr. DeSa.

Here, company president, Dr. Richard J. DeSa, makes final tests on an RSM 1000 + Olis U.S.A. Stopped-Flow. Every instrument is verified before it leaves the Olis facility.

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