dōTERRA's Scientific Experts

Dr. David K. Hill

Founding Executive

Throughout the world it is difficult to find an active doTERRA Wellness Advocate who doesn’t know and admire Dr. Hill. His rare combination of natural abilities to listen, love, and teach is well enriched with his vast understanding and knowledge of pure essential oils and how they collectively and independently offer solutions for health and wellness. As a founding executive, Dr. Hill has mentored thousands of Wellness Advocates throughout the history of doTERRA, which has helped cultivate the unique culture found within the organization. As the leading expert in essential oils at doTERRA, he challenges his team to find only the highest quality botanicals and ingredients and provide superior safety standards. He shares his knowledge openly in order to empower everyone to use these gifts of the earth and continues to find new and exciting products for the market.

Dr. Hill encourages the medical community to look at supplementary options when healing the whole person and encouraging wellness. He looks forward to a future where the essential oil community and modern medicine can co-exist in a doctor’s office so that people will have more options and control of their healthcare. Until this day arrives, he will continue to collaborate with the medical community through studies, trials and capable physicians.

Nicole Stevens, M.S.

Research and Development Scientist

Nicole Stevens has been conducting research with essential oils for more than 15 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in technical writing and a master’s degree in Botany and Integrative Biology from Brigham Young University. Nicole has worked in quality control laboratories in the nutraceutical industry as well as academic research laboratories at the University of Utah and the University of Nevada Las Vegas Cancer Research Institute. In addition to research, she has taught courses in chemistry and biochemistry at Brigham Young University – Idaho and University of Nevada Las Vegas. Nicole is dedicated to advancing our understanding of essential oils through research and education.

Alex m. DaBell, M.S.

Senor Scientist, Nutraceuticals

Alex DaBell is the principal scientist for development of doTERRA’s nutritional products. He holds a master's degree in Physiology and Developmental Biology from Brigham Young University. With nearly a decade of industry experience, Alex is well qualified to lead the development of some of the highest-quality nutritional products available anywhere. He enjoys learning about new discoveries in nutrition and brainstorming how those discoveries might make their way into new and existing doTERRA products. Alex, his wife, Lisa, and their three children enjoy the outdoors, making beautiful music, and trying out new recipes.

Thao Le

Senior Research and Development Scientist

Thao has a love of science as demonstrated through her work on Personal Care and Household products for over sixteen years. Prior to joining doTERRA in January 2015, she has been instrumental in creating world class products for Arbonne, Nu Skin, Neways, Dr. Perricone, Pfizer, Procyte, Pharmacia Upjohn and many more at Sorenco Laboratories.

Her experience in working as an Analytical Chemist at Weider Nutrition International for over eight years gave her key insights into cosmetic product formulation. She is passionate about making the best product using the most innovative, safe ingredients and enjoys seeing the satisfaction from Wellness Advocates eyes after testing our products. Thao earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Utah in 1999. She has been a part of the Intermountain West Society of Cosmetic Chemists and served as secretary.

Damian Rodriguez

Health and Exercise Scientist

Dr. Damian Rodriguez has spent most of his life researching nutrition, exercise, and the lifestyle behaviors associated with optimal wellness. Prior to joining dōTERRA, he worked in public health and as a strength coach and nutritionist to professional and collegiate athletes. He holds a doctorate degree in Health Sciences from A.T. Still University, where he focused his research on obesity and completed his dissertation examining national trends in obesity comorbidities. He also holds a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology with an emphasis in athletic performance, a bachelor’s in Nutritional Science, as well as numerous professional certifications in exercise and nutrition.

Dr. Rodriguez is a lifelong athlete who has competed in everything from powerlifting to triathlons. Along with his interest in health, he is also passionate about bringing awareness to autism spectrum disorders. Living with Asperger’s Syndrome himself, along with having served as a mentor to autistic teens, Dr. Rodriguez has written and spoken about his experiences being a husband and father with an autism spectrum disorder.

Brian Lawrence, PhD

Dr. Brian M. Lawrence was born in London, England, where he eventually worked both as a technician and as a chromatography lab manager in the pharmaceutical industry while a degree in Chemistry. In 1960, he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study chemistry in Chicago where he also worked at different labs before leaving his university studies to return to the industry. He later obtained his doctorate in pharmacognosy at the State University in Groningen, the Netherlands while working full time in Canada. Dr. Lawrence served as a researcher and the director of research and development until he retired in 2003. He then started a consultancy business which continues to this day. He has published in excess of 80 original articles and reports and has been the scientific editor and natural products editor of the Perfumer and Flavorist for over 30 years. Dr. Lawrence has also published 13 books and 18 book chapters on essential oils as well as acting as senior editor for the proceedings of the 10th International Congress of Essential Oils, Flavors, and Fragrances. In 1989, he founded the Journal of Essential Oil Research and was editor-in-chief until January 2010. He remains on the JEOR editorial board.

Aaron Sorensen

Vice President of Quality

Aaron is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Miami. He received undergraduate degrees in chemistry and material engineering from the University of Utah and a Master’s of Science degree from Colorado Technical University.

Dr. Prabodh Satyal, PhD

Chief Scientific Officer of APRC

Dr. Prabodh Satyal is the chief scientific officer and owner of the Aromatic Plant Research Center (APRC). Originally from Nepal, he earned his master’s and doctorate in essential oil research from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He’s studied the chemical compositions of more than 30,000 essential oils from various parts of the world, published more than 100 research articles in peer-reviewed journals, and served as a purity analyst for nearly 10 years. Dr. Satyal has a special interest in essential oil adulteration detection using marker-based analysis and has created the only known mass spectral library of synthetic markers. He’s currently developing the first-ever fully automated adulteration analysis software for GCMS, which will identify the percentage of purity, origin, and mixed sources in essential oils.