Editor's note: The following column was written by Nejma Reza, the summer science writing intern for Mass General Brigham research. Nejma is a rising junior at Northwestern University with a double major in Neuroscience and Journalism and has been a great addition to our team this summer!
Speaking of great additions, make sure to scroll down to meet Nejma's two new kittens!
About Me
Ever since I was young, I’ve had a passion for writing.
Whether it was crafting novels I hoped would one day be published, or scribbling down poetry or lyrics to my next song, you would always see me with a pen and paper in hand.
In high school, I discovered my love for science. I was initially fascinated by biology, where I could study the composition of humans and animals.
It wasn’t until college that I was exposed to and shifted my focus to neuroscience.
Now, as a rising junior at Northwestern University, I’ve found my happy place as a double major in Neuroscience and Journalism.
What I Love About Science and Journalism
I study neuroscience because of my desire to learn about the uncharted territories of the brain and human development through research. This has allowed me to delve into the complexities of chemistry, biology, computer science and psychology.
Journalism, on the other hand, helps me to understand people, enabling me to become a compelling storyteller and an effective communicator.
One of the stories I’m most proud of covered the launch of a wellness center in Evanston, Illinois, committed to advancing racial equity.
I was drawn to this project because it allowed me to amplify underrepresented voices in the community and use my storytelling skills to raise awareness about an inspiring new initiative.
My role as a Science Writing Intern at MGB has been the perfect mix of my two majors, allowing me to further develop myself as a writer while gaining more knowledge in various science fields.
Important discoveries in science can help us decide the best ways to live our lives and guide us towards the most crucial changes that need to be made to improve human health and help patients in need.
Journalism, on the other hand, helps translate important medical information and scientific breakthroughs in digestible ways that allow for people to understand and act on these changes.
What am I doing besides MGB?
- I recently started a new position as a Neuroscience AI trainer through the Handshake MOVE Fellowship, where I have the opportunity to train and evaluate large learning models (LLMs) to shape how AI tools perform in real-world scenarios as well as review and edit AI-generated content and annotate datasets to suggest improvements to model outputs
- I have been working as an English tutor at Ringle tutoring, where I facilitate conversations with feedback to Koreans requiring improved English speaking and writing skills
What do I do for fun?
- I am a gymnastics coach at my local gym (I’ve done gymnastics there since I was four!), which is a great way for me to stay active during the summer.
- I love to sing and I participate in an a cappella group at Northwestern.
- I love learning languages—currently working on Italian and Arabic—and I have a Duolingo streak of almost 2,000 days!
- I love to read and travel, especially in the summer!
My Summer Reading Picks
My New Kittens
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