I’ve been fascinated with science since college, when my coursework brought me into close contact with cognitive scientists, whose inquiries into the human mind bring them into a wide array of disciplines. But it was in 2010, when I took my first microbiology class, that I was truly bitten by the bug, so to speak — the microscopic world of single-celled organisms blew my mind, and I wanted to share those incredible tales with the world. My volunteer work at a health-care organization allowed me to launch a new hobby: writing educational material about infectious diseases. That hobby became a career, one that saw me honing my skills in topics such as cancer, nutrition, vaccination, health disparities, sexual and reproductive health, and more.

I love working with researchers and physicians to make their complex science more accessible to a general audience. Their optimism and energy keep me invigorated, and I aim to convey to readers their joy of discovery and compassion for patients.

My bachelor’s degree is in linguistics and philosophy, and during and after college I gained professional experience in a newsroom and at a medical journal. More recently, I earned a master’s degree in public health, focusing on epidemiology. I also spent a year supporting clinical trials, an experience that gave me behind-the-scenes views into the processes that shape our growing understanding of medical science.

My background in both writing and health makes me a little different from a lot of people writing about science. I can interact confidently with basic scientists, physician-scientists, and health-care providers, undaunted by scientific jargon or densely written peer-reviewed scientific publications. At the same time, I have been effective in coaxing my subjects into explaining their work in a user-friendly way, allowing me to mine the resulting interview transcripts for the gems that make a story truly shine. If I can transfer their enthusiasm to my readers, then I did my job!

Education

University of Arizona Master of Public Health, Epidemiology
University of California at Berkeley Bachelor of Arts, Linguistics and Philosophy
Pima Community College Associate of Science, Highest Honors

Skills

Technology
  • Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel)
  • social media (Facebook, Twitter, Hootsuite)
  • blogging
  • digital photography
  • Adobe Lightroom
  • GNU Image Manipulation Program
  • Drupal
  • WordPress
  • Mailchimp
  • Constant Contact
  • Survey Monkey
  • PubMed to conduct literature reviews
Communication
  • working with scientists and physicians to translate complex scientific and medical ideas into language accessible to a general audience
  • working with artists (photographers, graphic artists, videographers, and animators) to make science come alive visually
  • experience working with journalists from print and televised media to coordinate interviews with experts
  • mastery of Associated Press style
  • Toastmasters Advanced Communicator Gold award
  • ability to edit for both space and clarity