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I’m a versatile writer and editor with decades of experience shaping science, health, and public-interest content for audiences ranging from researchers to the general public. I enjoy turning complex ideas into clear, accessible stories and helping teams communicate important findings to diverse readers. My work spans academia, government, NASA public outreach, medical associations, and non-profits, with a strong emphasis on accuracy, accessibility, and impact. Outside the day-to-day editing and writing, I mentor students and colleagues, develop educational materials, and explore new formats for communicating science and policy. I’m energized by collaborations that bring research to life for communities and decision-makers alike, and I’m always exploring fresh ways to tell compelling stories that matter.…I’m a versatile writer and editor with decades of experience shaping science, health, and public-interest content for audiences ranging from researchers to the general public. I enjoy turning complex ideas into clear, accessible stories and helping teams communicate important findings to diverse readers. My work spans academia, government, NASA public outreach, medical associations, and non-profits, with a strong emphasis on accuracy, accessibility, and impact. Outside the day-to-day editing and writing, I mentor students and colleagues, develop educational materials, and explore new formats for communicating science and policy. I’m energized by collaborations that bring research to life for communities and decision-makers alike, and I’m always exploring fresh ways to tell compelling stories that matter.

Barbara Berman (aka Astara March)

Content Creator, Copywriter, Actress, +4

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I’m a versatile writer and editor with decades of experience shaping science, health, and public-interest content for audiences ranging from researchers to the general public. I enjoy turning complex ideas into clear, accessible stories and helping teams communicate important findings to diverse readers. My work spans academia, government, NASA public outreach, medical associations, and non-profits, with a strong emphasis on accuracy, accessibility, and impact. Outside the day-to-day editing and writing, I mentor students and colleagues, develop educational materials, and explore new formats for communicating science and policy. I’m energized by collaborations that bring research to life for communities and decision-makers alike, and I’m always exploring fresh ways to tell compelling stories that matter.…I’m a versatile writer and editor with decades of experience shaping science, health, and public-interest content for audiences ranging from researchers to the general public. I enjoy turning complex ideas into clear, accessible stories and helping teams communicate important findings to diverse readers. My work spans academia, government, NASA public outreach, medical associations, and non-profits, with a strong emphasis on accuracy, accessibility, and impact. Outside the day-to-day editing and writing, I mentor students and colleagues, develop educational materials, and explore new formats for communicating science and policy. I’m energized by collaborations that bring research to life for communities and decision-makers alike, and I’m always exploring fresh ways to tell compelling stories that matter.

Available to hire

I’m a versatile writer and editor with decades of experience shaping science, health, and public-interest content for audiences ranging from researchers to the general public. I enjoy turning complex ideas into clear, accessible stories and helping teams communicate important findings to diverse readers. My work spans academia, government, NASA public outreach, medical associations, and non-profits, with a strong emphasis on accuracy, accessibility, and impact.

Outside the day-to-day editing and writing, I mentor students and colleagues, develop educational materials, and explore new formats for communicating science and policy. I’m energized by collaborations that bring research to life for communities and decision-makers alike, and I’m always exploring fresh ways to tell compelling stories that matter.

Skills

Copywriting

Web Design

Presentation Design

Editorial Illustration

Experience Level

Copywriting

Expert

Web Design

Intermediate

Presentation Design

Intermediate

Editorial Illustration

Intermediate

Language

English

Fluent

Work Experience

Editor at American Society of Hematology / Orbis Technologies, Inc.

January 1, 2023 - May 1, 2023

Edit the reviews of basic science hematology grant applications.

Writer at International Black Church Initiative

September 1, 2020 - January 1, 2023

Help explain COVID-19 to the general public, write other documents as needed.

Writer at Foundation for a Smoke-Free World

September 1, 2020 - February 1, 2021

Wrote blogs, op-eds, press releases, and other documents as needed to promote smoking harm reduction practices and nicotine replacement therapies.

Writer at NASA, SLPSRA Division

October 1, 2019 - April 1, 2020

Wrote web features on SLPSRA research projects, launch announcements for the International Space Station cargo shuttles, and helped develop new ways of making NASA and SLPSRA visible to the general public.

Specialist at Daniel Morgan Graduate School of National Security

October 1, 2018 - July 1, 2019

Helped students with their papers and master’s theses, taught writing, worked on special projects.

Writer at American Society for Microbiology

May 1, 2017 - January 1, 2018

Wrote features and edited professional submissions for the ASM’s MicroNow website.

Editor at AMEDITORS

May 1, 2014 - November 1, 2015

Edited papers for Chinese scientists trying to get their work published in English-language, peer-reviewed medical journals.

Editor at US FDA

May 1, 2013 - November 1, 2013

Helped scientists prepare papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Writer at American Joint Committee on Cancer (B. L. Seamon Corp.)

November 1, 2008 - March 1, 2012

Took the record and wrote-up the proceedings of the committees that are changing the rules by which cancer statistics are recorded to align with sequencing the human genome.

Reporter at Inside Science News Service

October 1, 2010 - December 1, 2010

Wrote features on the science behind the headlines.

Writer at Masimax Resources, Inc.

March 1, 2007 - March 1, 2008

Wrote features for the National Institute on Drug Abuse research newsletter NIDA Notes.

Writer at National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH

April 1, 2006 - January 1, 2007

Wrote web features on scientists, edited scientific papers, developed educational projects on the genome.

Reporter at UPI Newswire

August 1, 2005 - August 1, 2007

Stringer for the Health Business desk.

Writer at Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins Medical Center and Medical School, Smithsonian Institution, National Academy

December 1, 2002 - Present

Freelance writer/editor.

Web Writer at HRSA, NIMH

August 1, 2004 - September 1, 2005

Rewrote large portions of the HRSA organ donor website and all of the schizophrenia and anxiety disorders sections under Health Information on the NIMH website.

Staff Writer and Editor at Association of Community Cancer Centers

February 1, 2001 - December 1, 2004

Staff writer and editor for the association’s four-color magazine Oncology Issues, and its website.

Staff Writer at Health24News.com

September 1, 2000 - October 1, 2000

Staff writer for an online healthcare news service; covered breakthroughs and translated science for the general public.

Editor at American College of Cardiology

August 1, 2000 - November 1, 2000

Lead editor for the 60 physician-written articles in the College’s self-assessment CD on interventional cardiology.

Editor at Blood, American Society of Hematology

January 1, 1999 - February 1, 2000

Sizing artwork, proofing, copyediting, and other production work for a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Writer at American Association of Blood Banks

June 1, 1999 - October 1, 1999

Staff writer for the weekly newsletter and monthly magazine.

Writer/ Editor at Georgetown University Hospital

January 1, 1990 - November 1, 1993

Wrote special projects for the Division of Medical Oncology and edited medical documents, reports, letters, and journal articles.

Editor at Georgetown University Hospital (earlier work in Division of Clinical Chemistry)

July 1, 1985 - August 1, 1988

Wrote special projects and edited textbooks and scientific articles.

Technician at Meloy Laboratories

January 1, 1988 - December 1, 1990

Tissue culture for Balb and HEK cell experiments; routine tissue culture, macrotiter, and RIA techniques.

Editor at American Society of Hematology (contracted via Orbis Technologies, Inc.)

January 1, 2023 - May 1, 2023

Edited the reviews of basic science hematology grant applications.

Writer at NASA, SLPSRA Division, NASA Headquarters

October 1, 2019 - April 1, 2020

Editor at EDITORS (Santa Fe, NM and Wushan, China)

May 1, 2014 - Present

Edit papers for Chinese scientists trying to publish in English-language journals.

Editor at American Joint Committee on Cancer; B. L. Seamon Corp.

November 1, 2008 - March 1, 2012

Took the record and wrote up the proceedings of the committees revamping the rules by which cancer statistics are recorded for the SEER and NAACCR databases.

Writer/Editor at Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins Medical Center and Medical School, Smithsonian Institution, National Academies

December 1, 2002 - Present

Freelance writer/editor.

Writer/Editor at Georgetown University Hospital

January 1, 1990 - November 1, 1993

Wrote special projects for the Division of Medical Oncology and edited medical documents, reports, letters, and journal articles for native and non-native speakers of English.