Professional
Like many individuals my first interaction with Cannabis came in college. Naive to it's influence I quickly learned of the powers of this plant. The more I interacted with marijuana, the more I started to apply my education towards understanding the plants molecular mechanisms. How did a plant produce secondary metabolites, that in their native conformation wouldn't cause any effect, but when heated would undergo a chemical change to make it bind to our receptors? What sorts of signaling pathways did these phytocannabinoids activate? What pathways did the plant utilize to make these compounds? Eagerly I asked around, googled and searched through forums. The results I found were sub-optimal. Many individuals would venture out with their own hypotheses but show no evidence. No peer-reviewed articles to base their assumptions on. And this sparked a greater drive in me. As a scientist, it was intriguing to be able to study something with so many misconceptions. I was eager to search and read any published article that came out. I used this motivation and knowledge to get a job at one of Connecticut's four medical marijuana production facilities. I used that experience to springboard into a graduate program at the University of Connecticut focusing solely on Cannabis horticulture and genetics. Cannabis has been an integral part of my life for years. It is my every intention to continue to learn about, work with, and promote Cannabis production for the rest of my career.
Personal
Outside of the realm of research and work, I also enjoy a few hobbies. Outdoor adventures in the form of hiking or camping are a great escape. If you, the reader (hey there), ever find yourself in Connecticut and enjoy the outdoors, Sleeping Giant State Park is the place to see. Otherwise I enjoy tennis and chess!