Kevin D. Lustig

Kevin Donald Lustig is a scientist and entrepreneur who founded the global research marketplace Scientist.com—an innovative, online platform for scientists that currently ranks as No. 9 on the Inc. 500 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States. Kevin’s lifelong mission has been to empower scientists. With the creation of an online hub that easily and efficiently connects scientists to vendors across the globe, he has effectively helped to streamline and reduce the cost of scientific research. Scientists now are freed up to spend more time on experiments. 

In 2013, Kevin was named San Diego’s Most Admired CEO by The San Diego Business Journal. That same year he was also one of five national finalists for Entrepreneur magazine’s Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Kevin was twice recognized as one of the life science industry’s 100 Most Inspiring People by PharmaVoice magazine in 2013 and 2014. Scientist.com was also named to Inc.’s Best Workplaces List in 2018. Kevin and his company leaders have created an inviting environment for their team by fostering a culture of trust and openness. Employees have flexible work hours and are given room to explore creative ideas. 

As CEO, Kevin encourages employees not to miss important family functions such as kids’ soccer game and band recitals. The company also plays an active role in its community, from sponsoring events raising awareness of childhood cancer to taking part in the annual March for Science. 

Kevin attended Canaan Elementary and Saxton Middle School with his three siblings and went on to graduate in the top ten of his class from PMHS in 1981. While in high school, Kevin was editor of the school newspaper, a member of the Key Club and participated in the Boy’s Club of America leadership program. Upon graduating, he received a full scholarship to Cornell, where he distinguished himself by cloning a special gene and graduating magna cum laude in 1985.  Kevin went on to get his doctorate from UCSF and did post-doctoral work at Harvard University before becoming director of the biotechnology company Tulark in 1997.