Meet The Writers
Jacqueline Mosko (posts) is a neurosciences PhD student at UCSD, working in the Azim lab at the Salk Institute. Here, she is focused on studying how neural circuitry underlying touch perception may be modulated by internal state and experience. Outside of the lab, Jacky enjoys spoiling her pets (a herd of guinea pigs and dogs) as well as drinking copious amounts of coffee, running, rock climbing, and reading mysteries.
Julia C Gorman (posts) dreams of a future where she sits in a cozy chair in an office full of books and talks to students about slime molds and octopus brains. In the pursuit of that dream, she is currently a PhD student, studying how interactions in networks of neurons can give rise to complex behaviors. For now, leveraging the natural parity of vocal production and auditory perception in vocal communication of songbirds in the Gentner Lab at UCSD. In her free time she enjoys a nice hot tub, running/walking/skiing/sleeping in the mountains, pottery, and freediving.
Anna McTigue is an early career science writer. She received her M.S. in Neuroscience from UCSD in 2024. She is currently the lab manager for the Mertens Lab, studying neural aging at the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine. She enjoys volunteering for science outreach events and recently launched her podcast, Life in Life Science, which offers a peak into the lives of scientists in the field. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor adventures like camping and climbing, and building things with her hands through woodworking, sewing, and ceramics.
Vani Taluja is a Neurosciences PhD student at UCSD, working with Dr. Eric Courchesne and Dr. Melissa Campbell to study how autism begins during prenatal development, and advocate for individuals with profound autism. Outside of the lab, she loves to dance, draw, and bake, and she is always trying to catch the amazing San Diego sunsets!
Madelyn Peck is a neurobiological research assistant working in the Azim lab at Salk Institute. In the lab, she works on investigating the neural circuitry behind cerebellar-dependent motor learning. She received her B.S. in Neurobiology from UCSD in 2024 and plans on pursuing higher education in the upcoming years. Outside of the lab, she enjoys playing volleyball and softball as well as going on little adventures with her little doggy Pico.
Dylan Walmsley is a first-year Neuroscience PhD student at UCSD. He wants to study central nervous system regeneration, particularly how to counteract the repression of CNS regeneration in adult mammals by inducing pro-growth gene expression programs. Outside of research, Dylan enjoys anything active: running, biking, surfing, hiking, etc. and spending time with friends.
Gabriela Franca is a first-year PhD student in the Neurosciences Graduate Program at UCSD. She is primarily interested in using neuroimaging methods like functional and diffusion MRI and EEG to investigate the role of sleep deficits and disruption on the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias. Outside of the lab, Gabriela loves to spend time outdoors, run, hike, practice yoga, and to cook for friends/host get-togethers.
Jessica Arzavala
Donovan Cronkhite is a scientific writer who graduated from UCSD with a Bachelor of Science degree in Cognitive Science with a specialization in neuroscience in 2022; he is interested in how the brain produces cognition and all the ways in which our interactions with the world around us can influence our cognition. He is recovering from a severe traumatic brain injury as of October 2013, and he draws on his experiences from recovery as one source of inspiration for his writing. Outside of writing, Donovan volunteers for The Trevor Project, a suicide prevention organization whose mission is to end suicide in the LGBTQ youth population in the US, and creates digital art pieces.
Where are they now?
Through its tenure in San Diego, NeuWrite has amassed a legion of alumni who are continuing to spread their love for science and sci-comm through southern California and beyond!
Andy J. Arnold (ajarnold@ucsd.edu | posts)
Laura Beebe (posts)
Elena Blanco-Suarez (@westboundsigned | @neurocosas | web | posts ) is an Assistant Professor in the department of Neuroscience and Neurosurgery at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia (PA). She still writes in her blog Brain Chemistry in Psychology Today, and collaborates in local science outreach and scicomm projects. She spearheaded the Spanish translations in NeuWriteSD.
Cailey Bromer (@cbromes | web | posts)
Christian Cazares (@fleabrained | posts)
Minerva Contreras (posts)
Brittany Fair (@brittanydfair | posts) is a neuroscientist turned science writer, podcast host and blogger. She works at the Salk Institute where she writes articles, produces science videos and co-hosts Salk’s podcast, Where Cures Begin. Previously, she worked at CNN as well as Brigham and Women’s Hospital as a science communicator. Outside of science, she enjoys triathlons, exploring vegan restaurants and hanging out with her dog Hazel.
Melissa Galinato (@omneuron | web | posts)
Rose Hendricks (@rohendricks | web | posts) is a Researcher at the FrameWorks Institute, a communications think tank in Washington, D.C. She is also a member of the ComSciCon Leadership Team. ComSciCon is a series of science communication workshops around the United States developed by graduate students, for graduate students. Rose earned her Ph.D. in Cognitive Science at UCSD in 2017.
Joseph Herdy (posts)
Kerin Higa (@kkiritah | posts) is a Scientific Writer/Editor at City of Hope medical research center, where she tries to drink 96oz of warm water every day. Kerin earned her Ph.D. in Neurosciences from UCSD in 2017. Ashley J. usually writes Kerin’s bios, so go ask her for more information!
James Howe (posts)
Samantha Jones (@samjscience | web | posts) is a science writer for the American Chemical Society in Washington, DC. She writes and hosts Reactions, a PBS Digital Studios and American Chemical Society YouTube series. Sam received her PhD from UCSD’s Biomedical Sciences program in the spring of 2018.
Ashley Juavinett (@analog_ashley | web | posts) is an educator, writer, and neuroscientist. She currently works as an Assistant Teaching Professor in Biological Sciences at UC San Diego.
Megan Kirchgessner (@meg_kirch | posts)
Melissa Lau (@hellomlau | web | posts)
Jarrett Lovelett (@unClogSci | posts)
Susan Lubejko (posts) is our former director and recent alum, earning her Ph.D. in Neurosciences from UCSD in 2024.
Ethan McBride (@egmcb | posts)
Nicole Mlynaryk (posts)
Orlangie Natera-Naranjo completed her PhD in Neurosciences at UCSD in 2018 and is currently a postdoc in the Mobley lab. She is interested in studying basic mechanisms underlying cell physiology and signaling, particularly in the context of nervous system development and function. Outside the lab, she enjoys keeping up-to-date with sociopolitical issues, cooking, and visiting her hometown Puerto Rico.
Nicholas Nelson (posts)
Peter Osseward (posts)
Andy Peters (@flickerfusion | posts)
Catie Profaci (@cprofaci | posts)
Emilie Reas, PhD (@etreas | posts) is a postdoctoral fellow in the UCSD Neuroscience department where she uses MRI to study brain aging and Alzheimer’s disease. She is also a freelance writer and editor for the PLOS Neuroscience Community. Follow her at @etreas.
Haylie Romero (posts)
Marley Rossa (posts | instagram: @marley.rossa)
Meghan Rossi (posts)
Maya Sapiurka (@ppyajunebug | posts) is a Scientific Training and Policy Associate at the Society for Neuroscience where she helps develop scientific training materials for scientists across career stages and monitors biomedical workforce policy. Maya graduated from UCSD with her PhD in Neuroscience in 2016.
Drew Schreiner (@SchreinerDrew | posts)
Caroline Sferrazza (@csfrazz | posts)
Seraphina Solders (posts)
Barbara Spencer (@barbara_spencer | posts)
Kelsey Sundby (posts)
Melissa Troyer (@brain_gal | web | posts) is a recent graduate of the Cognitive Science PhD program, where she worked in the Kutas lab using electrophysiological (EEG) and behavioral methods to study language and memory. Melissa is now a BrainsCAN postdoctoral fellow in the Brain and Mind Institute at Western University in London, Ontario, where she works with Ken McRae and others to study variability in the neural organization and real-time use of knowledge due to individual differences in content expertise.
Rachel Tsunemoto (@rtsunemoto | posts) is a graduate of UCSD’s Neuroscience Graduate Program and interested in communicating science through illustration and animation. Keep an eye out for her science-related designs and writings on her website.
Elena Vicario (@evicarioorri | posts)
Margot Wohl (@RadScientistPod | posts)
Ege Yalcinbas (posts)
Other NeuWrite contributors:
Matt Boisvert (posts)
Ben Cipollini (@mrquickowl | web | posts)
Jason Keller (posts)
Jared Smith (@drjaredbsmith | posts)
We’re always open to new members! If you’re interested in science writing and would like to get involved in our group, please contact us!
NeuWrite San Diego 
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