Nikki Simpson is an experienced pharmacologist currently serving as Principal Investigator in in vivo Pharmacology at PostEra since April 2024. Prior to that, Nikki held the position of Principal Scientist and Head of Pharmacology at Velia from May 2022 to November 2023, where leadership included overseeing in vivo and ex vivo studies for microprotein drug targets across various medical conditions. At Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research from November 2018 to April 2022, Nikki managed a team focused on early target validation in multiple disease areas. Earlier experience at the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation included pivotal contributions to in vivo pharmacodynamics studies and leading drug development through to clinical studies. Educational qualifications include a Master's degree in Animal Biology and Cancer Biology from the University of California, Davis, and a Bachelor's degree in Animal Science and Biological Science from the University of Vermont College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.