Reading and writing is what I do . . . with a little science thrown in.
As a kid growing up in the birthplace of the Manhattan Project, I expected to become a scientist. And I did.
After getting my BS in neuroscience from Bates College and working at Los Alamos National Laboratory, I began graduate school at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. But I quickly realized I didn’t want to be a traditional scientist and decided to explore alternative careers, which was when I discovered editing and science writing.
My first science writing experience was as a volunteer campus reporter. I spoke with investigators about wide-ranging topics like designing new vaccines and implementing new treatments for families broken by addiction. At the same time, I found I was enjoying editing and proofreading the articles written by my mentor more than performing the experiments included in those articles.
These experiences showed me that editing and writing would be the perfect opportunity to put my PhD to work. I get to read for a living while helping someone else’s work become the best it can be—and still write my own stories.