Heath Giesbrecht obtained B.S. degrees in both Chemistry and Biology from the University of Utah in 2002. During this time, he worked as a microbiologist / biochemist in the laboratory of Dr. D. Goldenberg, growing and harvesting cultures of E.coli expressing mutant forms of Bovine Pancreatic Trypsin Inhibitor (BPTI) and eventually growing crystals of the mutant BPTI:Trypsin complexes. In 2004, Heath enrolled in the graduate school program at Oregon State University with the goal of obtaining his Ph.D. in organic chemistry. He joined the Blakemore Group in January 2005, and successfully defended an MS thesis concerning synthesis of unsaturated lactones via the modified Julia olefination in June 2008.

"Thieme Chemistry Journal Awardees - Where Are They Now? Stereoselective Synthesis of Z-Configured alpha,beta-Unsaturated Macrocyclic Lactones and Diolides by Intramolecular Julia-Kocienski Olefination," Giesbrecht, H. E.; Knight, B. J.; Tanguileg, N. R.; Emerson, C. R.; Blakemore,* P. R. Synlett 2010, 374.