I grew up in sunny Southern California, where I spent my days playing baseball, lacrosse, and reading books about the mysteries of physics. I was always fascinated by the world around me, and I loved to tinker with computers and make websites.

When it came time to choose a university, I knew I wanted to pursue my passion for science, so I headed to San Diego State University, where I earned a B.S. in physics with a minor in chemistry. It was there that I had my first taste of research, working with elements like gallium and indium to find more efficient ways to make semiconducting materials like gallium or indium nitride.

After graduating from SDSU, I was motivated to continue my studies and earn a Ph.D. in chemistry. I headed to the University of California, Irvine, where I worked with Dr. Andrew Borovik to study how the chemical environment around metal ions influences their properties and functions. My work focused on mimicking the chemical environments made by enzymes found in nature, and I spent countless hours in the lab testing my ideas and learning how to conduct scientific research.

After earning my Ph.D., I landed a job at Behr Paint Company, where I work on new product development and technology scouting for the architectural coatings market. I love working on consumer products that are used every day in homes and offices around the world, and I’ve learned how to communicate with large teams across multiple continents to bring products from idea to shelf. It’s been a fascinating journey so far, and I can’t wait to see what comes next.