Resume
Professional Experience
Freelance science writer, 2006–present
See favorite clips here.
Instructor in science writing, UCLA Extension, starting fall 2024
“The Health Divide” newsletter co-author, University of Southern California Annenberg Center for Health Journalism, 2023–present
Newsletter focuses on health inequities in the United States
New Horizons in Science Program Director, Council for the Advancement of Science Writing, 2022–present
Recruiting speakers and organizing 14–17 sessions featuring scientists and science journalists for the annual Sciencewriters conference
Contributor, Knowable Magazine, 2022–present
“Coronavirus Files” newsletter author, USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism, 2020–2023
Weekly newsletter on pandemic science and health issues
Reporter, The ALS Research Forum, 2017–2018
ALS Reporter, Alzforum, 2008–2016
Covered weekly journal-based news and conferences
Columnist, Los Angeles Times Health Section, 2010–2011
Penned a twice-monthly column, “In the Works”
Contributing Writer, StemBook, 2009–2010
Internships
Nature, Washington, D.C., bureau, 2008
San Jose Mercury News, 2008
QUEST, KQED Public Broadcasting, San Francisco, 2008
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, 2007
LA Times Science Desk, 2007
Education
Certificate, Science Communication Program, University of California, Santa Cruz, 2008
PhD, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 2007
ScB, Biology with Honors, magna cum laude, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, 2002
Awards
Excellence in Reporting Award, American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA), 2022
for “Pencils Down: The Year Pre-College Tests Went Away” in Knowable Magazine
Honorable Mention, Trade, ASJA, 2022
for “The Incredible Diversity of Viruses” in Nature
Outstanding Article, Trade, ASJA, 2021
for “Manipulating Memory” in The Scientist
Top Pick, News, Investigative, or Data, Best Shortform Science Writing, July–December 2020
for “What is a Cytokine Storm?” in Knowable Magazine
Honorable Mention, Consumer, Folio Magazine Eddies, 2020
for “What is a Cytokine Storm?” in Knowable Magazine
Contributor to Series of Articles, Consumer, Science & Technology, Honorable Mention, Folio Magazine Eddies, 2020
Runner-up, The Hastings Center Awards for Excellence in Journalism on Ethics and Reprogenetics, 2018
for “Better Beings?” in Nature Biotechnology
Honorable Mention, Bricker Award for Science Writing in Medicine, 2017
Diane McGurgan Service Award, National Association of Science Writers, 2014
For “going beyond the call of duty” as co-chairs of the Awards Committee
Evert Clark/Seth Payne Award for Young Science Writers, 2010
Award for a science journalist aged 30 or younger
Excellence in Teaching Award, UCSD School of Biological Sciences, 2007
Professional Service
Co-founder, SoCal Science Writing Group, 2018–2024
Organized a local professional group and activities
Co-organized two symposia serving ~100 attendees each
President, 2022–2024
Brought group back from brink of dissolution
Recruited and managed committee members
Led 2023 membership drive
Revamped group website
Education Committee, NASW, 2016–2020
Co-chair, Awards Committee, NASW, 2011–2017
Organized judging and updated categories and procedures for the Science and Society Awards
Programs Committee, NASW, 2011–2012
Helped select session proposals for the annual Sciencewriters conference
Newsletter Committee, Association for Women in Science, San Diego Chapter, 2006–2007
Grants & Fellowships
Broad Institute Media Boot Camp, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2023
Peggy Girshman Idea Grant co-recipient, NASW, 2018
Obtained funding for a local science writing conference
The Cary Lu Fellowship in Science Communication, UCSC Science Communication, 2007
Scholarship awarded to a student who “shows exceptional promise as a thoughtful and distinctive science journalist”
Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowship, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2007
Highly competitive program places STEM students at media organizations nationwide for a 10-week summer internship
Physiology Course, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, 2004
Predoctoral Fellowship in Biological Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 2002–2007
Five-year fellowships to fund doctoral study
Continuing Education
Editing Memoir, Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA), 2020
Developmental Editing of Nonfiction, EFA, 2019
Developmental Editing, Grade: A+, University of California, Los Angeles, Extension, 2019
Copyediting, Grade: A, UCLA Extension, 2018
Poynter/ACES Certificate in Accurate, Audience-Focused Editing, 2018
Poynter/ACES Introductory Certificate in Editing, 2018
Teaching Experience
Senior Teaching Assistant, UCSD School of Biological Sciences, 2006–2007
Trained and evaluated other teaching assistants
Teaching Assistant, UCSD School of Biological Sciences, 2004–2006
Research Experience
PhD thesis topics:
Bacterial cell development in Bacillus subtilis
Molecular motors and their cargo in eukaryotic cells
Publication: Dance et al., Regulation of myosin-IV targeting to endocytic compartments, Traffic 2004 Oct;5(1):798–813
Skills
Writing and editing for a variety of audiences, from students to expert scientists
Organizing committees and conferences
Public speaking
Managing multiple projects in a fast-paced environment
Working with a team, remotely from home
Providing constructive, collegial editorial feedback
Tenacious and thorough research and reporting
Speaking Experience
“Extra! Extra! How to Pitch Science News,” ComSciCon, The Communicating Science workshop for graduate students, Memphis, Tennessee, 2022
“The Analog Office, or, how to run a business with index cards, highlighters and Post-It notes,” Sciencewriters conference, NASW, New Haven, Connecticut, 2010
Career Transition Talks, 2010–2022:
Career Development Lunch, 16th international Congress on Toxoplasmosis and Toxoplasma gondii Research, Riverside, California, May 23, 2022
Graduate student science communication class, Stanford University, July 23, 2021
CuriousSCIENCEWriters, Americans for Medical Progress, July 15, 2021
Postdoc career mentoring program, Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, November 11, 2020
Science Communication in English, Chemitz University of Technology, July 7, 2020
Beyond Academia Conference, University of California, Santa Barbara, February 28, 2020
Graduate School Fundamentals: Introduction to Graduate Studies in the School of Biological Sciences, UCSD, December 5, 2017; December 4, 2018; November 5, 2019; October 12, 2021
Careers in Scientific and Technical Publishing Panel, Postdoctoral & Graduate Student Professional Development, UCLA, November 17, 2016
Coffee Break Science: Communicating Science to Society, Brown University, September 24, 2016
Non-RI Opportunities Workshop, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, May 26, 2016
Professional Pathways Fundamentals Course, School of Biological Sciences, UCSD, April 20, 2011; May 9, 2012; April 13 2016
Science Education & Outreach Panel, Postdoctoral & Graduate Student Professional Development, UCLA, May 14, 2015
Alternative Careers in Science and Engineering, Neuroscience Graduate Program, USC, June 17, 2014
Postdoc Association, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, Montana, September 12, 2013
Career Discovery Lunch Series, City of Hope Beckman Research Institute, Duarte, California, August 10, 2012
Genomics Building Career Day, University of California, Riverside, May 20, 2011
Program for Excellence in Education & Research in the Sciences, UCLA, November 20, 2008; November 18 2010