Christine (Chris) Castro has more than 25 years of experience leading corporate communications and public relations functions for publicly held global brands in the media, technology, and health science sectors. She currently serves as an advisor and consultant for an array of startups and privately held companies in the technology and biotech sectors. Prior this, Chris has held the following roles: Chief of Staff at Elysium Health; Senior Vice President, Communications at CBS Corporation; Vice President, Communications at 23andMe; Senior Vice President, Corporate Relations at Genentech; Chief Communications Officer at Yahoo; Vice President, Corporate Communications at The Walt Disney Company; and Director, Corporate Communications at American International Group. Chris earned her B.A. in journalism and her M.A. in communications management from the University of Southern California. 

Claire is a senior communications consultant and writer with 15+ years of experience working for science-based organizations, government, nonprofits, and media. Claire launched her career working for the National Microbiology Laboratory in Canada before pivoting into journalism. She spent half a decade writing and editing for various British Columbian publications. In 2011, Claire transitioned into communications and served in several senior-level positions to support innovative organizations and researchers. Supplementing her experience, Claire holds a B.Sc. in Biology and an M.A. in Professional Communications.

Francina has 10 years of experience in academia with a background in neuroscience. During her Ph.D. and first postdoc, she studied molecular mechanisms in the central nervous system that control obesity and pain. She did a second postdoc focused on understanding how peripheral neurons talk to immune cells to respond to and resolve inflammation. In 2021, she decided to leave the bench and focus on communicating science. Since then, she’s been working with biotech and pharma companies to help them build the message they want to share with the world. Her work involves writing blogs, press releases, articles, and website content, preparing or editing corporate presentations, and assisting with media and investor outreach. She also enjoys writing science news articles for the general audience featured in digital magazines.

With almost two decades of extensive experience in web development, Jorge consistently demonstrates excellent communication skills, a high level of capability, and resourcefulness in assisting clients ranging from local businesses to global enterprises with their website requirements. Armed with a Computer Science degree, Jorge has maintained a proactive approach in staying updated with the latest advancements in computer programming and data science. His expertise spans across PHP and JavaScript, and he is actively expanding his skills by gaining proficiency in the React platform. Furthermore, Jorge is enhancing his understanding of digital marketing strategies, aiming to become an even more valuable resource for his clientele.

Paula loves digging into the details. Her initial passion for science never waned, and although she does not work behind a bench, she makes sure everything that leaves her desk is scientifically accurate and speaks clearly to the intended audience. With a Masters of Applied Medical Science from UIC and degrees in biology, chemistry, & fine arts from Purdue University, Paula functions as a liaison with scientists, helping to translate their most complex concepts into compelling visuals. She has been working with digital media for 30 years, pioneering graphic integration for the web in its infancy, building multimedia programs for CEOs, and leading the way in the transition from traditional media to digital media in the scientific illustration community.