Home: Miami, FL. Age: 28. Birthplace: New York. Profession: Marine biology researcher. Organization: University of Miami. Title: Graduate Researcher. Alma mater: University of Arizona (BIS); University of Miami (M.S.).
Current project: Developing long-term primary cell culture systems from Aplysia, a well-established model organism in neuroscience. Recent recognition: Recognized by faculty for rapid progress in establishing and optimizing primary cell culture systems. Recent professional development: Advanced independent study in cell biology, microscopy, and experimental research methods. Latest accomplishment: Established multiple long-term, proliferative primary cultures with successful passaging. Latest contribution to others: Sharing research insights, technical guidance, and support with peers in academic and laboratory settings. What’s been your big (or biggest leap)? Pursuing independent primary cell culture research in marine invertebrates despite entering the field without a formal background in cell biology. Hobbies: Koi keeping; tortoise husbandry; aquatic systems. Recent travel or adventure: Deep-drop fishing off the coast of Miami in nearly 1,000 feet of water. Last book read: Cann’s Principles of Molecular Virology, by Edward P. Rybicki. Recently viewed and recommended: Blue Planet, narrated by David Attenborough. Recent unique acquisition: A high-quality Japanese koi for my collection from Sakai Fish Farms.
Personality profile: Curious, driven, independent, perceptive. What one word would your closest friend use to describe you? Intense. Moral compass: Do the right thing even when no one is watching. How do you define a perfect friendship? Loyalty, honesty, mutual respect. How do you define an ideal business relationship? Clear communication, competence, and trust. What is your greatest joy? Learning, building, and making meaningful progress. What is your greatest fear? Wasted potential. What is your guilty pleasure? Energy drinks. What word or phrase do you use far too often? Exactly. What natural talent have you neglected? Writing. What occupation, other than your own, do you most admire? Entrepreneurs and surgeons.
What three emojis best describe you? 🧠🌊🐟 .
What is your favorite place (or way) to spend money? High-quality koi and aquatic systems. What is at the top of your bucket list? Building a world-class koi pond and aquatic collection. How do you relieve stress? Working. What is your go-to workout? Lifting weights. What ingredient is essential to your perfect vacation? Warm water, good weather, and access to the ocean.
What was your first paying job? Working at the Coldspring Harbor fish hatchery. What was your favorite college course? Fish Physiology. What book have you repeatedly read? Essential Cell Biology, by Bruce Alberts. Besides your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life? My grandfather. What’s the best advice you received growing up? Wake up happy, go to bed happy. What’s the best advice you received in your career? The second-best answer is no. What personal circumstance has had the greatest influence on your life? Becoming deeply self-directed and building my path independently. What has mattered most in shaping who you are? The combination of adversity, independence, and the decision to build something meaningful out of both. What has shaped your perspective the most? A mix of independent learning, long-term ambition, and experiences that forced me to become resilient early.
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field? Advancing marine invertebrate cell culture as a more practical and reproducible research platform. What change would you like to see in the world? A culture that values depth, discipline, and real expertise over noise and superficiality. What message do you want to send out into the world? Be relentless about learning and building something meaningful. What kind of impact do you hope to have? I want to help build new biological tools and systems that make difficult questions easier to study and solve.
What title would you choose for the movie about your life? Against the Current. What actor would you choose to play you in the movie about your life? Henry Cavill. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? A marine biologist. What advice would you give your younger self? Trust yourself earlier and stop wasting energy on the wrong people. What period in your life would you do differently, if you could? My late teens.
Personal mission: To expand what is possible in marine cell culture research and build a life defined by depth, discipline, and meaningful work. Personal motto: Think what nobody else has thought. Favorite quote: “Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought” (Albert Szent-Györgyi).
