Lisa Offringa, PhD

Lisa Offringa is a medical and nutritional ethnobotanist specializing in medicinal plants and plant-based foods. With expertise spanning education, research, product development, and program management, she has worked across academia, nonprofits, startups, and global public goods organizations to advance plant-based health solutions.

As the founder and former head of the Plant Biology department at Brightseed, Lisa leveraged plant biology, AI, and machine learning to enhance human health. She also established Brightseed’s Project Management Office, facilitating collaboration across the organization.

Previously, as a Product Developer at BH VMS, Clorox’s nutritional supplements division, Lisa led research and development for brands like Rainbow Light and Natural Vitality. She also conducted postdoctoral research at Stanford's School of Medicine, exploring plant-based foods and dietary interventions.

Lisa earned a PhD in Plant Sciences through a joint program with The City University of New York and The New York Botanical Garden, focusing on the medicinal plants of Northern Thailand. She has taught plant sciences and sustainable food systems at Stanford, UC Berkeley, and San Jose State University, among others.

Currently serving as Botanical Director for the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia and Botanical Rotation Director for Stanford’s Pediatric Integrative Medicine Fellowship, Lisa is dedicated to preserving global biocultural diversity and fostering awareness of the vital connection between plants, health, and the environment.