Dr. Karen — Biological Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology Editor
Dr. Karen has over 16 years of experience in several biomedical research and science policy positions involving science writing and editing, including over six years of experience proofreading scientific manuscripts. Most recently, as a Health Science Policy Analyst at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), she assisted with the development, writing, and editing of reports and strategic plans addressing current advances in autism spectrum disorder research and health services. Prior to her role at NIMH, Dr. Karen was an associate at a government relations and consulting firm working with universities and scientific organizations, where she helped clients navigate the complexities of federal science agencies, better equipping them to receive biomedical research funding. She also previously gained science writing experience as a Legislative Affairs Officer at the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Office of Public Affairs and at the National Academy of Sciences Koshland Science Museum as a Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Graduate Fellow.
During her research career, Dr. Karen developed expertise in molecular and cellular biology, with a specialization in RNA biology and neurodegenerative diseases. As a Postdoctoral Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) Fellow at the NIH’s National Institute on Aging (NIA), Dr. Karen studied the RNA binding activity of DJ-1 protein and its potential role in the molecular pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease. She received her Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology from Harvard Medical School in 2008. Her doctoral dissertation described alternative splicing of the mRNA encoding beta-secretase (BACE1), a protein implicated in the formation of the amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease. She graduated from Colorado State University with a B.S. in Biochemistry in 2002, and during her time there was named to the Beckman Scholars Program in recognition of her outstanding undergraduate research.
To work with Molecular Pharmacology Editor Dr. Karen, please visit our quote page and request her in the description area.
Keywords: Cellular, Molecular, Protein, Biology, Biochemistry, Biomedical, RNA, Neurodegenerative, Autism, Science, Health, Research, Policy
