Growing up on a farm in rural Ontario, Brian has spent his life immersed in plants. He began his work in research as a field technician with Bayer CropScience while completing a bachelor’s in plant biology at the University of Guelph. While working in vegetable variety development in Leamington, Ontario, he saw the emergence of supplemental lighting and the need for proper experimentation to guide growers into making the best decisions for crop production. Brian shifted his focus to horticultural lighting and completed his master’s degree at Michigan State University where he compared LED lighting with HPS lamps for greenhouse ornamental production. He currently manages the internal cannabis research program at Fluence executed at the Fluence Cannabis Science Center, located in Austin, Texas.
Brian continues to help lead the way in understanding and applying plant growth and developmental responses to light spectrum and intensity. He specializes in conducting research and grower experiments focusing on increased cannabis yield and quality by maximizing photosynthesis and manipulating secondary metabolite production. Brian is also investigating how light works in concert with other inputs to maximize production efficiency. He holds two patents that have been commercialized into products that reduce energy input while maintaining consistent cannabis yield and quality.
Projects and inventions:
Selected peer-reviewed publications:
