The long form.
Education, appointments, research, funding, service, and honors. The regularly-updated publication record lives on Google Scholar.
Education
PhD, Biomedical Engineering & Biophotonics
University of California, Irvine · Advisor: Eric O. Potma · NSF IGERT
MS, Biomedical Engineering
University of California, Irvine
BA, College Scholars Program
University of Tennessee, Knoxville · Science Policy & Administration; Honors Academic Physics · Cum Laude · Baker Scholar for Public Policy
Professional Experience
Assistant Professor & BMET Coordinator
East Tennessee State University. Mentored students across process control, biomedical education, photonic sensors, and assistive devices; aligned the BMET curriculum with industry standards; coordinated biomedical industrial internships. Secured $1.3M+ (BioMADE) for biomanufacturing workforce development and executed $120K+ in teaching and lab renovations.
Teaching Assistant, Biomedical Engineering
UC Irvine. Built a distance-based data-acquisition lab; introduced biomedical sensor design and open-source LabVIEW control of Arduino hardware; lectured on engineering ethics and inclusive design.
Research Experience
Laboratory for Advanced Microscopy & Bioengineering (The LAMB)
ETSU. Founded and leads the LAMB — Raman microspectroscopy, nonlinear optical imaging, and bioengineering. $1.3M+ external funding as PI on a BioMADE grant; $150K+ in gifts and donations; interdisciplinary collaborations across Biomedical Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Geosciences, and Education.
Potma Labs — Advancing Nonlinear Vibrational Imaging
UC Irvine. Developed and demonstrated Third-Order Sum Frequency Generation, a nonlinear imaging modality with vibrational contrast; built a computer-controlled variable-gain PMT detection system; characterized lipogenesis via SHG and SRS; contributed to $1M+ in NSF/NIH/DOE proposals. Lab manager and safety officer from 2017.
Energy Policy Research Group
UTK & Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Thesis on the feasibility of wind energy in West Tennessee; net-metering and low-income energy-efficiency plans for the TVA region.
Laser Spectroscopy & Soft-Matter Biophysics
UTK & ORNL. Femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy of drug-membrane interactions; protein mechanics and secondary-structure stiffness via Raman & Brillouin spectroscopy.
Grants & Professional Development
Completing the Bioindustrial Pipeline
$3.2M to develop biomanufacturing education products — lab modules, teaching materials, internships, and program evaluation.
ABET IDEAL Scholar
Week-long training on program evaluation and assessment.
National Science Foundation IGERT
Traineeship in Biophotonics Across Energy, Space, and Time.
Catalyzing Advocacy in Science & Engineering (CASE)
AAAS workshop, Washington, D.C.
Science Rising Grant
Union of Concerned Scientists.
Leadership & Service
Bioengineering & Synthetic Biology Steering
ETSU. University-wide synthetic-biology task force; led development of a Bioengineering major and worked to establish the Valleybrook Campus as a regional biotechnology hub, partnering with BAE Systems' Holston facility.
Mechatronics Engineering Degree Program
ETSU. Co-developed the mechatronics curriculum; led first- and second-year design.
ETSU Committee Service
Chair, EETS Curriculum Innovation and Facilities Improvement committees; Interim Faculty Senator; member of the Synthetic Biology & Bioengineering, CBAT Strategic Planning, and CBAT Research committees.
Seed Consulting Group — VP, Consulting Operations
501(c)3 providing ~$1.5M/yr in pro-bono consulting to sustainability organizations. Directs 60+ consultants and 8 PMs; established East Coast operations and Agile/SCRUM practices org-wide.
Honors
CBAT Outstanding New Faculty Member
East Tennessee State University.
Member, Sigma Xi — The Research Honor Society
Member, Sigma Pi Sigma Physics Honor Society
National Society of Physics Students Leadership Scholarship
Robert Talley Physics Leadership Award
University of Tennessee, Knoxville.