• hermit crab in Okinawa

    The scientific method

    is the plot of the

    greatest stories.

    I make captivating stories out of complex results. I have studied or worked in America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Cambodia. This website provides an introduction to my professional work, and shares some photos from my personal adventures.

  • MULTIMEDIA

    videos and infographics about scientific research

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    Study Timeline

    infographic for University of Tokyo press release

    Image created using Canva. Color palette matches university logo.

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    Lemur Love Graphic

    infographic for University of Tokyo press release

    Image created using Adobe Draw on iPad. Playful colors and font chosen to match fun tone of the story.

    The Pregnancy Waddle

    video for Hiroshima University press release

    I edited research footage into this video using iMovie. The press release text is available in the Writing section below.

    Lobsters that Ride and Eat Jellyfish

    video for Hiroshima University press release

    Introduction to one faculty member's research using photos and video that I took during a tour of the lab. Video made using iMovie. The press release text is available in the Writing section below.

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    Numerical Introduction

    infographic for Hiroshima University social media

    Image created for Facebook using Canva. Color palette chosen to match the university's mascot, Hirog the frog.

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    Research Accomplishments

    infographic for Hiroshima University social media

    Image created for Facebook using Canva to publicize one research group's contributions on a global day of disease awareness. Color palette chosen to match university logo.

  • WRITING SAMPLES

    stories in a range of styles for a variety of venues

    Press release originally written for the University of Tokyo in July 2021.  Breeding better crops through genetic engineering has been possible for decades, but the use of genetically modified plants has been limited by technical challenges and popular controversies. A new approach potentially...
    Press release originally written for the University of Tokyo in April 2020.  Three chemicals with floral, fruity scents are likely essential ingredients in the natural cologne male ring-tailed lemurs use to attract a mate. Experts in odor communication say these chemicals could be the first...
    Originally written for the University of Tokyo in June 2019. Click the link to read the story with photos and video.  Leaves can be enjoyed for their shade, autumn colors, or taste, and the arrangement of leaves on a plant is a practical way to identify a species. However, the details of how...
  • ABRIDGED WORK history

    Please contact me for a PDF of my full resume.

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    Science Communicator, Public Information Officer

    The University of Tokyo, Japan

    -Turn technical information into compelling stories on topics ranging from vaccine development to optical physics

    -Generated news coverage in The New York Times (online Science column), Forbes, National Geographic, CNN, The Guardian, Smithsonian Magazine, Cosmos Magazine, The Scientist

    -Write plain-language news articles for university website and press releases
    -Take photos and create infographics or basic illustrations for press releases and social media
    -Design and facilitate communication skills workshops for Ph.D. students
    -Event manager of annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) communication competition for PhD students
    -Invited presenter for communication skills workshops at Falling Walls Lab Tokyo 2018 event and Tokyo Tech ELSI professional development day

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    STEM Education Coordinator (High School)

    Cambodian Children's Fund, Cambodia

    -First science-dedicated staff member at a charity-funded public high school in an urban slum serving severely disadvantaged students in a resource-limited environment

    -Plan and lead 18 hours of professional development for team of 24 Cambodian teachers

    -Mentor a teacher and lab assistant to independently deliver 12-hours of hands-on STEM activities with high school students

    -Graphic design pictorial science activity instruction sheets and experiment protocols
    -Supervise the staff or volunteer leaders of seven STEM Clubs

    -Liaise with other local stakeholders to achieve shared goals

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    Science Communicator, Public Information Officer

    Hiroshima University, Japan

    -Relationship and capacity building within a small team; first non-Japanese member of the 20-person office

    -Generate news coverage by US News & World Report, Popular Science, The Atlantic, American National Public Radio's Shots Blog, and others

    -Plan and lead Media Skills Workshops for students and faculty members

    -Monitor media coverage and create semi-annual reports for executive leadership

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    Science Outreach Educator (K-12 and Public)

    Shell Questacon Science Circus, Australia

    -Contribute to small team with overlapping roles; maintain interpersonal harmony within team

    -Serve as public face of Questacon, Australian National University, and Shell

    -Develop demonstrations using simple materials to explain complex STEM concepts

    -Coordinate and lead professional development workshops for primary and secondary STEM teachers

    -Event manager of 12-member team during two public events with public audiences of over 500

    -Perform science demonstrations for in-school and public audiences

    -Develop and implement 90-minute and two-day science workshops for high school students

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    Research Technician, Lab Manager

    Magee-Women's Research Institute, USA

    -Investigate glycogen storage in placenta, design knock-out mouse using recombineering techniques

    -Prioritize project tasks and apply excellent time-management to maintain 300-cage mouse colony

    -Contribute to forming research questions; evaluate research strategies based on data collected

    -Collaborate with senior lab members to coordinate experiments

    -Streamline record keeping procedures by eliminating redundancies and simplifying spread sheets

  • SKILLS and EDUCATION

    official degrees and brief examples of the skills that you can't get on a certificate

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    Master's of Science Communication

    Australian National University, graduated 2014

    Create print, web, social media, verbal, and museum styles of science communication to encourage public engagement with and comprehension of science

     

    Apply understanding of emotional and psychological factors that influence the public’s perception of science and methods for confronting misconceptions

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    Bachelor's of Science, Major in Biology

    Allegheny College, graduated 2012

    GPA in Biology 3.9 out of 4.0, Overall QPA: 3.6 out of 4.0

    Specialized focus in genetics as well as print and web journalism

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    Diverse and Disparate Teams

    -I have integrated into workplaces in foreign countries and cultures in teams or offices of four to 18 other people.
    -I wrote magazine and newspaper science stories as a remote freelancer, communication with my sources and publishers entirely electronically, often in different time zones.
    -Independently or in two-person teams, I interacted with visitors on a face-to-face basis to engage and excite audiences about scientific phenomena relevant to their daily lives at museums in Australia, New Zealand, and the USA. I adapted my working style to connect with different audiences and collaborate with my co-presenters.

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    Budget, Database, and Schedule Recording

    -I efficiently progress the writing and editing timelines of multiple concurrent science writing and multimedia stories.

    -I accounted for individual requests when creating 13 days of schedules for a 12-member science presentation team and adapted the schedule as necessary due to unforeseeable changes necessitated by weather or illness.
    -I managed the breeding schedule of 40 unique genetic strains of mice in a 300-cage mouse colony. I took the initiative to update the electronic records keeping method to improve improved efficiency and reduce the potential for future errors.
    -I recorded expenses for a research grant budget involving expenses from two different accounts by four researchers.

  • CONTACT ME

    I am currently traveling across America. E-mail is always the best way to reach me.

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    caitlin.devor <AT> gmail.com

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    LinkedIn