Rosario Marroquín-Flores
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Founder & Senior Editor
I am currently an Assistant Professor at James Madison University. I am a Discipline-based Education Researcher, which means that my research involves the study of how students learn, and how we develop educational tools and practices that support learning. In my free time, I like to binge watch horror movies, cuddle up with my pets, and love to go camping and hiking.
Maisam Yousef
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Writer and Associate Editor
I am currently working as a Research Analyst in the Crop Science field. I received my B.S. in Biology with a focus in Neuroscience from Illinois State University. During my free time, I enjoy music, reading books, running and hiking.
Emily Kerns
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Associate Editor
I’m a PhD student in the Weber Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. We study fish to understand how animals evolve in response to new environments. I became interested in the connection between the environment and evolution because of my job as a Forest Service field biologist collecting environmental data (I spent my days wading through streams and hiking around mountains) and my undergraduate research experience in population genetics at the University of North Florida. In my free time I enjoy camping, hiking, reading, concerts, and fancy cocktail bars.
Catherine Gooch
Pronouns: she/her/her
Writer
I’m a junior Kinesiology major at Texas Tech University, with minors in Cognitive Science and Philosophy. I currently do undergraduate research in the Perception, Cognition, and Action in the department of Kinesiology & Sport Management. In my current project, I am looking at how reaction time changes when subjects perform a task that is mentally difficult compared to an easier task. After I graduate, I hope to continue doing kinesiology research as a graduate student. In my free time, I enjoy reading, playing chess, and spending time in nature.
Kejah Bascon
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Writer
I’m a 2nd year Neuroscience Master’s student at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. I’m researching a hormone called ghrelin. Ghrelin is like a hunger signal. It makes us desire food, especially treats. I study how ghrelin affects eating habits, especially cravings for sweet and salty foods. I focus on the activity of ghrelin during the mouse estrous cycle, which similar to the human menstrual cycle. I’m also interested in how brain surgery and medications could help treat memory-related conditions like Alzheimer’s Disease.
Outside of the lab, I love going to the gym. I find it is a place where I can digress from my day. I also enjoy watching cadaver dissections and neurosurgery examples on YouTube and I am a total Ghost Files fanatic. I enjoy going out for some pasta and sushi. Poetry is also a strong passion of mine.
Alexis Robertson
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Writer
I received a Bachelor’s of Science in Neuroscience at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN. I currently work as a Researcher at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Our lab’s research interests focus on pediatric tumors and how they occur. We look specifically at mutations in chromatin remodeling complex members. Chromatin remodeling complexes are important for allowing our genes to either be turned on or off in a specific way. I hope to enter graduate school in 2024! My hobbies outside of the lab are dining out, traveling, reading and podcasting.
Mercedes Castro Cabado
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Writer
I currently live and work in Germany. I work developing new products for coatings applications. These products are aimed at protecting surfaces. I have a PhD in Material Science and Engineering specialised in polymers (large molecules used for manufacturing different materials like plastics or coatings). I received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain and received my Master’s degree and PhD in Madrid. I have always worked with materials that contain polymers, so my career path has stayed in the research and development area. I like to participate in initiatives that share scientific information and support the development of young people in science. In my free time, I enjoy going to concerts with diverse music styles and playing the cello. When I’m outside, I enjoy biking and visiting historical places.
Kendra O’Connell
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Writer
I received my B.Sc. in Biological Science with a focus in Molecular Biology and Genetics from the University of Guelph. I am currently working as a Continuing Medical Education Transcriptionist. My projects mainly focus on clinical trials surrounding oncology and the discovery of new biomarkers to contribute to advances in personalized medicine. In medicine, biomarkers are molecules found within the body that provide information on how a person is functioning to help identify and treat disease. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, playing video games, and reading about art history.
Jennifer McFarland
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Writer
I currently coordinate the Program in Neuroscience at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Medicine, from which I earned my PhD in 2020. My graduate research was focused on understanding how blood sugar levels are sensed by the brain. After graduate school, I taught high school science for a couple of years before returning to support the students at my Alma Mater. When I’m not supporting science communication and education, I enjoy doing yoga, reading, cross stitching, and spending time with friends, family and my cats.
Aline M. Fede
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Writer
I was born and raised in South Florida and received my bachelor’s degree in Public
Health from Nova Southeastern University. I am currently in the process of applying to
medical school. When I have free time, I enjoy doing origami, water-coloring, journaling,
and listening to music.
Maria-Olivia Andretta
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Writer
I graduated from Royal Veterinary College with a B.S. in Bioveterinary Sciences. Currently, I am looking into expanding my science career through a master’s degree in molecular biology. In my free time I enjoy watching motorsports and reading.
Charissa Egger
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Writer
I’m a technical writer based in Paris, France, with a background in cognitive neuroscience. I hold an Master of Science in Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience from Middlesex University London and a Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology from the University of Victoria. My research focused on social cognition, particularly how self-perception influences social interactions. I’m passionate about making complex scientific topics accessible to everyday audiences. In my free time, I enjoy reading, writing poetry, and running.
Hope S. Holman
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Writer
I have a B.A. in Human Relations and currently work in the mental and behavioral health field. Part of my mission is to help increase public access to information from research studies and clinical trials. My primary research interests are in the fields of psychology, mental and behavioral health, and medicine. I am interested in both rare genetic conditions and the more common chronic illnesses that people struggle with every day. I’m also particularly interested in how toxic stress and high levels of adversity during life affect health and wellness, and risk factors for disease. When I’m not busy working, I enjoy reading, nature walks, ministry volunteering, and exploring new opportunities for learning and growth.
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