Including renowned mycologist Paul Stamets, our full-time in-house R&D staff of eight scientists consists of four Ph.D.s with expertise ranging from mycology, chemistry, and environmental sciences, to cellular and molecular biology. Our team regularly presents their innovative research at scientific conferences and has published 39 peer-reviewed journal articles to date. In addition to being a co-author on 36 peer-reviewed manuscripts, Paul Stamets has authored 8 books on mycology, numerous magazine publications, and holds dozens of patents. Our rigorous, ambitious, and cutting-edge projects cover a broad range of important initiatives, from mycofiltration and mycoremediation, to using beneficial mushrooms to support bee populations and mycelium-based supplements to support human health.*
— R&D TEAM —
Zolton Bair, Ph.D.
Zolton is the Director of Research & Development at Fungi Perfecti, originally inspired to pursue a career in mycology by the work of Paul Stamets.
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As a National Merit Scholar, Zolton earned a B.S. from Virginia Tech in Biological Sciences with a minor in Chemistry, and a Ph.D. from Oregon State University in Botany and Plant Pathology. Zolton has spent more than 15 years working in mycology labs, exploring the airborne dispersal of spores with UAVs, mycotoxins in bioethanol byproducts, invasive forest pathogens, bioinformatics, and commercial-scale mushroom cultivation.
Since joining the R&D team in 2020, Zolton has focused on optimizing production processes, Agarikon population genetics, astromycology, biotechnology, and industrial fermentation. In his free time, Zolton enjoys backpacking, gardening, and spending time with family. Something else great about Zolton - he loves mushrooms! His favorites are Morels, Hedgehogs, Shiitake, Lion’s Mane, and (of course) Agarikon!
Regan Nally, Ph.D.
Regan is the Senior Research Scientist and Lab Process Manager in Research & Development at Fungi Perfecti. She has a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry with a focus on supramolecular systems from the University of Maryland, College Park.
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Regan first began her tenure with Fungi Perfecti in 2001, after graduating from The Evergreen State College. She left in 2003 to pursue her Ph.D., but returned in 2009 and has been with us ever since!
She brings an important chemistry-centric perspective to the team with particular interest in somatics and pharmacognosy.
In her free time, Regan enjoys playing the piano, dancing, and exploring all things outdoors. She has fond first memories of foraging for chanterelles and preparing them for meals. She tells us the excitement of the hunt was contagious. So, her favorite mushroom species? The chanterelle, of course!
Chase Beathard, Ph.D.
Chase is a Research Scientist with a Ph.D. in Botany from Washington State University and a B.S. in Biology from Texas State University with a focus on Plant Physiology. His doctoral research focused on the molecular biology of plants and the regulation of developmental and stress responses.
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Before grad school, Chase spent four years as a plant physiologist working in a high throughput screening environment to facilitate the development of agronomic traits in crops.
At Fungi Perfecti, much of the work Chase does involves molecular assays utilizing various cell models. He is particularly interested in exploring the impact of fungi on the expression of genes and proteins that are beneficial to human health and supporting a healthy immune system.*
In his free time, Chase enjoys being outdoors, spending time on his hobby farm, and taking care of his garden and animals. And his favorite mushroom? Lion’s Mane! Chase says, "I especially enjoy foraging for Lion’s Mane, I like its interesting appearance, and appreciate the incredible neurological benefits it may have.*"
Kyle Meyer, Ph.D.
Kyle is a Research Scientist at Fungi Perfecti. He holds a Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Science from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; an M.S. in Geological Science from the University of Texas, Austin; and a B.S. in Geology from the University of California, Davis. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow in Biochemistry at Portland State University. Since joining the R&D team in 2022, Kyle has drawn on his extensive research experience to investigate all aspects of fungal biochemistry.
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When not in the lab, Kyle delights in spending time with his wife, dog, friends, and family. He also is fond of baking, reading, climbing, listening to music, enjoying nature, and — of course — foraging and observing fungi in their natural habitats.
If names were the only criteria, Kyle’s favorite mushroom would be Boletellus ananas—because it’s B. ananas! Kyle’s favorite gourmet mushroom is a tie between Hericium erinaceus, Boletus edulis, and Hypomyces lactifluorum, the “lobster mushroom”. But when it comes to picking a true favorite, Kyle said, “It’s too hard to pick a favorite fungus when we have so many to appreciate…everything from yeasts to the long-gone giant, Prototaxites.”
Lizi Doar, B.S.
Lizi is a Research Technician who joined the Fungi Perfecti team in early 2021. She received a B.S. in Biology from the University of California, Davis, and has a voracious multidisciplinary curiosity.
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Lizi previously worked in science communication and education. While at Fungi Perfecti, she has been focusing on the characterization of important biosynthetic genes found in Lion’s Mane, along with the effect Lion’s Mane has on the human immune system.
In her free time, Lizi enjoys reading widely and weirdly, watching plants grow, and experimenting in the kitchen.
The Sulphur Tuft is Lizi’s favorite mushroom because she likes yellow and they always look so cute grouped together in a big bunch.
Jessica Kishiyama, B.A.
Jessica is a Research Assistant at Fungi Perfecti. She holds a B.A. in Biology from Morningside University, where she focused on Alzheimer’s research. She also has professional experience working in healthcare and lab research settings. Since joining the R&D team in 2022, Jessica has focused on cellular responses ranging from antibody feedback to neuro-regenerative capabilities.
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When not in the lab, Jessica enjoys cooking, baking, and foraging for edible and medicinal plants. Her favorite mushroom species is Reishi, which she appreciates both scientifically for its many neurological benefits, and culinarily. Here’s what Jessica has to say about cooking with Reishi: “I adore the challenge of crafting dishes that incorporate a polarizing and distinct flavor. Some people think of it as a near unpalatable mushroom in the culinary realm and I like to open the possibility that it may not be as unpleasant as previously thought.”*
Jaqueline Morgado, B.F.A.
Jacqueline Morgado is a Research Assistant at Fungi Perfecti and holds a B.F.A in Media Arts & Animation from the Art Institute of Seattle. Prior to her time at Fungi Perfecti, Jacqueline worked as a visual artist. She later interned at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center as a UX Designer and branded their collaborative seminars with UW Medicine and The Allen Institute.
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Jacqueline’s lifelong curiosity about nature coupled with her concern for the environment eventually led her to the work of Paul Stamets, catalyzing her passion for fungi and their potential to restore damaged ecosystems. Determined to forge a different path, Jacqueline began a new journey and worked in Customer Service at Fungi Perfecti for 5.5 years where her ardor for mushroom cultivation inspired her to learn sterile tissue culture. She began searching for and isolating new wild strains of Agarikon for the FP culture library, and joined the R&D team in 2023. Jacqueline spends nearly every day in the lab where she clones, onboards, and manages strains. She devotes most of her time to working with Agarikon and Lion’s Mane.
Unsurprisingly, one of Jacqueline’s favorite saprophytic mushrooms is Agarikon (Fomitopsis officinalis = Laricifomes officinalis)! Although very slow growing, it’s a robust, immune-supporting mushroom, with resilient fruit bodies able to live up to a century in the wild, often under harsh conditions. It’s both a teacher and trickster, coming in many forms. As for the mycorrhizae, she’s deeply fond of the Violet Webcap (Cortinarius violaceus); seeing this species for the first time was the genesis of her love for mushrooms.*
In her spare time Jacqueline enjoys primitive camping, gardening with plants and mushrooms, playing in her tiny lab at home, and of course drawing flora, fauna, and funga!
