Research & Development

Biotechnology & Bioprocess Development

Mycelium Materials & Biofabrication R&D — 15 years

Previously Principal Scientist & Head of Bioprocess Design — Ecovative

I am a multidisciplinary R&D leader and applied mycologist with 15 years of experience working at the intersection of fungal biology, process engineering, materials science, data analysis, and technology development. Much of my career has focused on translating unusual biological phenomena into technologies that can be understood, engineered, protected, scaled, and manufactured.

From 2011 to 2026, I worked across much of the technology-development lifecycle at Ecovative, from strain development and solid-state fermentation through bioreactor and biofoundry design, morphological engineering, statistical and machine-learning-enabled process development, scale-up, manufacturing optimization, and intellectual property. My work helped develop foundational technologies across Ecovative, MyForest Foods, Forager, and mycelium composite applications, including systems advanced from exploratory benchtop research through pilot and industrial-scale production.

That experience has given me a practical perspective on what separates an interesting scientific idea from a viable technology: how evidence accumulates, technical risk is reduced, platform capabilities emerge, intellectual property is created, and manufacturing and economic constraints shape what can ultimately scale. My approach combines deep domain knowledge with experimental design, statistical learning, and systems thinking to navigate uncertainty and identify the variables, relationships, and decisions that matter most.