Living the Scientific Life (Scientist, Interrupted)

Who is GrrlScientist?

"GrrlScientist" is the blog pseudonym for a female evolutionary biologist/ornithologist and freelance writer who lives in New York City.

I have spent my entire life living with and caring for a variety of animals, ranging from common household pets and "farm" animals to racehorses, exotic animals and especially birds. I have bred, trained and hand-fed parrots and rehabbed other birds most of my life. Inspired by my love for and knowledge of birds combined with my skills in molecular biology, I pursued ornithology as my career. After finishing a Bachelor's degree in Microbiology (with a focus on Virology), a PhD in Zoology (my specialty was Ornithology) and a 2 year postdoc (reconstructing a molecular phylogeny of parrots of the South Pacific Islands), and several adjunct professorships in the sciences followed by years of un(der)employment, I am still trying to find a job (preferably in academics). Unfortunately, this is more difficult than it appears. As a result, I have been struggling for years to make ends meet by doing a variety of odd jobs for cash under the table. If you have a job available for a molecular evolutionist/ornithologist or for a science, nature or medical writer or editor, please let me know!

I am proud to note that my expertise and lifelong experience with animals, especially the care, training and behavior of parrots and other birds, has resulted in quite a few freelance and consulting positions for me. I have also consulted with nonprofit organizations, strategizing how to use a blog for community outreach and educational purposes and to accentuate fund-raising efforts. I am always interested to hear your ideas for how I can help you meet your needs while you help me meet my needs (rent). I am also available for guest lectureships and speakerships or other public appearances (contact me for a list of previous appearances). I am eager to correspond with those who have scientific papers they wish me to "translate" for the public on my blog and publishers with books that they wish me to review (you can read my archived book reviews to learn more about the types of books that I have reviewed in the past).

If you wish to know more about me, what I have done in the past and can do for you in the future, read this interview.