PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Freelance Science Journalist and Editor 2007-present
Write news and features for national publications including Scientific American, Knowable, Smithsonian, Science, STAT, Nautilus, Nature News, and Discover.
Serve as contributing editor at American Scientist magazine, working with authors, editing feature articles, composing art plans, inviting submissions, attending editorial meetings, and writing book reviews.
Received a 2022-2023 Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Journalism Fellowship to produce a long-form piece for Scientific American on the mental health of parents and families of LGBTQ+ youth.
Freelance Science Communications Writer and Editor 2007-present
Edit and contribute to publications at universities, research institutions, and nonprofits such as the Mayo Clinic, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.
Serve as an adjunct faculty member at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Senior Public Relations Specialist 2006-2007
Duke University Medical Center News Office
Covered genetics, genomics, and neuroscience; built relationships with scientists and journalists.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND MEMBERSHIPS
National Association of Science Writers Board Member (2022-present)
Science Communicators of North Carolina Board Member (2012-present)
NASW Voting Delegate, World Conference of Science Journalists (2025)
ScienceWriters2024 Steering Committee Member (2024)
ComSci-Con Science Writers Mentor (2024)
Association of Health Care Journalists Member (2023-present)
Science Communicators of North Carolina (SCONC) President (2016-2022)
Congress of Regional SciWri Groups Co-Founder (2018-2020)
ComSciCon-Science Writers Mentor (2023)
NASW ScienceWriters Travel Grant Judge (2022)
ComSciCon-Science Writers Mentor (2021)
Triangle ComSciCon Expert Reviewer (2021)
Triangle ComSciCon Expert Reviewer (2019)
NASW Membership Committee Member (2018-2020)
10th World Conference of Science Journalists Communications Committee Member (2017)
NASW Science in Society Awards Judge (2015)
Delaware Press Association Communications Contest Judge (2013)
ScienceWriters2012 Planning Committee and Awards Gala Co-Host, RTP, NC (2012)
DC Science Writers Association (2004-2005)
GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS
GSA Journalists in Aging Fellowship (2025)
Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism ‘How to Cover Aging’ Awardee (2025)
Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Journalism Fellowship (2022-2023)
Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF) grant for Science Communicators of North Carolina (2016-present)
North Carolina Biotechnology Center Exchange Group Administrative and Funding Support for Science Communicators of North Carolina (2020-present)
National Association of Science Writers Peggy Girshman Idea Grant for “Science Communications Internships for HBCU Students” (2021-2025)
National Association of Science Writers Peggy Girshman Idea Grant for “Measure Globally, Respond Locally,” a mini-conference on climate change for journalists across the Southeast (2016)
National Association of Science Writers Travel Fellowship (2010)
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS AND MEDIA
NASW/SWCC Joint Webinar on The Shifting Landscape of Science Communication Ethics Moderator (2026)
ComSciCon Translating Academic Research Panelist (2026)
NASW Board of Directors Science Writers Roundtable on Covering Trans Health Organizer (2025)
Science Quickly Podcast (2025)
ScienceWriters Annual Meeting Special Plenary “Living and Working Through Catastrophe as Local Journalists – Western N.C. Voices in Helene’s Wake” Organizer and Moderator (2024)
Science Quickly Podcast (2024)
ComSciCon Careers Panelist (2024)
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)
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)
National Press Club Journalism Institute/NASW session on "Writing in Short Bursts" Workshop Panelist (2020)
ScienceWriters Annual Meeting "Second Regional SciWri Groups Congress" Organizer and Moderator (2019)
Larger than Life Science "Comedy of Science" Panelist with Science Comedian Brian Malow and Editor Karl Bates (2018)
ScienceWriters Annual Meeting "First Regional SciWri Groups Congress" Organizer and Moderator (2018)
ScienceWriters 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)
UAB Science Communications Summit Invited Panelist (2014)
NASW Annual Meeting Planning Committee and Awards Gala Co-Host, RTP, NC (2012)
Women Scientist Outreach Program Participant, NIH, Bethesda, MD (2005)
AWARDS
National Foundation of Press Women Professional Communications Contest, Feature Story, 3rd place Winner for "Families Under Attack" (2025)
Eddie and Ozzie Magazine Awards Profile Story Finalist (2025)
NASW Institutional Writing Award Honorable Mention (2019)
Silver EXCEL Award from the Journals–Feature Article category for cover story edited for American Scientist, “How to Fight Back Against Antibiotic Resistance" (2014)
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)