POSITIONS HELD
New Horizons Program Director, Council for the Advancement of Science Writing (2022-)
- Vetting and recruiting speakers for the science program at the Sciencewriters conference
Contributor, Knowable Magazine (2022-)
Coronavirus Files Newsletter Writer, USC Center for Health Journalism (2020-)
Freelance Science Writer (2006-)
Contributing Science Writer, The ALS Research Forum (2017-2018)
Science Writer, Alzforum (2008-2016)
Columnist, Los Angeles Times, Health section (2010-2011)
- Wrote a twice-monthly column called “In the Works”
Contributing Science Writer, StemBook (2009-2010)
News Intern, Nature; Washington, DC Bureau (2008)
Internships during study at University of California, Santa Cruz (2007-2008)
- Science and Environment Writer, San Jose Mercury News
- Content Intern, QUEST, KQED Public Broadcasting, San Francisco, CA
- Science Writer, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Office of Communications
Mass Media Fellow, Los Angeles Times Science Desk (2007)
- Fellowship sponsored by the American Association for Advancement of Science
SKILLS
- Writing and editing for a variety of audiences, from teens to scientists
- Organizing committees and conferences
- Explaining complex scientific concepts
- Managing multiple projects
- Meeting deadlines in a daily news environment
- Researching every story thoroughly
- Providing editorial feedback in a gentle manner
- Working with a team, remotely from home
HONORS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Excellence in Reporting, American Society of Journalists and Authors, 2022
For “Pencils down: The year pre-college tests went away,” in Knowable Magazine
Honorable Mention, Trade, American Society of Journalists and Authors, 2022
For “The incredible diversity of viruses,” in Nature
Outstanding Article, Trade, American Society of Journalists and Authors, 2021
For “Manipulating Memory,” in The Scientist
Top Pick, Data Reporting, Best Shortform Science Writing, 2021
For “What is a cytokine storm?” in Knowable Magazine
Honorable Mention, Folio Magazine Eddies, Single Article, Consumer, Overall, 2020
For “What is a cytokine storm?” in Knowable Magazine
Contributor to Honorable Mention, Folio Magazine Eddies, Series of Articles, Consumer, Science, & Technology, 2020
For Knowable's “Building Bodies” series, I contributed "Regeneration: The amphibian’s opus,” “How do bodies position arms, legs, wings and organs?” and “How do bodies map out left and right?"
Runner Up, The Hastings Center Awards for Excellence in Journalism on Ethics and Reprogenetics, 2018
For “Better beings?” in Nature Biotechnology.
Peggy Girshman Idea Grant, 2018
From the National Association of Science Writers, to put on a local science-writer conference
Honorable Mention, The Bricker Award for Science Writing in Medicine, 2017
Diane McGurgan Service Award, National Association of Science Writers, 2014
Presented to myself and Dennis Meredith for “going beyond the call of duty” as co-chairs of the Awards Committee
Evert Clark/Seth Payne Award for Young Science Writers, 2010
Cary Lu Memorial Fellowship, 2007
Scholarship for study of science writing at UC Santa Cruz
Excellence in Teaching Award, Division of Biological Sciences, UC San Diego, 2006
, 2002-2007
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society,
Elected to membership 2002
EDUCATION
Science Communication Program, University of California, Santa Cruz, 2008
Cary Lu Memorial Fellowship
PhD, Biology, University of California, San Diego, 2007
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Predoctoral Fellowship
ScB, Biology with Honors, magna cum laude, Brown University, 2002
Continuing Education:
Editing Memoir, Editorial Freelancers Association, 2020
Crafting the True Story: An Exploration of Creative Nonfiction, with Jacqui Banaszynski, Madeline Island School for the Arts, 2019
Developmental Editing for Nonfiction, Editorial Freelancers Association, 2019
Developmental Editing, UCLA Extension, 2019 (Grade: A+)
Copyediitng, UCLA Extension, 2018 (Grade: A)
Poynter ACES Certificate in Accurate, Audience-Focused Editing, 2018
Poynter ACES Certificate in Editing, 2018
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Co-founder/Co-Organizer/President, SoCal Science Writing, 2018-present
Group of local science writers who meet for career advancement and camaraderie
Co-organized one-day SoCal Science Writing Symposium, in May 2018, funded by an NASW Peggy Girshman Idea Grant
Continued to organize events, including pitch clinics and a second symposium in May 2019
Edited summaries of symposium sessions
Worked with a designer to create the group logo
Co-organized the group book club, 2019-2020
Careers in Science Writing Presentations—See Careers section
I have given more than a 20 presentations about science writing and my career at universities and research institutes.
NASW Education Committee, 2016-2020
Edited student news stories
Helped select student fellowship recipients
NASW Awards Committee Co-Chair, 2011-2017
Organized the Science in Society writing competition and managed the judging process
Oversaw several updates to the award categories and rules
Volunteer, Science Byline Counting Project, 2015
Tracked men’s vs women’s bylines for a dataset on gender disparities in science writing
Presenter, NASW Annual Meeting, November 6, 2010, New Haven, Connecticut
The Analog Office, Or, How to run a business on index cards, highlighters, and Post-It notes
Session: Profitable freelancing: Starting a business and keeping it productive
NASW Annual Meeting Committee member, 2011-2012
Helped select proposals for sessions at the ScienceWriters meeting
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Senior Teaching Assistant, Division of Biological Sciences, UC San Diego, 2006-2007
Trained and advised new teaching assistants
Teaching Assistant, Division Biological Sciences, UC San Diego, 2004-2006
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
- PhD Thesis Research:
Study of cell-to-cell communication in bacteria during their development
Analysis of how a cellular motor identifies its cargo (Dance et al, Traffic, 2004)
- Attended Marine Biological Laboratory Physiology Course at Woods Hole, 2004
- Short projects in plant biology, fruit fly genetics, yeast reproduction, biochemistry