I’m a neuroscientist and science writer living in Chicagoland, Illinois. Through my work as a medical and science writer, I have extensive experience working with diverse teams to develop and produce stories on a wide variety of topics from bench to bedside, including basic biology research, translational medicine, and peer-to-peer education on newly-approved medications. On the internet, I go by Alie Astrocyte. I am the co-creator, writer, and host of Neuro Transmissions, an award-winning educational YouTube channel dedicated to making the brain accessible for everyone, and the co-author of Brains Explained: How They Work and Why They Work That Way, an illustrated and entertaining guide through the past, present and future of neuroscience and psychology research.
I received my B.S. in Brain and Cognitive Sciences from MIT in 2011 and my Ph.D. in Neurosciences with a Specialization in Anthropogeny from UC San Diego in 2019. My dissertation research focused on how a particular brain cell, called the astrocyte, affects the way neurons grow, connect, and communicate. My research generated a profile of astrocyte-secreted proteins at a timepoint when these cells are intimately involved neuronal development, and I identified several key changes in astrocyte protein secretion that contribute to the pathology of several different genetic neurodevelopmental disorders. This work was published in Nature Neuroscience in 2022.
I’m interested in evidenced-based approaches to science communication and education, and in particular, using popular social media websites for scientific outreach and increasing science literacy. I have also written for other YouTube channels and outlets, including writing 50 episodes for SciShow, one of YouTube’s largest science channels.
When I’m not writing about science, I enjoy spending my time cooking, gardening, and learning to quilt. I look for any excuse to spend time outdoors, and especially enjoy spending time at my family cabin in central Wisconsin. I live in a 120-year-old Victorian home with my awesome, nerdy husband Micah, our chatty and curious toddler, a noisy Siamese named Loki, and a cuddly Scottish Fold named Bill.
Want to know more? Send me an email!
