James Vergara

Background

About James Vergara

My name is James (he/his) and I love plants and microbes. I have a background in agroecology from UC Santa Cruz and trained as a food microbiologist for a few years before coming to NUNM. My interest in the interactions of the microscopic world lead me to to understanding the biochemical reactions in our body that allows us to persist day to day. I knew from a young age that diet played a role in health as evident from the gallons of chicken soups consumed when illness came upon me-I just didn't understand how, and that's where NUNM comes in. Food as Medicine is the bread and butter of the program and it does a fantastic job at implementing translational research to the masses. I've come to bloom as a fermentation gastronomist through the MS Nutrition program because of all the wonderful support and connections that exist in the Portland Metro area. I want to pursue this avenue of fermented food and biotechnology because I have aspirations of my food going to space, yes the stars. Although I may not be physically fit enough for space (because reasons), I want to feed and bolster those who can for the next steps in humanity. Food ought not to be difficult; it's just a matter of finding the right coordinates to point ones fork in the right direction.