Kate is the senior scientific writer for the Center for Computational and Genomic Medicine at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Kate has a Bachelor of Science (BS) in chemical engineering and a doctor of philosophy degree (Ph.D.) in bioengineering. As a science writer for a lab, Kate spends her days writing grants and scientific papers. She also oversees journal club and works with students and assists other scientists in the lab with writing related to their work.

 

How did you get your training? 

I did my B.S. in Chemical Engineering at Cornell and my PhD in Bioengineering at Penn. My career aspirations as a scientific writer did not crystalize for me until my postdoc at Penn, while interning with the Journal of Clinical Investigation. This internship focused on developing abstracts, press releases, and other short scientific communications for the journal. The rest of my career training has been informal. I volunteered with Penn’s Biomedical Postdoc Editor’s Club, where I edited students’ and trainees’ journal articles, dissertations, and grant proposals.

How did you first become interested in science? 

My parents like to tell me that I took apart a TV set when I was 4 years old (kids – don’t do this at home, it’s not safe). I guess that means I have been interested in STEM since before I can remember! I do remember disassembling a Casio keyboard when I was young. For me, science is all about figuring out how things work. 

Who was your favorite science teacher growing up and why?

Miss Frizzle from The Magic School Bus because she encouraged you to make mistakes and get messy.

What advice do you have for students interested in a STEM career? 

Choose an interdisciplinary college major that plays to your unique strengths. In STEM, various majors will get you to the same place. From my personal story, I was very interested in biology, but I did poorly in classes where I had to memorize facts (e.g., the names of species or biological pathways). On the other hand, I did well in problem-solving classes where I could work things out based on theory. Choosing an engineering major did not close any doors for me, either as a biologist or as a scientific writer.  

What is your favorite part of your job? 

I really love writing grant proposals! I love asking questions about the research design and generally “poking holes” in the research. It makes the science better and tickles my science bone.