Dr. Cassandra Quave

Dr. Cassandra Quave

Dr. Cassandra Quave is an internationally recognized scientist, educator, author, and limb loss advocate whose work bridges scientific discovery, storytelling, and public engagement. Living with limb difference since birth and limb loss since 1981, she brings a unique perspective that connects her groundbreaking research with her commitment to expanding knowledge and opportunity for others.

Qualifications Summary:

  • Scientist & Leader in Therapeutic Discovery

    • Professor of Dermatology and Human Health at Emory University School of Medicine

    • Leads interdisciplinary research teams advancing therapeutic discovery from natural products to support skin health, including skin barrier and microbiome science

    • Co-founder and Chief Science Officer of a biotech startup translating botanical research into treatments for dermatology and infectious disease

    • Inventor and elected Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors

  • Globally Recognized Researcher & Explorer

    • Expedition leader conducting field research across the Amazon, North Africa, Southeast United States, the Mediterranean, and the Balkans

    • Fellow of The Explorers Club and Flag Carrier for WINGS Women of Discovery

    • Featured in major media including The New York Times Magazine, National Geographic, NPR, PBS, BBC Science Focus, and ABC News

  • Award-Winning Author & Science Communicator

    • Author of The Plant Hunter: A Scientist’s Quest for Nature’s Next Medicines (Viking/Penguin Random House, 2021)

    • Co-creator and host of Foodie Pharmacology, sharing accessible science with audiences in more than 135 countries

    • Creator of Nature’s Pharmacy on Substack and the Teach Ethnobotany YouTube channel reaching a global audience

    • Recipient of numerous honors including the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship, CNN Champion for Change, the National Academies Eric and Wendy Schmidt Award for Excellence in Science Communication, and the James A. Duke Excellence in Botanical Literature Award

  • Academic Leader, Mentor & Community Builder

    • Associate Dean for Core Facilities at Emory University School of Medicine

    • Provides strategic leadership for shared research infrastructure and multidisciplinary scientific collaboration

    • Serves on the Board of Directors of the Society for Investigative Medicine and the Advisory Board of the American Botanical Council

    • Past President of the Society for Economic Botany

  • Advocate for Education & Representation

    • Dedicated to expanding accessible science and educational resources for the limb loss and limb difference community

    • Uses storytelling, podcasts, and film to connect scientific discovery with lived experience

Dr. Quave’s work continues to advance innovation in science while inspiring others through education, exploration, and advocacy.