Michael received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Utah in May 2013. As an undergraduate researcher with Dr. Jost O.L. Wendt he developed a temperature controlled ash deposition probe to study ash deposits in a pilot scale oxy-coal combustion furnace. Additionally, Michael spent a summer taking part in the National Science Foundation's Research Experience for Undergraduates working for Oscilla Power, Inc. where his project detailed the investigation into, and design of, a preliminary corrosion protection system for a novel wave energy harvester.

Michael joined the Castner group as an NSF-GRFP Fellow in January 2014. Through collaboration with Dr. James Carothers, he aims to design and characterize nanoparticle delivery of diagnostic/therapeutic RNA-based genetic programs using XPS and ToF-SIMS.

In his spare time, Michael enjoys playing the piano, singing, traveling, horseback riding, and being an uncle.