RESUME

 
Professional ​
summary

Jenny Morber is a freelance science journalist with diverse and eclectic interests. She has written about fish camouflage, ancient fossils, 3D organ printing, rape kits, vaginal anatomy, post-mortem sperm retrieval, whale poop, espionage, invasive species, science policy, and more.

 

Previously, she edited scientific documents and grant proposals for Form and Content Media, the University of Minnesota, and others. 

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Before striking out on her own, Jenny worked as a staff writer for PNAS (the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences), a top peer-reviewed general sciences journal, where she covered economics, anthropology, genetics, crystallography, and any other science topic she could get her hands on.

 

After almost two years at PNAS she transitioned into freelance science writing for the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS) and Argonne National Labs advanced photon source before changing her focus to journalism.

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Jenny gained experience in research and academic publishing while working as a graduate student in the Materials Science and Engineering Department (MSE) of the Georgia Institute of Technology where her research focused on nanowires for use in tiny electronics and cancer therapies. She earned her BS in 2003, and her PhD in 2008.

Work​
experience​
Freelance science writer and editor        

2011 - present

 

Jenny is currently focused on science journalism. She also has experience in technical science writing and editing.

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  • Science news and features of interest to the public appear in National Geographic, Discover Magazine, InStyle, Mosaic Science, NOVA, Ars Technica, Slate, Nautilus, Undark, and others

  • Science writing aimed at non-expert scientists and the interested public can be found in Highlights for Argonne National Labs, the front section of the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS), SIAM News, and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)

  • Technical editing clients have included Form and Content Media (electronic and polymer engineering society content), and the University of Minnesota

 

 

Science Writer Media Department
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), Washington, D.C. 
Jan. 2010 – July 2011 
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  • Wrote and edited weekly summaries of scientific papers in diverse fields for distribution to scientists and the lay-media – over 200 completed

  • Interviewed notable scientists and translated discussions into biographical profiles and podcasts

  • Managed and initiated PNAS new media contributions

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Grant Writer and Consultant JVAST/Miltec Corporation 
2009
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  • Co-wrote successful research grant proposals for nanomaterials integration into defense and energy technologies

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Research Assistant, Nanomaterials Research

Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta GA

2003-2008

  • Designed, built, maintained, and experimented with high temperature furnace, vacuum, and class four laser equipment for nanomaterial fabrication

  • Analyzed samples with SEM, TEM, AFM, XRD, and other visualization and analysis techniques

  • Collaborated with scientists at Emory University to explore biomedical applications of these novel materials

  • Presented research to international conference audiences

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Research Assistant, Biomedical Research

University of South Alabama, Mobile AL

Summer 1999

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  • Prepared and examined microscope slide specimens of alligator eyeballs to determine potential causes for increased local alligator/human confrontations

  • Collected and prepared paraffin microscope slides of human and rodent tissues for teaching use, including teeth, brain, and mesentery                                                                  

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Interests and Expertise

Materials Science

Environment 

Nanotechnology

Biotechnology

Artificial intelligence

Science and medial ethics

Science based policy

Death and dying

Weird science

Human reproduction

Bioethics

Sex

Sperm

Poop

Public Speaking

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Professional Memberships

  • National Association of Science Writers (NASW)

  • Northwest Science Writers Association (NSWA)

  • Association of Healthcare Journalists (AHCJ)

  • Northwest Science Writers Association (NWSWA)

  • Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ)

  • Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE)

  • Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ)

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Ongoing education and certifications

  • Genomics for Journalists Boot Camp, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

  • Investigative reporting in platforms: social media, Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas

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Board membership

  • NSWA: member at large

  • The Island School Bainbridge Island 

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Languages

English

Some French

Southern American

Scientific jargon

Education
Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta GA
2008
Concentration: Nanotechnology/Nanomaterials
Minor: Biotechnology
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Advised by Zhong Lin Wang and Robert Snyder
Dissertation: 1D Nanowires: Understanding Growth and Properties as Steps Toward Biomedical and Electrical Application

 

Jenny's thesis topic focused on synthesis and characterization of magnetic iron oxide nanorods and nanowires. This work provided a foundation for continued efforts to  improve tools for localized cancer treatments. The research determined that the commonly accepted solid state nanowire synthesis mechanism could not have created observed nanomaterials, forcing scientists to reexamine generally accepted ideas about nanowire evolution. In addition to lab work, Jenny also created computational models using COMSOL and molecular dynamics techniques.

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Scientific Papers and Patents

 

B.S. Materials Science and Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta GA
2003
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