Arshad Mian is a co-founder and the CEO of Intrinsyx Environmental. He is also the founder of Intrinsyx Technologies, a successful federal and NASA Space Biosciences contractor for over 20 years.

Arshad has worked extensively collaborating with Fortune 100 companies, multiple NASA centers, and international space agencies in managing multi-million dollar NASA programs for Space Station, Shuttle, Aeronautics, Space Biology, Biospheric Sciences, and Space Exploration. He also held leadership roles at Lockheed Martin, McDonnell Douglas, General Electric, and Martin Marietta in support of large NASA programs.

​Dr. John Freeman has worked for over 25 years in researching and implementing cutting edge biological technologies for phytoremediation, and is a world-renowned expert in the field. Dr. Freeman has led projects with world class engineering firms, federal, state, and local agencies and is a well-published researcher in the field. Dr. Freeman is a journal reviewer and has served as session chair at IPEC and IPS, has been a Battelle speaker three times, and serves on the board of directors for the International Phytoremediation Society.

Dr. Freeman pioneered endophyte enhanced biotechnologies for environmental remediation of organic carcinogens. He has isolated and developed cultivars for use in phytoremediation including salt(s), boron, chloride tolerant trees and plants, metalloid and heavy metal, nitrate/phosphate hyperaccumulating plants and grass species. Dr. Freeman works with the USDA-ARS, USGS, NASA, EPA-ORD, University of Washington, and Arbor Day Foundation. Dr. Freeman, working together with Dr. Chris Cohu, has implemented over 30 commercial phytoremediation installations across the US.

Dr. Freeman and collaborators were the first to utilize tree endophyte technologies commercially in the Endophyte Assisted Phytoremediation (EAP) process that has revolutionized groundwater and soil phytoremediation providing enhanced pollutant tolerance and faster degradation rates. This EAP process helps to ensure the success and safety of these installations and helps with gaining regulatory approval for project implementation.

Ahsan Ali is co-founder and COO of Intrinsyx Environmental and supports its day-to-day operations. Prior to this, he was the Business Development Lead and COO for Intrinsyx Technologies, a federal contractor focused on NASA’s Space Biology Research Program. Ahsan served project planning, scheduling, and budgeting roles for NASA contracts and mission-critical projects. He has put together teams of scientists and engineers from across the country for a diverse array of science research and spaceflight missions.

Ahsan’s background is in biotech, logistics, and economics. He has successfully negotiated and managed collaborations with federal agencies and some of the world’s largest companies in aerospace, defense, agriculture, and environmental engineering.

Galen O’Toole is the lead environmental engineer at Intrinsyx Environmental—managing and designing nature-based remediation solutions for contaminated soil, groundwater, wastewater, and surface water. Projects include Superfunds, military sites, redevelopment projects, oil and gas sites, stormwater, industrial and municipal wastewaters, and in-situ remediation of surface waters. He holds a Master of Science degree in Environmental Systems Engineering from California Polytechnic University—Humboldt.

He has over 8 years of experience as a project manager and more than 6 years of experience designing engineered natural treatment systems for environmental remediation, water reuse, and wastewater treatment. Previously, he worked for 5+ years in the water reuse sector managing projects, designing, developing, and evaluating novel water treatment technologies in potable reuse, wastewater, desalination, and salinity-gradient energy production. His goal is to continue developing regenerative, nature-based solutions for benefiting public health, access to clean water, environmental restoration, and redevelopment.

Renee Murphy is an environmental scientist and director of sales specializing in endophyte-assisted phytotechnology for ecological restoration and environmental remediation. She holds a Master’s in Plant Science/Agriculture from Cal Poly Pomona and a Bachelor’s in Business from the University of Southern California.  

As a project manager, Renee has played a key role in the installation of endophyte-assisted phytoremediation systems across California and South Africa, helping secure regulatory approvals and advancing native ecological restoration on drought-impacted sites.  

A recognized educator and speaker, Renee has taken the international TEDx stage twice, sharing how plants and microbes can heal polluted environments. She has presented to NASA Ames Green Team, Sustainable Silicon Valley, the Alaska Forum for the Environment, National Brownfields Training Conference, AEHS-West, the American Institute of Professional Geologists, the Washington, D.C. EPA, and the Sustainability for Remediation in Madrid, Spain. She was also honored as the international keynote speaker at NICOLA 2022 Resiliency, Nature & Climate Solutions in South Africa.  

In addition to her research and consulting work, Renee is an instructor at Western Nevada College, where she teaches Sustainable Gardening, equipping students with the knowledge to create resilient and ecologically sound landscapes. She actively engages in community outreach, serving as a speaker and workshop instructor for the California Native Plant Society and Master Gardeners, and was the keynote speaker for the 2024 San Diego Gather and Grow event.  

​

Edo Guttman is an experienced Remediation Project Manager at Intrinsyx Environmental, bringing over 15 years of expertise in environmental site assessment, management, and remediation. His extensive knowledge spans industrial sites (including oil and gas, chemical, and pharmaceutical sectors), railways, harbors, and military bases, among others.

Edo holds two master’s degrees, one in Hydrology and Water Resources and another in Environmental Sciences, along with a bachelor’s in Soil and Water Sciences, all from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Prior to his current role, Edo led the Soil Sciences Department at Geo-prospect Ltd. and served as a consultant to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Israeli Water Authority, specializing in soil and groundwater pollution and remediation.

Amar Kolapkar is an Environmental Scientist, specializing in phytoremediation, hydro-geophysics, and remote sensing. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology with a focus on Environmental Sciences from the University of Toledo, Ohio.

At Intrinsyx Environmental, Amar applies advanced hydro-geophysical methods and GIS modeling to support the design and execution of large-scale remediation projects. His work focuses on developing planting and irrigation strategies, monitoring natural treatment systems, and supporting sustainable site restoration. He collaborates with regulatory agencies and stakeholders to deliver effective, science-based solutions for soil, groundwater, and ecosystem recovery.

Amar’s prior experience includes wetland restoration with H2Ohio and Black Swamp Conservancy, forensic geoscience investigations with F.A.R.F. Texas, and research on Lake Erie’s Harmful Algal Blooms. He also contributed to projects at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's COMPASS-FME initiative. This diverse background has provided him with expertise in soil science, hydro-geophysics, and environmental monitoring.

With a passion for cross-disciplinary problem-solving, Amar aims to advance sustainable solutions across multiple areas of geoscience, promoting   innovative approaches to complex environmental challenges.

Kirby Gimson is a remediation project manager with Intrinsyx Environmental. Kirby has a BSc in Geosciences from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, and over fourteen years of experience working as an environmental consultant at ERM . She has experience working in the United States, conducting field assessments across the Northeast and Midatlantic regions, and in Johannesburg, South Africa. Kirby's experience working in multiple geographies has enhanced her understanding of environmental challenges on a global scale. 

Kirby’s career evolved from conducting extensive field assessments to managing complex projects and assessing liability and risk for clients in various industries, with a heavy focus on the Oil & Gas sector. Kirby later took on a more technical role, where her focus transitioned to assessing contaminant fate and transport and quantifying human health and ecological risk. Kirby has a devout passion for sustainability and preserving the environment, which advanced into a devotion towards nature-based remediation and phytoremediation.

Dr. Christopher Cohu is a leading scientist in the field of plant stress physiology, phytoremediation, photosynthesis and plant productivity, and development of applied agronomic traits. Dr. Cohu received his undergraduate in Environmental Sciences from Western State Colorado University, and his Doctorate in Botany from Colorado State University and the Program in Molecular Plant Biology in 2009. Dr. Cohu has focused his research and career on phytoremediation, plant stress, and the roles of endophytes in assisting plant resilience, productivity, and remediation effectiveness. During his early career, Dr. Cohu directed a team of algae scientists at Solix Biosystems on wastewater effluent remediation, recycling and remediation of toxic byproducts from hydraulic fracturing fluids and gases, biofuel production, and nutraceutical market development. After Solix Biosystems he focused on researching and developing bio-technology methods to improve plant photosynthesis, biomass, and productivity under stressful environments including spaceflight and terraforming, for both crop and non-crop species.

Since 2007, Dr. Cohu has been active as cofounder and CEO of Phytoremediation and Phytomining Consultants United (PPCU). At PPCU he has directed remediation consulting and field deployment efforts to clean up heavy metals, metalloids, radionuclides and organic pollutant degradation using both plants and plant-associated microorganisms in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. In addition to consulting at PPCU, Dr. Cohu is Assistant Professor of Environmental Science and Technology at Colorado Mesa University where he teaches courses on pollution investigation and control.

Having worked and studied for over a decade and a half in the private, commercial, public and governmental sectors of sustainability and regenerative practices, Cuauhtemoc brings a diverse perspective and holistic understanding. Through managing multiple projects across the sectors while complying with grant deliverables, project bids and work plans while keeping all stakeholders contented he understands the need for data accountability, work productivity and clear goals. As a business owner and consultant he knows the value of efficiency, teamwork and a job well done. With tactile knowledge in large scale meso/thermophilic composting, soil food web microscopy, project management, ecological consultation, indigenous microbe collection, biological stimulants, grant development and native plant habitat development he’s a diverse lens and perspective for the team.

Coming from a mixed race background he believes and values the cross pollination of technologies, systems, species and solutions.

Deborah Nardo-Ayala is an Environmental Scientist. She is a Doctoral Candidate at Texas A&M University in the Soil and Crop Sciences Department, researching improved salt-tolerant perennial grass development on native lands in California. Her focus is on habitat restoration and plant pathology in degraded and toxic environments. She holds a Master's degree in Agriculture Science and a Bachelor's degree in Plant Science with minors in Soil Science and Pest Management from Cal Poly Pomona. Deborah is a Senior Scientist for the state, where she assesses plant and soil pests and diseases. She has taught Agriculture Science and Agribusiness Management courses for the Cal State University system. ​