Richard is a trained neuroscientist with over a decade of research experience. He attended Harvard University, graduating cum laude with high honors in neurobiology and earning his Ph.D. in neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University. He studied the effects of antidepressants in fighting fruit flies, dissected fly brains as a visiting scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology in Martinsried, Germany, and measured neural activity in mice while they ran on treadmills. His work led to a better understanding of how the cerebellum, a brain structure traditionally thought to be involved only in movement, also unexpectedly influences the brain’s auditory system.
A passion for writing led Richard to leave academia to pursue a career in science journalism. He has written about the complexity of elephant trunk, optical illusionsthe mental health benefits of reading and that giant lily pad can teach us about building design. His work has appeared in the new york times, National Geographic, american scientist, Discover magazine and new scientist. He is co-author of academic papers published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, plus one and the Journal of Community Psychology.
Richard has worked as a fact checker for Vox podcasts, including the award-winning science podcast “inexplicable.” He was a researcher for National Geographic. Mind Games: On the Road television program and served as a communications specialist in the International Laboratory of Arts + Mind at the Johns Hopkins Brain Sciences Institute.
Richard is the president of the DC Science Writers Association and co-founder of the Johns Hopkins Science Policy Groupthat advocates for evidence-based policies that promote science and protect public health.
Richard grew up in East Amherst, New York. She lives in Baltimore with her partner, a medical illustrator, and in her spare time she enjoys rock climbing, playing board games, and spending time with her cats, Bruce and Richard (who, she is quick to point out, was already named before they met). .)
Richard’s first day is Monday, August 29.
