Science Writing
This is what I like to write.
I write reported stories about scientific mysteries and the people who uncover them. To do this, I read research papers, interview scientists, entrepreneurs, and technologists, and draft articles based on the information gathered.
Because I spent most of my PhD reading papers and reviews, and some time writing them, I am good at gauging the significance of studies. I can quickly get to the essence of a paper while appreciating the larger context. This also helps me interview scientists and ask them relevant questions. A science journalism workshop run by Anil Ananthaswamy and Peter Aldhous taught me the basic skills needed to write about empirical enigmas. I have refined these skills over the past 4 years by writing for outlets like the Massive Science Consortium, The Scientist, and The Wire Science.
I write both short- and long-form stories, but have a penchant for the latter. I delight in weaving different viewpoints together to give readers snapshots of entire fields of research. I believe this helps people appreciate the nuances of doing research and the fact that science is rarely a straight shot from hypothesis to result.
I also write press releases and profiles of people who conduct research in different capacities, be it as scientists, facility managers, or technicians.
In a quest to showcase the research done in lesser-known Indian insitutes, I co-founded a website with some scientist friends. We sought out and interviewed several Indian scientists and wrote about their work. This was a fun project, but is unfortunately on hiatus as all the contributors are scattered across different continents.
Here’s a sample of things I’ve written (you can find the whole list here):
long-form
Deepti and her mutant fruit flies
The Life of Science · July 14, 2020
Profile of the fly facility manager at the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore.
The nuts and bolts of getting science done
The Life of Science · August 27, 2020
Feature on women who work as facility managers across different research institutes in India.
What’s the Deal with Bacterial Nanotubes?
The Scientist · June 1, 2021
Feature on the controversial topic of bacterial nanotubes. This article made the cover of the magazine's June 2021 issue.
Mechanisms of Long COVID Remain Unknown but Data Are Rolling In
The Scientist · September 1, 2021
Feature on the molecular basis of long COVID, researched and written at a time when the condition was just being recongnised by physicians.
Microglia as Therapeutic Targets in Neurodegenerative Diseases
The Scientist · October 1, 2021
Feature on the use of microglia, immune cells in the brain, as drug targets for neurodegenerative diseases.
Taking Nutrition to Heart
trEATment - Project Open hand magazine · January 10, 2024
Cover feature on the science behind medically tailored meals and how it informs state-funded health insurance policies in California.
short-form
Aerogel, the world’s lightest solid, can help bones heal faster
Massive Science · November 12, 2019
Article about aerogel, the world's lightest solid.
Ants swallow their own acidic venom to filter their gut microbiome
Massive Science · January 26, 2021
Article about how ants can regulate their own gut microbiome.
Bridgin’ the gap - how scientists solved a molecular mystery and discovered a completely new protein
ScienceOut · March 29, 2021
Article about how a group at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, found a new protein that helps fungi reproduce.
Milestones in Indian Vaccine Development
ScienceOut · April 8, 2021
Timeline of important points in India's vaccine history.
How Companies Are Upping Diversity Among Clinical Trial Participants
BioSpace · October 18, 2023
Article about the steps pharmaceutical companies are taking to increase diversity in clinical trials.
In Hiring, Some Companies Move Toward Focus on Skills Over Experience
BioSpace · November 9, 2023
Article about a new focus on skills in hiring.
5 Cancer Vaccines to Watch in 2024
BioSpace · November 20, 2023
Article about promising new cancer vaccines.
Exosome Therapeutics Are Paving a Path to Clinical Readiness
BioSpace · March 4, 2024
Article about the status of exosome-based therapies.
Psychosis: The Other Big Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Target
BioSpace · March 27, 2024
Article about therapeutics that target Alzheimer's-related psychosis.
rADCs Could Take Cancer Treatment ‘Magic Bullet’ to a New Level
BioSpace · October 21, 2024
Article about treating cancer with radiolabelled antibody-drug conjugates.