Tell us about yourself, your position, background, motivations.

I received a Bachelor of Science degree in General Biology from the University of California San Diego. While studying at UCSD, I was hired as an intern at a local biotech company and really loved every second of it. After graduating, I was hired full time in the DMPK group and was responsible for cell culture and permeability assays. I learned how to analyze my samples by liquid chromatograph mass spectrometry (LCMS) and immediately loved the technique–okay, maybe not immediately since the instruments always seemed to have issues and needed constant troubleshooting and maintenance–but, eventually. After about 6 years with the company, I moved on and was hired as a Forensic Chemist for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). I have several family members who have worked in law enforcement, and CSI was one of my favorite television shows at the time, so I thought it would be cool to blend my love for science along with the law enforcement family trade. I spent about 6 years at DEA and there never seemed to be a dull moment, balancing my workdays performing evidence analysis in the laboratory, assisting with evidence collection at crime scenes, delivering expert witness testimony in federal and state courtrooms, and training law enforcement officers on illicit drug lab manufacturing processes and potential hazards. It was a lot of fun, and a lot of hard work! But ultimately my heart led me back to the pharmaceutical industry as I really did miss working towards helping to make positive changes in people’s lives. It was perfect timing as Crinetics was growing around that same time and I was hired on and have been with the company for the past 8 ½ years! I am a Scientist in the DMPK group currently leading the bioanalytical team, coordinating sample analysis from in-house studies conducted by the in vivo team, also helping to develop LCMS based biomarker assays, and really anything else that comes up that I can assist with.

What about Crinetics makes you the most excited to work here?

The privilege to come to work each day and collaborate with such a fantastic, creative, and motivated team knowing that we are all working so hard to help people is what excites and inspires me the most about working at Crinetics.

What is your advice on people hoping to join Crinetics?

Bring your personality, creativity, ideas, and experience and be ready to work hard and contribute to some very special and meaningful work!