I am a formally trained medical and nutritional ethnobotanist with a specialization in plants used for medicine and plant-based foods. My career spans roles in research, product development, and program management through nonprofits, startups, and GPGs, demonstrating my versatility and personal commitment to advancing plant-based health solutions.

Most recently, I led the inception and headed the Plant Biology Department at Brightseed, a biotechnology company focused on harnessing the power of plant biology to improve human health using advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies. I also started and led the Project Management Office at Brightseed as the Manager of Scientific Affairs and Partnerships, effectively working with almost every department in the company.

As a Product Developer at BH VMS, the nutritional supplements division of Clorox, I spearheaded research and product development efforts for well-known brands like Rainbow Light and Natural Vitality. I collaborated closely with commercial partners, packaging and process development teams, and contract manufacturers (CMOs) to create innovative products grounded in rigorous scientific research.

I completed my postdoctoral research with the Stanford Prevention Research Center in the School of Medicine at Stanford University. My research at Stanford focused on plant-based foods and established the importance of incorporating food bioactives into the daily diet. My postdoctoral training in Nutrition focused on designing and managing clinical trials on dietary interventions, including low-carb vs. low-fat diets, the effect of dietary fiber on the intestinal microbiota, mindful eating, and investigating the health benefits of traditional diets around the globe.

I received my doctorate in a joint program between The Graduate Center at The City University of New York and The New York Botanical Garden, where I studied medicinal plants from Northern Thailand used by traditional healers to treat memory disorders in the elderly. This multi-year international project involved anthropology, botanical identification, phytochemical analysis, development and implementation of both in vitro and in vivo studies, and collaboration with numerous international government bodies to ensure rigorous and ethical research practices. I received my PhD in Plant Sciences and have extensive training in all aspects of botany.

I am active in education and public outreach, from instructing Stanford pediatric residents in integrative medicine about medicinal plant use to guiding employees in ways to eat more plant foods, fiber, and increase their well-being using plants. I taught Plant Sciences at San Jose State University, in the Biology Department at San Francisco State University, Health and Sustainable Food Systems at Stanford University, and was a senior lecturer of Integrative Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, focusing on evolution, ecology, and plant sciences. I am the Botanical Director at the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, the Botanical Rotation Director for the Pediatric Integrative Medicine Fellowship at Stanford Hospital, and I am on the Scientific Advisory Board for the Beneficial Plants Research Association.

At the core of my career is the preservation of global biocultural diversity by raising awareness about plants used for food and medicine, and promoting the connection between plants, our food systems, our personal health, and the preservation of the environment.

Research Gate
LinkedIn

I am a formally trained medical and nutritional ethnobotanist with a specialization in plants used for medicine and plant-based foods. My career spans roles in research, product development, and program management through nonprofits, startups, and GPGs, demonstrating my versatility and personal commitment to advancing plant-based health solutions.

Most recently, I led the inception and headed the Plant Biology Department at Brightseed, a biotechnology company focused on harnessing the power of plant biology to improve human health using advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies. I also started and led the Project Management Office at Brightseed as the Manager of Scientific Affairs and Partnerships, effectively working with almost every department in the company.

As a Product Developer at BH VMS, the nutritional supplements division of Clorox, I spearheaded research and product development efforts for well-known brands like Rainbow Light and Natural Vitality. I collaborated closely with commercial partners, packaging and process development teams, and contract manufacturers (CMOs) to create innovative products grounded in rigorous scientific research.

I completed my postdoctoral research with the Stanford Prevention Research Center in the School of Medicine at Stanford University. My research at Stanford focused on plant-based foods and established the importance of incorporating food bioactives into the daily diet. My postdoctoral training in Nutrition focused on designing and managing clinical trials on dietary interventions, including low-carb vs. low-fat diets, the effect of dietary fiber on the intestinal microbiota, mindful eating, and investigating the health benefits of traditional diets around the globe.

I received my doctorate in a joint program between The Graduate Center at The City University of New York and The New York Botanical Garden, where I studied medicinal plants from Northern Thailand used by traditional healers to treat memory disorders in the elderly. This multi-year international project involved anthropology, botanical identification, phytochemical analysis, development and implementation of both in vitro and in vivo studies, and collaboration with numerous international government bodies to ensure rigorous and ethical research practices. I received my PhD in Plant Sciences and have extensive training in all aspects of botany.

I am active in education and public outreach, from instructing Stanford pediatric residents in integrative medicine about medicinal plant use to guiding employees in ways to eat more plant foods, fiber, and increase their well-being using plants. I taught Plant Sciences at San Jose State University, in the Biology Department at San Francisco State University, Health and Sustainable Food Systems at Stanford University, and was a senior lecturer of Integrative Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, focusing on evolution, ecology, and plant sciences. I am the Botanical Director at the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, the Botanical Rotation Director for the Pediatric Integrative Medicine Fellowship at Stanford Hospital, and I am on the Scientific Advisory Board for the Beneficial Plants Research Association.

At the core of my career is the preservation of global biocultural diversity by raising awareness about plants used for food and medicine, and promoting the connection between plants, our food systems, our personal health, and the preservation of the environment.

Research Gate
LinkedIn

I am a formally trained medical and nutritional ethnobotanist with a specialization in plants used for medicine and plant-based foods. My career spans roles in research, product development, and program management through nonprofits, startups, and GPGs, demonstrating my versatility and personal commitment to advancing plant-based health solutions.

Most recently, I led the inception and headed the Plant Biology Department at Brightseed, a biotechnology company focused on harnessing the power of plant biology to improve human health using advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies. I also started and led the Project Management Office at Brightseed as the Manager of Scientific Affairs and Partnerships, effectively working with almost every department in the company.

As a Product Developer at BH VMS, the nutritional supplements division of Clorox, I spearheaded research and product development efforts for well-known brands like Rainbow Light and Natural Vitality. I collaborated closely with commercial partners, packaging and process development teams, and contract manufacturers (CMOs) to create innovative products grounded in rigorous scientific research.

I completed my postdoctoral research with the Stanford Prevention Research Center in the School of Medicine at Stanford University. My research at Stanford focused on plant-based foods and established the importance of incorporating food bioactives into the daily diet. My postdoctoral training in Nutrition focused on designing and managing clinical trials on dietary interventions, including low-carb vs. low-fat diets, the effect of dietary fiber on the intestinal microbiota, mindful eating, and investigating the health benefits of traditional diets around the globe.

I received my doctorate in a joint program between The Graduate Center at The City University of New York and The New York Botanical Garden, where I studied medicinal plants from Northern Thailand used by traditional healers to treat memory disorders in the elderly. This multi-year international project involved anthropology, botanical identification, phytochemical analysis, development and implementation of both in vitro and in vivo studies, and collaboration with numerous international government bodies to ensure rigorous and ethical research practices. I received my PhD in Plant Sciences and have extensive training in all aspects of botany.

I am active in education and public outreach, from instructing Stanford pediatric residents in integrative medicine about medicinal plant use to guiding employees in ways to eat more plant foods, fiber, and increase their well-being using plants. I taught Plant Sciences at San Jose State University, in the Biology Department at San Francisco State University, Health and Sustainable Food Systems at Stanford University, and was a senior lecturer of Integrative Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, focusing on evolution, ecology, and plant sciences. I am the Botanical Director at the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, the Botanical Rotation Director for the Pediatric Integrative Medicine Fellowship at Stanford Hospital, and I am on the Scientific Advisory Board for the Beneficial Plants Research Association.

At the core of my career is the preservation of global biocultural diversity by raising awareness about plants used for food and medicine, and promoting the connection between plants, our food systems, our personal health, and the preservation of the environment.

Research Gate
LinkedIn