Debbie received her Bachelor of Arts in Bacteriology and Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology from University of California, Davis.  Debbie has been Chief Science Officer at Nature’s Fynd since 2021 and recently went part time as Chief Science Office Emeritus.  Prior to Nature’s Fynd she was with Novozymes (now Novonensis) for 28 years as Managing Director for R&D in California.   She has experience in enzyme discovery and protein engineering for use in industrial applications. Debbie has expertise in engineering microorganisms for protein and chemical production as well as whole microbe products using synthetic biology and classic approaches. She has negotiated and managed external collaborations with both companies as well as government and university laboratories as well as charitable granting agencies. Debbie taught for 15 years a graduate level seminar on industrial biotechnology at University of California, Davis.  She is an active member of the Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology (SIMB) serving on Board of Directors, President and as Chair of Audit Committee.  She is also on several advisory boards. In 2014, she received the first Rosalind Franklin Award for Leadership in Industrial Biotechnology from Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO).