I am a plant geneticist, nonprofit leader, and interdisciplinary communicator presenting a fresh voice on the future of genetic engineering in plants.

I’m Founder and Executive Director of Triple Helix Institute for Agriculture, Climate, and Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to building cross-sector engagement around agriculture technology (AgTech) for climate action. Through this work, I collaborate with an extensive network of food and agriculture leaders including researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, philanthropists, policymakers, farmers, and chefs to foster alignment around credible information and common goals that advance agricultural resilience.

I first became fascinated with plant genetics during my undergraduate research at Duke University exploring how plant roots develop. I next received a PhD in Plant Sciences at the University of Cambridge focused on CRISPR gene editing in plants. While working in this cutting-edge area of science, I became increasingly interested in how agricultural innovation makes it (or doesn’t make it) from discovery in the lab to impact in the field. Following my PhD, I completed a postdoctoral fellowship at The Earth Institute, Columbia University where my work explored factors that influence implementation of biotechnology for nutritious and climate resilient food systems.

My writing has been featured in academic journals and the popular press including Scientific American, Slate, The New Republic, and Offrange, among others, and I have been covered in media as an expert at the intersection of technology and agriculture. I serve as a member of the XPRIZE “Brain Trust” to develop incentive prize concepts that tackle critical challenges related to food, nature, and climate.

Outside of work, I can usually be found trying new restaurants, listening to live music, or hiking.