Liz Specht

Liz Specht is the Research Director at the Good Food Institute, where she analyzes technological needs and coordinates research initiatives across the plant-based and cultivated meat sectors. Prior to assuming her current leadership role, she earned a PhD in Biological Sciences from UC San Diego and a BS in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from Johns Hopkins University. Following her doctoral studies, Specht completed extensive postdoctoral research at CU Boulder and served as a dedicated fellow at the Sustainability Innovation Lab at Colorado. Expanding her academic and professional footprint, she has also shared her specialized expertise in biotechnology and food technology innovation as a guest lecturer at Singularity University. As a scientist and innovation strategist, her focus centers on identifying critical research gaps and catalyzing scientific projects to address developmental bottlenecks within the global alternative protein industry.