Journalism and Related Experience                                                                                                     

Freelance science writer and editor  (January 2000 - present)                                                                                                                                                                            

Stories have appeared in:

NPR • Nature • The Washington Post • Technology Review • The Economist • Discover Magazine • The Oprah Magazine • Scientific American • Aeon • Nature Medicine • Popular Science • Living on Earth • The Christian Science Monitor • OnEarth • STAT News • The Open Notebook • Fast Company • Spectrum • Chemical & Engineering News • LA Weekly •

Contract editor for publications such as:  

Scientific American • bioGraphic • Nature • Nautilus • Science News for Students • The Open Notebook • SAPIENS

Medscape - Editorial Director, Features (February 2020 - November 2020)

Penn State University, Harrisburg - Adjunct Professor, magazine writing   (January 2018 – September 2018)

Internet Brands Websites - Managing Editor, Health   (June 2012 – September 2013)

The Rockefeller University - Senior Science Writer (June 2007 - June 2008)
                                                     Science Writer (November 2005 - June 2007)                                                                  

O, The Oprah Magazine - Associate Editor, Health and Medicine   (August 2003 – October 2005)

Discover magazine - Reporter/Researcher (August 2001 – August 2003)

The Economist - Casement Intern  (January – April 2001)

Christian Science Monitor Newspaper - Science writing intern  (May – August  2000)                                                                                                

Research Experience

University of California, Berkeley - Lab Assistant III, marine ecotoxicology (September 1997 – August 1999)

San Francisco Estuary Institute - Environmental Analyst  (November 1997 – July 1999)                                                       

University of Arizona - Research assistant, Pepperberg Labs (parrot cognition), the ALEX project (Summer 1995 & 1996)                      

Education  

M.S. Science Journalism, Boston University, Boston, MA  January 2001

B.A. Biology, cum laude, Barnard College, Columbia University, New York, NY    May 1997

Fellowships and Awards

Knight Science Journalism Project Fellow                                             September 2021 - May 2022

Project focused on the science of forgetting

2019 American Health Care Journalism Award, Trade Publications                                                     April 2019

Second place, for “At the Intersection of Autism and Trauma,” Spectrum, Sept. 26, 2018

2018 NICHM Print Journalism Award, Trade magazines                                                                                 May 2018

First place, for “Autism’s Drug Problem,” Spectrum, April 19, 2017

WHYY Behavioral Health Conference Travel Award                                                                                          April 2018

AHCJ-California Health Journalism Fellow                                                                                                         March 2014

  Knight Science Journalism Medical Evidence Boot Camp MIT  Cambridge, MA           November 2011

Professional Associations         

National Association of Science Writers • Association of Health Care Journalists • Society of Professional Journalists • Society of Environmental Journalists 

Volunteer Experience

826LA, Los Angeles, CA                                             Volunteer writing tutor                            Dec. 2009 – June 2014

Southern CA Public Radio, Pasadena CA            Volunteer editor, KPCC News               Sept. 2009 – Oct. 2009