Soma Chowdhury is seeking a position as a science writer. She has experience writing for scientific publications as an editorial intern at NIH and has a background in biology research. She also runs an independent food history blog. Her resume highlights her scientific training and research experience, including positions at FDA and NIH. She has published scientific papers and demonstrates skills in plain language writing and science communication through published articles.

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Soma Chowdhury
6010 California Circle, Apt. 302, Rockville, MD 20852
Phone: (225)-223-2798 Email: chowdhurysoma15@gmail.com
A biologist who loves writing about and communicating scientific research, reinventing career as a
science writer. Loves working in a group, talking to scientists about their work, and a good public
speaker. Independent food history blogger with substantial experience writing for non-expert
audiences.
Writing and science communication experience
Editorial Intern, National Institutes of Health (September 2014-present)
• Writing scientific articles for the NIH Catalyst, a publication about NIH intramural research
• Assisting in editing and proofreading
• Interviewing scientists at NIH
• Writing blog posts for the NIH Intramural Research Program and Office of NIH History
• Staffing scientific lectures series at NIH
Food history blog writer
• Writing articles on gastronomic history and world cuisine at spicesandpisces.wordpress.com/
• Emphasis on foods of the ancient Silk Route
• Experienced food photographer.
• Book reviewer for publishers specializing in culinaryliterature
Other science communication activities
• Science outreach volunteer at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
• Trained in Plain Language writing (http://www.plainlanguage.gov/whatisPL/)
Professional experience (research and teaching)
• ORISE Fellow, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (July 2010-August 2014)
• Biologist, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (July 2009-January 2010)
• Special Volunteer, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH (March 2009-
June 2009)
• Graduate Assistant, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, Louisiana State University
(LSU) (2006-2008)
• Lecturer in Zoology, Lady Brabourne College, Calcutta (2004-2006)
• Lecturer in Zoology, Victoria College, Calcutta (2003-2006)
• Research Associate, Department of Biotechnology, University of Calcutta (2003-2004)
Education
M.S. (Pathobiological Sciences), Louisiana State University (LSU), 2009
Thesis research: Host immune responses to Rickettsia infection
M.Sc. (Zoology), University of Calcutta, 2003
Specialization in Parasitology and Immunology

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B.Sc. (Honors), University of Calcutta, 2001
Major subject: Zoology, Minor subjects: Chemistry and Botany
Professional memberships
DC Science Writers Association (DCSWA)
Honors and awards
Phi Zeta Research Emphasis Day, first prize for poster presentation (2007)
Lalchand Mookerjee Foreign Travel Scholarship, University of Calcutta (2006)
National Eligibility Test for College Lectureship, Govt. of India (2005)
Professional Coursework
FDA Perspective on Drug Development (FAES Graduate School)
FDA CBER New Reviewer Training: The Lifecycle Approach (FDA)
Science Communication Writing Examples
Scientific Ties Across the Pacific: US-Japan Collaboration in Biomedical Research
http://irp.nih.gov/catalyst/v23i1/scientific-ties-across-the-pacific
Defeating a Devastating Neuromuscular Disorder
http://irp.nih.gov/catalyst/v23i1/defeating-a-devastating-neuromuscular-disorder
Senior Scientists Show Off Their Posters…and Baked Goods
http://irp.nih.gov/catalyst/v22i6/celebrating-the-era-of-the-brain
Women’s Health: Bridging the gap between sex and gender and between race and ethnicity
http://irp.nih.gov/catalyst/v22i6/research-festival-selected-symposia-2014
Public Imagination of Nursing Through Postcards: Then and Now
http://irp.nih.gov/catalyst/v23i1/news-briefs
Research Publications
He Y, Fisher R.W, Chowdhury S., Sultana S., Pereira C, Bray M, Reed J.L. Vaccinia Virus Induces
Rapid Necrosis in Keratinocytes by a STAT3-Dependent Mechanism PLoS One. 2014; 9(11):
e113690
Sen S.K.,Boelte K. C.,Barb J. B.,Joehanes R.,Zhao X.,Cheng Q.,Adams L.,Teer J.K.,Accame D.S.,
Chowdhury S.,Singh L. N., NISC Comparative Sequencing Program, CHARGE Consortium, Kavousi
M.,Peyser P. A.,Quigley L.,Priel D. L.,Lau K.,Kuhns D. B.,Yoshimura T.,Johnson A. D., Hwang
S., Chen M. Y.,Arai A. E.,Green E. D.,Mullikin J. C.,Kolodgie F. D., O’Donnell C. J., Virmani
R.,Munson P. J.,McVicar D. W., and Biesecker L. G. Integrative DNA, RNA and protein evidence
connects the TREML4 gene to coronary artery calcification Am J Hum Genet. 2014 Jul 3;95(1):66-76
He Y., Wang Y., Struble E.B., Zhang P., Chowdhury S., Reed, J.L., Kennedy, M., Scott. D.E., Fisher,
R.W. Epitope mapping by random peptide phage display reveals essential residues for Vaccinia
extracellular enveloped virion spread Virol J. 2012; 9: 217.

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