Design, implement, monitor and evaluate projects related to breeding, evaluation, selection, extraction, and agronomic production systems of alternative crops, particularly those producing secondary metabolites used in flavor, fragrance and nutraceutical industries. Experience with hemp, clary sage, basil, stevia, echinacea, krill, cranberry, cocoa and others.

Development and optimization of extraction processes for nutraceutical products. Experience with chromatography (GC;HPLC; column; thin layer), lab and pilot extraction; and spray drying.

Directed a breeding program for improvement of sclareol yield in clary sage - doubled the dry weight yield. Managed and evaluated transgenic field trials. Participated in a collaborative effort that developed a patented process for the production of green notes. Developed extraction and purification methods for a wide variety of nutraceutical biomass. Selected and evaluated extensive collections of several essential oil crops for yield and unique chemistry,

Develop a robust breeding and selection program for clary sage including: acquisition of germplasm; establishment of Breeder and Foundation seed production fields; determination of effective methods of cross-pollination and the measurement of yield parameters; design, installation and evaluation of data collected from field plots; and the direction and management of a team of three employees and six seasonally-employed college students. Manage a research greenhouse and the production of transplants.

Design, plan, execute and interpret pure and applied research directed toward the introduction of new commercial essential oil crops in eastern North Carolina.