I love science, especially microbiology. And I get a thrill from telling people about it.
The Early Years
As a kid growing up in Florida, my mom sent my brother and me to summer camps at the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach. I developed a love for biology, and eventually, when I went to college, I chose that as my major.
Life After College
After graduating with my bachelor’s degree in biology, I decided to gain some “real world” experience. First, I worked as a microbiology laboratory technician at Covidien (Medtronic), a medical device manufacturer. My years working at Covidien taught me how to be a meticulous experimenter (it was quality control, after all). I then worked for two years as a laboratory manager and microbiology lab instructor at Daytona State College. During that time, I gained independence and a desire for research.
Microbiology PhD
During my years as a lab technician at Covidien, I discovered the field of bacterial communication — I guess I have always been fascinated by communication. I thought, “Yes, this is what I want to study!” My passion drove me to apply to graduate school so I could research how bacteria interact and communicate. Part of my PhD dissertation in microbiology involved the study of how interactions between Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus can increase the severity of chronic wound infections. I also explored the antimicrobial resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa because it is a notorious superbug — resistant to almost every antibiotic on the market. Then, during my postdoc, I studied the antimicrobial resistance of the respiratory pathogen Haemophilus influenzae.
My Passion for Science Communication
Throughout my years in academia, one thing always mattered to me: that I could explain my research to anyone, and they would “get it.” I took great pride in being able to distill the information into what really matters and translate it into terms that are easy to understand.
One of the best compliments I received was after I gave a talk at a conference. Someone walked up to me and said, “I got it!” and thanked me for my talk. I want to have that effect every time I communicate. That way, anyone listening or reading will not only understand the amazing intricacies of the scientific basis of everything but also be able to make wise decisions for their health and the environment.
I care so much about helping others to understand scientific concepts that I started a microbiology blog and podcast. If you’d like to see an example of the types of science communication I can do for you, get a sense of my personal writing style, and see how I can draw an audience to your work, check out Joyful Microbe. Here’s some of the positive feedback I’ve received.
My Mission
Now, I communicate science for a living, working with academic and corporate clients. My clients say that I have a knack for this sort of thing, so I know I can help you, too.
My mission is to help you to communicate complex ideas with simplicity.
Let’s work together to get your scientific message out into the world.