Our stories shape the stories we write. So here's a little glimpse at my story: I grew up in New Delhi, India with my parents, sister, and two beautiful dogs (Mystery & Miracle). I knew I wanted to study Biology in high-school, but I also knew that I didn't want to stop there. I wanted to broaden my horizons. I had the privilege of doing that by moving to the U.S. to get a liberal arts education at Washington University in St. Louis. I majored in Biology and picked up a minor in Biomedical Physics. But, the greatest thing to happen to me at WashU (besides all the wonderful people I met), was a discovery about myself. Turns out, I loved the social sciences just as much as the sciences. Upon this realization, I minored in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and the perspective I gained from experiencing the social sciences shapes the science and science communication I do today.
Upon graduating, I moved to Boston to start a PhD program in Biological & Biomedical Studies at Harvard Medical School. I found my home in a gut microbiology lab where now I study how our gut microbes interact with us. When not holding a pipette, I am holding a metaphorical pen. I write for a number of scicomm endeavors including WOWSTEM & MicroBites. . I am driven by the need to humanize science and make it accessible to the public. I am also always looking to build upon my skills, and finding ways to stitch together science and social justice in meaningful ways.
When I am free of both pipette and pen, you can find me exploring Boston through its plethora of coffee shops, seeking out live music, rummaging through the lab snack drawer to find chocolate or taking care of my beautiful plants (Willow, Ivy, Dorothea, and Inez).
The classic HMS photo, about 2 years into my PhD
Some German cold brew on my first trip back home in 2 years
© 2022 Manasvi Verma.