Decades of Firsthand Knowledge. Modern Scientific Perspective.
NorCal Seeds & Genetics is led by Co-Founders Jennifer and Jay Michaels, with scientific strategy guided by Chief Scientific Officer Soumya Bhattacharya.
Together, their complementary expertise connects decades of firsthand cannabis genetics, breeding intelligence and institutional knowledge with modern plant science, genomics, phenotyping and data.
Jennifer Michaels
CEO & Co-Founder
Jennifer Michaels is CEO and Co-Founder of NorCal Seeds & Genetics, where she leads strategy, partnerships and industry engagement around a decades-built cannabis genetic resource encompassing rare, legacy and proprietary genetics, breeding lines and preserved seed collections.
Her work focuses on the intersection of cannabis genetics, scientific validation, strategic partnerships and long-term industry development. Today, Jennifer is helping guide NSG’s evolution as the company connects its genetic depth and institutional knowledge with modern scientific characterization, genomic and chemical data and accession-level documentation.
Jennifer’s perspective is shaped by nearly three decades working within cannabis and plant-based industries and by a belief that the future of cannabis depends on understanding and validating the genetic resources generations of breeders and cultivators worked to preserve.
Jay Michaels
COO & Co-Founder
Jay Michaels brings more than five decades of firsthand experience in cannabis breeding, cultivation, phenotype selection and cultivar development to NorCal Seeds & Genetics.
His work spans applied breeding and preservation, including cultivar stability, phenotype and genotype correlation, lineage continuity, germplasm preservation, seed and pollen banking and longitudinal evaluation across generations and growing environments.
Jay’s decades of field observation and breeding intelligence provide critical context around the origins, development and expression of genetics within the NSG repository. Today, that firsthand knowledge increasingly intersects with modern scientific characterization and validation to deepen understanding of lineage, expression, stability and the potential applications of selected genetic resources.
Soumya Bhattacharya
Chief Scientific Officer
Soumya Bhattacharya is a technology and scientific innovation leader working at the intersection of plant genetics, genomics, breeding, phenotyping, data science and scientific informatics.
At Driscoll’s, Soumya leads a federated R&D IT function supporting global breeding, genomics, phenotyping and applied research. His work focuses on building the data and technology infrastructure that supports modern plant science, including next-generation digital strategy and AI-assisted scientific innovation.
As Chief Scientific Officer at NorCal Seeds & Genetics, Soumya guides scientific strategy and helps connect the company’s physical genetic resources and decades of breeding intelligence with modern scientific characterization and structured data. His work supports a deeper understanding of genetic identity, diversity, relationships and distinctiveness within the repository while helping build the scientific foundation for future research, breeding innovation and genetic improvement.
As founder of MotaMati, Soumya has also applied predictive modeling and data-driven approaches to variety selection and climate-optimized wine grape production.
Across his work, Soumya focuses on a common challenge: connecting plant genetics, scientific knowledge and data in ways that deepen understanding and create new possibilities for research and innovation.
Together
Connecting Experience With Science
NSG’s leadership brings together different but complementary forms of expertise.
Strategy & Industry
Jennifer provides strategic and industry leadership.
Applied Breeding
Jay brings decades of applied breeding knowledge and firsthand understanding of cannabis genetics.
Science & Data
Soumya connects those resources with modern plant science, genomics and data.
Together, they are working to preserve the depth and history of NSG’s genetic resource while building the scientific understanding needed to carry it forward.
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