Meet James Guenther, a New Orleans native who is big in to fishing and biotechnology. He attended Southeastern Louisiana University where he received his Bachelor’s degree in science with a minor in Chemistry and then continued on to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville to study at the biochemistry cellular and molecular biology program. After James then received his doctorate in Philosophy, he returned home to New Orleans after Katrina.
If that wasn’t impressive enough, James has also played the bagpipes for several years and grows staghorn ferns and bromeliads. Check out his unique driftwood arrangements at castawaycypress.wordpress.
Once back in New Orleans, he began working for the local company, GeneScan, testing for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) until the middle of 2006 when he joined the department of pathology at Tulane University as a National Research Service Award (NRSA) postdoctoral research associate. He worked at Tulane until forming crescent city biotechnology consultants at the beginning of this year with the purpose of integrating academic and private sector research.
See how he responded to our questions below.
What is the most exciting thing you are working on right now?
Once I moved back to New Orleans in 2005 I worked for a private company involved in the screening of genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) and then took a position at Tulane medical center working on the involvement of inflammation in cancer initiation/progression. At the end of 2011, I decided that it was time to put my skills to use so I started Crescent City Biotechnology Consultants with the expressed purpose of filling in the gap between academic research and private research.
www.ccbioco.com
If you wrote a regular column for Silicon Bayou News what would it be about and what would you name it?
Fixing the gap between academia and private business.
If you recently moved here, what brought you here?
I was born in New Orleans and received my bachelors of science degree from Southeastern Louisiana University. I then moved to Tennessee and completed my Ph.D. in biochemistry. After hurricane Katrina hit in 2005 I decided to come home and help rebuild New Orleans. I have been living in New Orleans ever since and I am determined to stay here.
IYO, which institution is most due for disruption?
Politics.
Tell us about your biggest failure.
Online dating.
What’s your favorite thing to do on a Sunday afternoon?
Fishing down in vencie.
If you had to eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Shrimp po-boy.
What are you most excited about happening on the Silicon Bayou that you aren’t directly involved in?
The huge potential of the New Orleans biotechnology district; hold on its going to be big.