Renee is the Director of Research and Development at Fungi Perfecti and Host Defense. She has an M.A. in Systems Design from Antioch University, a Post Baccalaureate in Biomedical Studies from The University of Washington, and a B.A. with a focus on ethnobiology and biology from The Evergreen State College.
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For the last 9 years Renee has used her extensive knowledge of anthropological research, biomedical studies, and systems design in her role at Fungi Perfecti, where she has worked to build a robust R&D team, integrated thorough and efficient systems design, and helped lead new product development.

Renee is an integral leader in the Research & Development at Fungi Perfecti and is committed to furthering our understanding of the vast potential for mushroom mycelium.

In her free time, Renee enjoys alpine climbing, painting, and playing the harp. Her favorite mushroom species is Lion’s Mane and related species in the Hericium genus. She says, "I regard them for their regenerative potential, and ability to inspire hope and health.* Plus, Lion’s Mane is a delicious edible, particularly when prepared as a side dish with salmon."

Learn more about Renee.

Travis is a Research Assistant at Fungi Perfecti with a B.S. in Environmental Science with an emphasis in freshwater ecology from Western Washington University.
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Travis first joined the Fungi Perfecti team in 2014, and has been a Research Assistant since 2018.Since joining the R&D team, Travis has focused much of his energy on ecology, data science, preservation and expansion of mycelium, and improving production processes for the Host Defense product line.

Travis’s favorite mushroom is Stropharia rugosoannulata (King Stropharia). He says, “So many reasons to love this mushroom! It is beautiful, easy to grow, easy to identify, easy to cook, and delicious. With its ruddy red cap, it is one of my favorite mushrooms to photograph. They can get unbelievably large. They attract local wildlife, including rabbits and deer. The mycelium stores water, recycles carbon, and improves soils. And once sauteed in olive oil, this mushroom will elevate just about any dish. I could go on…”

Steve is a Research Scientist who joined the Fungi Perfecti team in 2018. He has both a B.A.and B.S. from The Evergreen State College with a focus on Mycology and Organic Chemistry, respectively.
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Steve previously worked in chromatography, including in the Washington State certified Cannabis labs.

He is a hiker, forager, and generally a forest lover. Steve has a strong interest in herbal medicine and is a homebrewer! Boletus edulis sensu lato (King Bolete) is his favorite mushroom. Why? In his own words, “Mostly because I love the flavor!”

Lizi is a Research Assistant 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 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.”*

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.”

Alexander is a Research Scientist at Fungi Perfecti. He has a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Utah, where he focused on metabarcoding and phylogenomics of fungi. He contributes his expertise in fungal biodiversity, evolution, and genetic sequencing to the R&D team, which he joined in 2022.
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Alexander’s research experience spans a diverse range of topics, including work on somatic incompatibility, fruiting ability, and structural properties of rhizomorphs in the world’s largest organism (the “humongous fungus”), a clonal network of Armillaria solidipes, conservation of rare and understudied fungi, fungal community composition from environmental sampling, metabolic and genomic analyses of museum specimens, as well as the broader evolutionary relationships between fungi - just to name a few!

His favorite mushroom species is Termitomyces titanicus. Regarding this species, he says, “This mushroom is incredibly interesting from both a biological and ecological perspective. One day I hope to be able to find a way to cultivate it.”