Jamison Watson

Jamison Watson is an interdisciplinary engineer with extensive experience driving research excellence and strategic partnerships across academia, government, and industry. As Assistant Director for Research Development at the MATRIX Lab, he leads initiatives to accelerate collaborative research in autonomy, resilience, and edge technologies, bridging applied science with national and regional priorities.

Prior to joining the MATRIX Lab, Jamison served as a Technology Manager at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office, where he managed a biotechnology R&D portfolio, spearheaded new initiatives to accelerate technology transfer, and developed impact frameworks to streamline portfolio efficiency and establish key performance indicators. Jamison also previously served as an AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow at the National Science Foundation in the Office of International Science & Engineering, where he negotiated global R&D partnerships, led bilateral science initiatives with India and China, and developed a data-based strategic partnership framework to inspire international engagement in critical and emerging technology areas.

A former Schmidt Science Fellow at MIT, Jamison’s academic expertise spans thermochemical conversion and catalysis, with publications in Nature Materials and Environmental Science & Technology. His commitment to global collaboration extends beyond science: as a multilingual communicator and lifelong language learner (advanced proficiency in Mandarin), he brings a cross-cultural lens to international research diplomacy and stakeholder engagement.

Jamison’s work has earned multiple national honors, including the U.S. Fulbright Scholarship, U.S. Critical Language Scholarship, Blakemore Freeman Fellowship, and the Ross J. Martin Award from the University of Illinois. He holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Agricultural & Biological Engineering from the University of Illinois and a B.A. in Chemistry from St. Olaf College.