ABOUT ME

I'm a scientist with over 20 years experience in immunology, hematology, developmental biology, dermatology, and stem cell biology. 

 

I'm originally from Bensalem, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia, PA.  I've always loved science, and I always wanted to be a chemist.  When I went to college at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA, I realized that I loved molecular biology.  So I changed majors and pursued understanding how cells function.  I got my first taste of performing research in a laboratory while at Lehigh in the laboratory of Lynne Casimerris, PhD studying microtuble arrangement during cell fusion.  That research was supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and was how I fell in love with microscopy.

​

At the end of college, I wanted to continue my career in science, so I pursued my PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School in Philadelphia.  That's where I fell in love with stem cells.  I joined the laboratory of Mitchell Weiss, MD PhD, who is an expert in blood cell formation.  He is now a researcher and the Chair of Hematology at St. Jude's Children Hospital and just got accepted into the National Academy of Medicine.  In Mitch's laboratory I became an expert in tissue culture, generating several cell lines that people still use investigating erythroid and megakaryocyte formation.  I also gained experience using mice as a model for understanding human disease.  During this time, I was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) division of National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

​

After I got my PhD, I did my postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of David Traver , PhD at the University of California San Diego.  It was in the Traver lab that I continued my studies of hematopoietic stem cells, shifting my studies to the genetically tractable and optically transparent zebrafish model system.  Again, I created numerous cell lines and used them to help others solve directed research questions.  I also used my knowledge of mouse hematopoiesis to create assays to study zebrafish blood development in vitro, which had not been done before.  This research was supported by multiple granting agencies, including the Prevent Cancer Foundation and the NIH.  Importantly, I obtained a competitive Extramural Loan
Repayment Program (LRP) grant and was awarded a competitive KO1 Mentored Career Development grant to start my own laboratory.

​

After my postdoctoral studies, I moved to Chico CA as an Assistant Professor at California State University, Chico (Chico State).  I had taught classes at UCSD, and realized that I wanted to also teach, so I chose a teaching institution that integrated research into the classroom.  I quickly became an Associate Professor and then a Full Professor at Chico State.  Importantly, I was a Lantis Endowed Scholar, won numerous awards from the students, faculty, and administration (including an Outstanding Professor award, Outstanding New Investigator Award,  Best Advisor Award, and the Shared Governance Award) and ran a large successful laboratory, mentoring and furthering the career of many undergraduate and Master's students.  I taught Immunology, Developmental Biology, and a host of internships and shadowing programs in conjunction with the local hospital in town.  During my tenure at Chico State, I was awarded numerous grants from the California State University Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology (CSUPERB), the NIH, and the National Science Foundation (NSF); I actually spearheaded the acquisition of Northern California's most advanced flow cytometer and cell sorter which now resides at Chico State.

​

As I worked at Chico State, I realized that something was missing- I realized that I loved taking research from the bench to the bedside, which is impossible to do at a teaching-centric institution.  So, I began to work with companies to make the world a better place.  My first collaboration was with Finless Foods, helping them develop cell lines and tissue culture techniques for growing Blue Fin Tuna meat from stem cells in the laboratory.  Then, I started working with a local biotechnology company called SpecBio and a local skincare company called FACTORFIVE Skincare.  Both of these companies use human stem cells to produce proteins that are beneficial for healing wounds and making skin healthier and more youthful in appearance.  I loved working in industry so much that I left my job at Chico State and became the full time Chief Scientific Officer at SpecBio and FACTORFIVE Skincare.  In my tenure there we have moved many innovative products to market, developed and acquired intellectual property on our processes and technology, and moved forward to making FDA-approved drugs to help people.  Even though our products are currently cosmetic, I love constantly hearing stories from happy people that have seen huge improvements in their skin issues from using our products.  I am excited for even more breakthroughs that we make as we continue to research the power of human stem cells for treating a multitude of ailments.

​​​

Overall, throughout my career, I've utilized multiple model systems including zebrafish, mice, and human cell lines to solve directed scientific questions. In all of those fields I have added value, obtaining grant funding, discovering new things, and publishing prolifically.  In essence, I love science, technology, innovation, and solving problems.  Get in touch to collaborate and to learn more about my vision and consulting approach.