Samantha is a postdoctoral fellow who works on genome editing therapeutics. She received her Bachelor's degree in Natural Sciences (Genetics) from the University of Cambridge. During her PhD studies at the European Molecular Biological Laboratories (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, she worked on developing droplet microfluidic technology for antibody discovery. Samantha is passionate about scientific writing and editing, having previously volunteered with preLights. She is also active in science outreach and mentorship and engages often with students in schools and at local science fairs.

Samantha has been involved with JEI as an Associate Editor and Reviewer since spring 2023 and as a Managing Editor since spring 2024. She is looking forward to further contributing to JEI’s mission of scientific education and mentorship as co-Editor-in-Chief. Outside of science, Samantha enjoys reading, needlecraft, and preparing for her next HYROX race.

Education
MS, Physiology; BS, Human Physiology and Chemistry

Bio
I’m a doctoral student in physiology studying how to make physiology classrooms better for students. Education is one of my greatest passions! I have taught in many “levels” of classrooms, ranging from elementary school to college.

I joined JEI in 2023 excited by its mission of supporting and educating young scientists. I started off as an Associate Editor and Reviewer, stepping into the role of Managing Editor in 2024, and I’m now the Executive Editor at JEI. As Executive Editor, I am excited to support aspiring scientists and advance the journal’s mission.

Outside of science, I am an avid mahjong playing, enjoy swimming, learning new languages and exploring the many small businesses my community has to offer.

What have you most enjoyed about your time with JEI so far?
Working with JEI has given me the opportunity to interact with so many creative and passionate students! I have also found an incredible community within our editorial team; it is such a privilege to work with other amazing scientists, educators and scientific communicators!

Education
PhD, Cell Biology, Genetics, and Molecular Medicine; MS Pharmaceutical Sciences

Bio
I am a Technical Writer supporting cancer research. I have a M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Western University of Health Sciences and a Ph.D. in Cell Biology, Genetics, and Molecular Medicine from UTHealth – San Antonio. After earning my PhD, I was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Virigina, where I was the acting Program Coordinator for their NSF-funded EXPAND program – a STEM graduate program aimed at providing guidance, funding, and experiential opportunities for PhD students seeking non-academic careers.

While I loved my work with graduate students, I’ve always had a love of scientific writing and editing! I chose to pivot in my career path to further utilize my writing skills. As a Technical Writer, I assist clinical faculty with writing grant materials, clinical protocols, manuscripts, and other technical documents, in addition to generating scientific graphics and visual media.

I have volunteered for JEI since 2020 and currently serve as the Director of Submission Compliance, where I oversee the pre-review process. I credit my time with JEI for landing me my current scientific writing position, which I absolutely love!

In my downtime, I enjoy camping, hiking, cooking/baking, making latch hook art and rewatching my favorite shows/movies.

Why is JEI important to you?
I'm extremely passionate about science communication. JEI allows me to share the knowledge I've gained from graduate school and my science writing position with the younger generation of scientists in a meaningful way.

Education
MS, Biology and Aquatic Chemical Ecology; BA, Biology

Bio
I have worked at the nexus of science, education, and non-profit management for over twenty years and is passionate about combining meaningful scientific research with hands-on K-12 classroom learning. After completing my BA in Biology from University of Pennsylvania and a Masters in Biology and Aquatic Chemical Ecology from Georgia Tech, I served as the Education Program Manager for a place-based environmental education non-profit. I then returned to the classroom as a certified teacher for Fernbank Science Center, providing hands-on science experiences and educational technology leadership through teacher trainings, outreach programs, and classroom instruction for a large Metro Atlanta school district.

Why is JEI important to you?
I am a firm believer that science is for everyone, and I work to increase equity for marginalized students in science through inclusion, representation, and access.

Education
M.Ed. Mind, Brain, and Education; BS, Natural Sciences

Bio
I have always been passionate about science education! I have a bachelor’s degree in Natural Sciences and a Master of Education in Mind, Brain, and Education. I taught middle school science for several years in a rural Colorado community where I also served as the sponsor for the school's environmental club. This experience deepened my interest in environmental education.

I’m now a PhD candidate where I study the professional development of environmental scientists, from post-secondary students to early career professionals. In addition to my own research, I’m a graduate teaching assistant and the coordinator, at my university, of the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. The Noyce Program is supported by the National Science Foundation to recruit undergraduate students to become middle and high school STEM teachers.

I am currently the Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Emerging Investigators, and I also serve as a Reviewer for both JEI and eiRxiv. My role as Director of Curriculum and Instruction allows me to showcase my enthusiasm for science education, along with my belief that students have a voice in science!

In my free time, you’ll find me exploring the mountains (hiking, trail running, skiing), gardening, and spending time with family, friends, and dog (Miss Millie).

Why does JEI's mission resonate with you?
As a former middle school science teacher, I believe students learn best when engaged in authentic, real-world activities. What drew me to JEI is the opportunity for students to engage in scientific communication and receive feedback from actual scientists!

Education
PhD, Genetics and Molecular Biology; BS, Animal Science

Bio
I am a Research Scientist at the University of Minnesota where I run a microbiology lab focused on the evolution of on-farm antimicrobial resistance in poultry. I've been with JEI since the Fall of 2018 and have held almost editor role within the organization, including being Editor in Chief from Spring 2021 until Fall 2023. I'm a deep believer in that science: 1) should be accessible to everyone and 2) can be found everywhere, and I hope student authors come to see this after working with our editor teams at JEI and eiRxiv.

Since Fall 2025, I have been the Director of Editorial Systems (DoES) where I oversee the technical aspects of both JEI’s and eiRxiv’s submission platforms. I'm likely the person you’ll see responding to your email should you run into any issues or questions using our submission platforms!

If you meet me outside of my DoES role, I will be happy to try and convince you that Brown Swiss are in fact the best breed of dairy cow. You can also find me working on my next needle point project, jigsaw puzzling, trying to master a new recipe, or out walking my dog, Sven.

What have you most enjoyed about your time with JEI so far?
What I have enjoyed most about my time with JEI and eiRxiv so far are seeing the wide ranges of submissions that we get. I especially like working on submissions students have done at home using items around their homes: from how crumpling paper towels impacts orange juice absorption to factors impacting the fluffiness of pancakes - these are always my favorite type of manuscript to read!

Education
BA, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Bio
I am a late-stage PhD candidate in Cancer Biology, studying the structure and function of enzymes that drive a variety of cancers. I am passionate about finding ways to make science approachable to young researchers of diverse backgrounds and experiences!

Due to this, I have been involved with multiple volunteer organizations designed to get students involved in research, such as JEI, the Fair for Emerging Researchers (FER), and the New Jersey Governor’s School in the Sciences.

In my free time, I am a performer in the NYC-based professional a cappella group “Echo”.

Why does JEI's mission resonate with you?
JEI represents an opportunity to engage with young researchers who are eager to learn about how to do good science, from asking the right questions to interpreting results. These skills in critical thinking and science literacy are increasingly important in today's world, within the research community and beyond.

Education
MSc, Integrative Biology; BSc, Biology

Bio
I am currently a PhD candidate in Biological and Chemical Sciences. I study how the plant immune system is impacted by elevated temperatures results from climate change. I have a BSc from the University of Waterloo in Biology, with a specialization in Plant Biology and MSc from Wilfrid Laurier University in Integrative Biology.

I have been involved with JEI since Spring 2024. I began as a Reviewer and Associated Editor, eventually transitioning to Managing Editor before being asked to serve as the Submissions Editor for eiRxiv.

Outside of research and volunteering, I am an aspiring triathlete, avid plant mom, and love reading.

Why does JEI's mission resonate with you?
As someone who is passionate about science communication, JEI has been a great way to get involved in the scientific community and to provide meaningful experiences to the next generation of scientists.