Strategic Regulatory Writer

Ever since I was a child, I have been fascinated by nature and all the living creatures around me.  I grew up in Slovenia, in a tiny town surrounded by beautiful nature, which allowed me to explore and develop a strong passion for studying life.  I spent a large portion of my childhood observing little critters and their behaviors, especially ants.  The complex social structure of such a small and seemingly simple organism captivated me.  As the years went by, my passion grew and expanded into exploring the biological basis of behavior, and truly snowballed during my teenage years after I spent a summer volunteering in a nursing home.  Part of my daily duties included caring for people with neurodegenerative diseases.  Through interactions with them and their family members, I was able to witness the devastating effects of a nervous system that is ill.  It saddened me to see that in most cases, there is no cure.  This experience deeply touched me and sparked my interest in clinical neuroscience.  A year later at the age of 17, I was diagnosed with cancer.  Besides strength and personal growth, surviving cancer has also given me tremendous respect for clinical science.  I was grateful and humbled that I was able to experience the benefits of treatment advancements, and felt a strong desire to become a part of the scientific community that helps cure people’s diseases.

I started my undergraduate studies in biology in Slovenia, and continued my postgraduate studies in clinical neuroscience research in the Netherlands and Germany, focusing on Alzheimer’s disease, psychiatry, genetics, neuroimaging, and the therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs.  The parts of my scientific work I enjoyed the most were interpreting complex data, effective communication, and efficient project management.  Regulatory medical writing was the perfect next step for me.  I thrive in the complexity and chaos of a submission, and love creative problem solving.  I am diligent and meticulous, while keeping the big picture in mind – getting innovative treatments to patients in need as fast as possible.  As a survivor of cancer, I am also able to write from a patient’s perspective, and know what is at stake.  Colleagues have described me as a strong writer who is well‑organized, has an eye for detail, and excels in managing highly complex and challenging projects.

I am ruled by my two cats, Okoye, and Hugo, and spend most of my free time making strange little critters out of clay at my local co-op pottery studio.  I also do volunteer work as a baker, making personalized birthday cakes and other sweet treats for underserved youth in my local area.  Be it with clay or with cake, I aim to put a smile on someone’s face and make their day a little brighter.  Other interests and hobbies I intermittently dabble in include watercolor painting, fiber arts, going to concerts, travelling, scuba diving, food science, watching B-movies, and bringing home too much weird stuff from thrift stores and estate sales (according to my husband).