Hi, my name is Manuela, and I am a freelance science journalist and content specialist.
Before I became a writer, I was an academic eager to understand more of the world beyond my own research. This curiosity pushed me out of the ivory tower into science journalism.
After I completed my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Material Science and a PhD in Medical Science, I traded test tubes and pipettes for a keyboard and completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Science Communication at the Australian National University in Canberra.
Since then, I have written for publications including the MIT Technology Review, The Guardian, Cosmos, The Saturday Paper, and others. I have told stories about how science helps us discover secluded parts of the world, how it can free a convicted mother who was unjustly jailed for twenty years and how it gradually builds knowledge to tackle a sudden global pandemic. I have written about what happens to the brain in pain, why words can hurt and why some of us cannot resist the urge to eat.
I also have extensive experience in specialist clinical reporting, health care professionals (HCPs) education, writing plain language summaries for HCPs and patients, and conference coverage. I write for The Medical Republic, Healthed, and Rare Disease Advisor, among other publications.
I deeply understand how research happens; I was on the other side of the bench in the past. I can thoroughly screen the literature, find papers, and vet them. I am a rigorous researcher who applies logic and structure to this process. And I see the humanity in science—and scientists themselves. Only when it’s communicated well can science be of service to humanity.
As a content creator, I help my clients translate complex concepts into simple, engaging, factually accurate copy that captivates their audience’s curiosity, and inspires understanding, wonder, and a need to act.
I have worked with Science Custom Publishing, The George Institute for Global Health, The University of Sydney, The University of Melbourne, and Monash University, among others.
AWARDS, GRANTS & FELLOWSHIPS
2023 National Press Foundation’s Fellowship for Covering Rare Diseases
2023 Falling Walls Science Summit 2023 Journalist Fellowship
2023 Science Journalists Association of Australia Professional Development Grant
2022 Science Journalists Association of Australia Reporting Grant
2021 Australasian Medical Writers Association Early Career Award
AFFILIATIONS
I am a member of the Australasian Medical Writers Association (AMWA), the European Medical Writers Association, and a committee member of the Science Journalists Association of Australia (SJAA).
