How it started….

My fascination with electro-mechanical systems began in childhood. There
was hardly any electronic gadget left at home that I didn’t open to understand how they worked.
That curiosity eventually led me to a vocational high school to channel my interest and learn about
electronic circuits. When I started my undergraduate studies in 1990, my attention was
focused on laboratory instruments; and I was deeply involved with setting up, maintaining, and
repairing analytical instruments during my graduate studies.

In 2000, I accepted a faculty position at San Diego State University. As a predominantly teaching institution back in the day, SDSU offered a modest start‑up package of $10,000 to launch my research program. The limited budget didn’t deter me; I had already fallen in love with San Diego’s climate and community, and I was determined to make it home.

How it evolved….

Reality set in quickly. After purchasing a desktop and laptop, very little remained of the $10,000 to outfit a laboratory—especially since instruments were no cheaper than they are today. I turned to pre‑owned equipment, eventually buying a broken ion chromatograph with my own money. I repaired it, used it successfully in a grant project, and later sold it in 2003. That single transaction became the seed of what would grow into a large‑scale pre‑owned instrumentation business.

In 2018, I retired from academia to focus fully on my passion for scientific instruments and supporting researchers. Over the next 18 years, we helped laboratories around the world save millions of dollars. Combining technical expertise with my love for teaching, we installed countless systems and trained users across the globe.

How it took a turn….

In an effort to expand our reach and better serve the scientific community, I accepted a merger offer with our largest competitor under a private‑equity firm. Unfortunately, the venture did not unfold as envisioned. Decisions driven primarily by spreadsheets—rather than by an understanding of scientific instruments or the needs of researchers—led to a misalignment of values and direction.

….back at it again!

And so, here I am—returning to my roots and to the work I love. I am launching a new chapter: Alliant Scientific, built on 35 years of experience as both a user and a vendor of scientific instruments.

I want to close by reaffirming my commitment to the scientific community. We may not always be the lowest‑cost option, but we will ensure you receive the right instrument, at the highest quality, with integrity behind every promise. We will treat our customers, colleagues, and community with respect. And we will run this business with passion, humility, and unwavering dedication.