Resume

EDUCATION

• American Board of Medical Genetics, Clinical Molecular Genetics Board Certification (2005)

• National Human Genome Research Institute, Postdoctoral Fellowship (2003-2005)

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Ph.D., Genetics and Molecular Biology (2003)

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.S., Biochemistry (1998)

WRITING EXPERIENCE

Freelance Science Writer                                                                                            2007-present

Write news and features for national publications such as Scientific American, Science, STAT, Nature News, The Scientist, and Discover 

Provide writing and editing services to universities, research institutions, and funding organizations such as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Mayo Clinic, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund 

Contributing Editor                                                                                                          2007-2008, 2013-present

American Scientist Magazine, Research Triangle Park, NC    

Edit feature articles, compose art plans, review manuscripts, invite submissions, attend editorial meetings, write book reviews, proof copy. 

Regular Columnist                                                                                                                         2010-2016

Raleigh News & Observer, Charlotte Observer, NC    

Wrote a monthly Ask a Scientist column covering basic science topics like ozone, chemotherapy, bats and glow sticks for the general public.                 

Project Manager and Chief Editor                                                                                                  2013, 2016, 2022

Clinical and Translational Science Award Proposal, UNC-Chapel Hill    

Facilitated a large, multi-investigator and multi-institution grant application for UNC to the NIH's CTSA awards, organized meetings and group discussions, managed timelines, and wrote, reviewed and edited copy, which resulted in a 5-year grant totaling $54.6 million. Renewal underway.

Senior Public Relations Specialist                                                                                                  2006-2007 

Duke University Medical Center News Office, Durham, NC  

Served as a liason between researchers doing cutting edge work and health and science journalists. Wrote press releases and features. Developed local, regional, national and international media contacts, tracked and evaluated communications efforts. 

AWARDS/FELLOWSHIPS/MEMBERSHIPS

• National Association of Science Writers Board Member (2022-present)

• Association of Health Care Journalists Member (2023-present)

• Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Journalism Fellowship (2022-2023)

• NASW Peggy Grisham Idea Grant (2021)

• Science Communicators of North Carolina (SCONC) President (2016-2022)

• Science Communicators of North Carolina Board Member (2012-present)

• Science Communicators of North Carolina (2007-present)

• National Association of Science Writers (2001-present)

• NASW Institutional Writing Award Honorable Mention (2019)

• Congress of Regional SciWri Groups Co-Founder (2018-present)

• Silver EXCEL Award from the Journals–Feature Article category for cover story edited for American Scientist, “How to Fight Back Against Antibiotic Resistance" (2014)

• National Association of Science Writers Travel Fellowship (2010)

• DC Science Writers Association (2004-2005)

• Women in Science and Research (2002-2003)

• American Society of Gene Therapy (2002-2003)

SPEAKING/MEDIA/SERVICE

• ComSciCon Careers Panelist (2024)

• ComSciCon-Science Writers Mentor (2023)

• Reporting on Mental Health and LGBTQ+ Issues. Gardner-Webb University (2023)

• NASW Science Writers Roundtable on Self-Care Through Tough Transitions Moderator (2023)

• ComSciCon Careers Panelist (2023)

• SCONC Science Communication in Practice Panelist (2023)

• NASW ScienceWriters Conference Grant Judge (2022)

• UNC Intro to SciComm Workshop Lecturer (2022)

• ComSciCon-Science Writers Mentor (2021)

• Shared wisdom: Coronaviruses/COVID-19, Association of Health Care Journalists (2021)

• Science-trained journalist gives advice on simplifying the genetic details around COVID-19, Association of Health Care Journalists (2021)

• When writing about SARS-CoV-2, utilize metaphors, Association of Health Care Journalists (2021)

• Resources for covering the COVID-19 and variants story, Association of Health Care Journalists (2021)

• ‘Take a pause before saying yes’: 3 journalists on their 2021 writing resolutions, National Press Club Journalism Institute (2021)

• Triangle ComSciCon Expert Reviewer (2021)

• National Press Club Journalism Institute/NASW session on "Writing in Short Bursts" Workshop Panelist (2020)

• NASW Annual Meeting "Second Regional SciWri Groups Congress" Organizer and Moderator (2019)

• Triangle ComSciCon Expert Reviewer (2019)

• Larger than Life Science "Comedy of Science" Panelist with Science Comedian Brian Malow and Editor Karl Bates (2018)

• NASW Annual Meeting "First Regional SciWri Groups Congress" Organizer and Moderator (2018)

• NASW Annual Meeting "Coping Strategies for the Stressed-Out Science Writer" Workshop Organizer and Moderator (2018)

• Larger than Life Science Fireside Chat Moderator with Inventor's Hall of Fame Member Fran Ligler (2018)

• UNC Science Writing and Communications Club Workshop Guest Judge (2018)

• NASW Membership Committee Member (2018-2020)

• World Conference Science Journalists Communications Committee Member (2017)

• Duke Workshop on Nontraditional Careers for STEM PhDs Panelist (2017)

• UNC Science Writing and Communications Club and Training in Biomedical and Biological Sciences Program Speaker (2017)

• UNC Training in Biomedical and Biological Sciences Program Career Blitz Speaker (2016)

• NC State Science Communications Club Speaker (2016)

• UNC Science Writing and Communications Club Speaker (2015)

• Institute of Science for Global Policy, Science Communication Workshop Debater (2015)

• NASW Science in Society Awards Judge (2015)

• Duke Institute of Brain Sciences 'Beyond Academia' Workshop Panelist (2014)

• UAB Science Communications Summit Invited Panelist (2014)

• NC School of Science and Math Science Communications Workshop Facilitator (2014)

• East Wake Academy Science and Technology Fair Judge (2013, 2014)

• Salem College Women's Conference Speaker (2013)

• Delaware Press Association Communications Contest Judge (2013)

• NASW Annual Meeting Planning Committee and Awards Gala Co-Host, RTP, NC (2012)

• UNC Science Expo Exhibitor, NC Science Festival, Chapel Hill, NC (2010)

• NIEHS Career Fair Science and Medical Writing Panelist, RTP, NC (2009)

• Duke Careers Outside Academia Science and Medical Writing Panelist, Durham, NC (2007)

• Women Scientist Outreach Program Participant, NIH, Bethesda, MD (2005)