Michael Pizzolato

I am a Cannabis cultivation professional with commercial indoor hydroponic production experience and a Bachelor's degree in Plant and Soil Systems with a concentration in Medicinal Plant Science. I have experience supporting large scale indoor cannabis production, optimizing plant health and yields, and assisting advanced agricultural research. I am skilled in environmental control systems, cloning, integrated pest management, fertigation systems, harvesting, and post processing.

I graduated with Honors with a GPA above 3.9. I also have strong skills and training in team management, leadership, communication, conflict resolution, organization, and planning.

Agricultural Research Technician at Burden Botanical Gardens Food and Fiber Research Facility (2024-01 – Present)

Agricultural research technician supporting PhD researchers on experimental crop production and field trials.

• Prepare research fields, greenhouse spaces, and cultivation areas for agricultural research projects led by PhD researchers.
• Assist research teams with experimental crop production, plant care, and field trials.
• Perform soil preparation, planting, irrigation setup, and routine crop maintenance.
• Maintain agricultural land, equipment, and growing environments to ensure optimal research conditions.
• Support research data collection and experimental operations when required.

Store Manager at Cali Smoke Shop (2022-01 – 2024-12)

Managed daily retail operations and inventory control for smoke shop.

• Managed daily retail operations including inventory control, customer service, and sales reporting.
• Oversaw product procurement and merchandising to optimize sales and customer experience.
• Maintained regulatory compliance and accurate financial records.

Cultivation Technician at Just Cannabis Company (2019-01 – 2022-12)

Performed daily cultivation tasks in a large scale indoor hydroponic cannabis facility producing approximately 1,500 plants per crop cycle.

• Performed daily cultivation tasks in a large scale indoor hydroponic cannabis facility producing ~1,500 plants per crop cycle.
• Supported production cycles yielding approximately 500 lbs of cannabis every 1.5 months.
• Monitored automated irrigation and nutrient delivery systems to maintain optimal plant growth.
• Performed cloning and propagation to maintain consistent crop cycles and genetics.
• Implemented integrated pest and disease management strategies.
• Assisted with harvesting, trimming, processing, and packaging of finished products.
• Coordinated plant movement between clone, vegetative, and flowering rooms.
• Conducted plant training, pruning, and canopy management to maximize yield.
• Monitored environmental controls, lighting systems, and cultivation equipment.

QA Tester at Electronic Arts (EA) (2018-01 – 2019-12)

Conducted functionality testing on software builds to identify defects and performance issues.

• Conducted functionality testing on software builds to identify defects and performance issues.
• Documented reproducible bug reports for development teams.

General Manager at Yogurtland (2017-01 – 2018-12)

Directed daily store operations including staff management, financial oversight, and inventory control.

• Directed daily store operations including staff management, financial oversight, and inventory control.
• Trained employees and implemented operational procedures to improve efficiency.

Assistant Manager at Raising Cane's (2013-01 – 2017-12)

Supervised staff operations, scheduling, training, and financial management.

• Supervised staff operations, scheduling, and training.
• Managed cash flow, operational reporting, and customer service resolution.

Bachelor of Science in Plant and Soil Systems, Medicinal Plant Science – Louisiana State University (2026-05)