Michael was the Chairman of OBI, and founder of both Optimer Pharmaceuticals and OBI. In 1994, Michael established Pharmanex, a health products company, which was acquired by NuSkin Enterprises, where he was appointed Chief Scientific Adviser. Prior to this, he founded Cinogen in 1993. Michael was the Director of Medical Chemistry at Rhone-Poulenc Rorer and Deputy Director of Medicinal Chemistry at Merck, Sharpe & Dohme (US Merck).
Michael received his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Brandeis University and conducted postdoctoral research at MIT. He received his B.S. in Chemistry from Fu Jen Catholic University in Taiwan. He held 39 patents and published more than 69 scientific papers in peer reviewed journals.