I am currently a PhD student at Cornell University in the Department of Plant Biology. Recently, I left my standard PhD research project at the laboratory bench to work towards bridging the gap between science and society as a science writer. I am now combining my training as a plant scientist with the craft of science writing through an interdisciplinary PhD thesis project. The first three and a half years of my PhD training were in basic plant molecular biology and biochemistry research on the self-incompatibility response of crucifers under the guidance of June Nasrallah (link). During my fourth year, I decided to switch gears to combine science writing with my research experience. I am currently advised by Bob Turgeon.

In 2005 I was awarded a American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Mass Media Fellowship during which I spent ten weeks as a science reporter at the Raleigh News and Observer, a major newspaper in North Carolina.

For my PhD project, my goal as a plant scientist and aspiring science writer is to depict the prospects and perils of agricultural biotechnology in the developing world by using the horticultural crop, papaya, as a model. Read more about my research on the controversy over genetically engineered papaya here.

Through the Dreer Award and the department of Horticulture at Cornell, I spent 12 months in four papaya producing countries; Thailand, Bangladesh, China, and Mexico to research the agricultural and economic constraints on papaya production. Anecodtes from the journey are posted on my travel blog.

Since my return in August, I continue to study the Thai language, work on my dissertation, and prepare to teach The Art of Science Writing, a freshman writing seminar in the plant sciences at Cornell to be offered in the spring of 2008. If you would like a peek at the syllabus, please contact me.