In 2001, Dr. Cech completed her PhD in analytical chemistry at the University of New Mexico, where she studied electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Her research at UNC Greensboro over the past 13 years has focused on the synergistic biological activities of components of botanical extracts and the development of analytical methods to address such complex interactions. These research efforts have been funded in part by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (formerly the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine). Dr. Cech received the Jack L. Beal Award for Best Paper in the Journal of Natural Products by a Young Investigator in 2011, the UNC Greensboro Junior Research Excellence Award in 2010, and the UNC Greensboro College Teaching Award in 2008. To date, Dr. Cech has published more than 30 peer-reviewed scientific papers.