Carolina Vazquez Mitchell
Chief Scientific Officer
Ciencia Labs
Carolina Vazquez Mitchell is Chief Scientific Officer for Ciencia Labs and the creator of dreamt, LUCHADOR and QUELL.
Prior to founding Ciencia Labs, Carolina was the Lab Director for a cannabis testing facility, the Chief Scientific Officer for KushyPunch, and the Head of Research for Power Brands, America’s leading beverage consultancy firm. During her tenure, she led several projects for companies like Taco Bell, Pepsi, Quaker, and Gatorade.
In 2017 Carolina founded the consultancy firm KitChem to support companies in the formulation and process development of cannabis edibles, supplements, foods, and beverages. Carolina assisted a variety of cannabis companies with their product formulation, quality control, testing, and manufacturing processes. In 2019, KitChem became part of Ciencia Labs, a Los Angeles-based powerhouse of innovative cannabis brands and products.
She is also a founding chair of the Legalization of Cannabis & Hemp Edibles division of the Institute of Food Technologists. To date, she has developed more than 60 cannabis products with special emphasis on medicated and supplemented snacks and confectionaries.
A gifted academic with deep experience in the developing regulatory standards of the cannabis industry, Carolina’s areas of specialty include organic chemistry and biochemistry research, laboratory testing and operations, good manufacturing practices, good laboratory practices, quality assurance, and R&D for cannabis products, pharmaceuticals, foods, emulsions, and beverages. She has more than 20 years of experience with organic synthesis and extractions and has extracted DNA, RNA, proteins, terpenes, and other pharmacologically active molecules.
Originally from Guadalajara, Carolina received her BS in Chemistry Pharmaco-biology and a degree in Industrial Chemistry from the University of Guadalajara. After completing the Chemistry Ph.D. classwork at the University of Southern California, Carolina decided to start her consulting firm and left the Ph.D. program early with a Masters degree in Chemistry. During her tenure researching at USC, Carolina published in three consecutive years and managed projects funded by the National Science Foundation, obtained awards for over $1,000,000, trained laboratory instructors, and taught organic chemistry, biochemistry, and neurosciences.
Carolina has been featured in Rolling Stone, ABC News, Mitu, and Dope Magazine, where she was named one of the “Outstanding Women in Cannabis”. Carolina is the Science Editor of mg magazine, where she has contributed several stories which debunk widely held myths about cannabinoids.
Diplomas and Certification
● PhD Student, CHEMISTRY (2013-2017) at the University of Southern California
● MS, CHEMISTRY at the University of Southern California
● BS, CHEMISTRY & PHARMACOBIOLOGY at University of Guadalajara
● AS, INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY at the University of Guadalajara
● Preventive Controls Qualified Individual for Food and Beverages (FSMA)
Publications and Presentations
● Publication: CRISPR-Cas9 Mediated DNA Unwinding Detected Using Site-Directed Spin Labeling April 2017, ACS Chemical Biology
● Publication: Nucleic-acid Dependent Conformational Changes in CRISPR-Cas9 Revealed by Site-Directed Spin Labeling. March 2016, Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics
● Publication: Nucleic Acid Structure and Dynamics: Perspectives from Site-Directed Spin Labeling. July 2015, Electron Paramagnetic Resonance
● Presentation: Site-Directed Spin Labeling Studies of Nucleic Acid Dependent Conformational Changes in CRISPR-Cas9. Biophysical Society annual meeting. February 2016, Los Angeles, CA
● Short Course: Cannabis-Infused Edibles: Challenges and Solutions. April 3-4 2019, Institute of Food Technologists Headquarters, Chicago.
● Symposium: Cannabis Edibles: Addressing the Challenges of a Global Trend. June 3, 2019 IFT 2019 Expo, New Orleans, LA.
● Symposium: PMCA’s Cannabis in Confections and Snacks Science Symposium, November 5-6, 2019. Sacramento, CA.
● Panel: Building a Transparent Cannabusiness: Ensuring Product Quality and Safety, July 24th, 2019. San Jose, CA.
Press links
● https://www.playboy.com/read/
● https://mgretailer.com/author/
● https://www.
● https://hivi.life/higher-
● https://cheddar.com/media/
● https://wearemitu.com/fierce/
● https://theevolvemag.com/