I’ve been a freelance science journalist and writer since 2010. I broke into the business after getting my master’s in journalism from the NYU Science, Health and Environmental Program (SHERP). Before writing about science, I was deep in the doing of it. I got a PhD in microbiology from Columbia University in 2006. And before officially quitting science, I did a postdoc in Paris studying HIV drug resistance.

I’ve typed many a word about chronic conditions as a reporter and researcher at Health.com (2010-2012) and in the years since. The top photo was taken during a fun reporting trip for Health.com about youth boxing. I’ve covered a lot of wellness trends, especially during a one-year stint at CNN Health (2015-2016). I received a Pulitzer Center grant in 2015 to travel to India and Bangladesh to report on the effectiveness of oral vaccines. The photo below was taken at a research clinic in Dhaka, Bangladesh, during that trip.

Some of the main topics I’ve covered over the years are: mental health, child development, cancer therapy, aging, healthcare equity, food sustainability and natural resources.

Credit Priscilla De Castro

My favorite things are pursuing new story ideas, reading research studies and asking smart people stupid questions. I guess there was something to an astrology reading that a fellow scientist did for me one day back in grad school. My sun sign, my moon sign…they all point to me being an explorer.

I jump at the chance to go on reporting trips. But alas, most of my “exploring” these days is from the desk in my home office in NYC. I do have a lovely tree view from my window and can sometimes see blue jays flit about. I share the rest of the apt with my still-scientist husband, young daughter and two cats who take turns sleeping on my laptop.

In addition to journalism, I write and edit content for research institutions, hospitals and academic and medical groups. I have experience covering scientific and clinical conferences on-site and remotely. I also occasionally write and edit articles for academic journals.

If you’re interested in more details, please check out my CV.