Education & Experience

I have a passion for communicating and promoting science, both within the scientific community and to the public. Helping other scientists achieve their goals has always been something I care deeply about, and I believe that I could make a great impact on science in a communications or outreach role!

Education

University of Michigan MS in Chemistry

September 2017 - December 2019

Advisor: Anne McNeil

Honors: Alternate for National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship

Relevant Coursework: ENVIRON 320 Health and Environmental Journalism

Hope College BS in Chemistry (ACS Accredited)

Minor: Writing

September 2012 - May 2016

Advisor: Jason Gillmore

Honors: summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, A.T. Godfrey Award for Top Senior Chemistry Student, ACS Undergraduate Award in Organic Chemistry, ACS Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry

Experience

Science Writing Intern Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

January 2021 - Present

Writing news and press releases for Fermilab’s website and web features for Symmetry magazine
Explaining complex scientific concepts in language aimed towards a general audience
Interviewing scientists and subject matter experts for context on their work

Freelance Technical Writer MaxCyte, Inc.

October 2020 - Present

Transforming technical research articles into engaging B2B content
Highlighting applications of MaxCyte's technology in biomedical research

Freelance PR Writer Reveal Pharmaceuticals

October 2020 - Present

Translating research publications and company news into press releases and social media posts for a small biotechnology startup

Freelance Science Journalist

March 2020 - Present

Funding for All: The Inside Scoop on Grants and Fellowships

National Association of Science Writers Event Coverage

Reported coverage of panel discussion on how to apply for reporting grants and fellowships for science journalism

Questing for Cures from a Boiling River

National Association of Science Writers Student Newsroom

Reported web story exploring the relationship between microscopic life and medicinal chemistry in one of the world’s most unique environments
Winner of 2020 Summer Student Writing Award

Meet Four Ph.D. Students Who Passed Their Candidacy Exams in Quarantine

Grad Students Weigh In on Returning to Lab After Quarantine

ACS Graduate and Postdoctoral Chemist

Pitching and writing feature stories describing graduate students’ experiences with lab safety, qualifying exams, and other changes during the COVID-19 pandemic

To Stop Coronavirus’ Spread, We’ll Need New Testing Technology

Discover Magazine

Reported web feature describing some of the innovations being developed to meet the goal of widespread, fast-turnaround testing for COVID-19

We Need to Talk About Plastic Lab Waste

Bioeconomy.XYZ
Why Aren't Academic Sustainable Lab Programs Gaining More Traction?

Lab Manager Magazine

Raised awareness of hurdles faced by academic “green lab” programs
Inspired three research groups at the University of Michigan to increase their sustainability efforts

Mental Health, Well-Being and Research

UM Chemistry Department SciComm Fellows

Pitched and co-wrote online article on Dr. Jen Heemstra’s research and education initiatives to promote student-invited seminar series

Freelance Spotlight Writer Journal of the American Chemical Society

March 2020 - Present

Highlighting published research articles in brief summaries for a non-specialist scientific audience

Graduate Student Instructor University of Michigan

September 2017 - April 2020

Facilitated 5 sections of undergraduate introductory Organic Chemistry I discussion (fall 2017)
Coached two sections of undergraduate students through introductory Organic Chemistry II lab experiments and lesson plans per term (winter 2018, winter 2020)
Provided instructional support for graduate-level Physical Organic Chemistry (fall 2018)

Graduate Student Research Assistant University of Michigan

September 2017 - December 2019

Spearheaded the McNeil group’s efforts towards organic materials as charge carriers for flow batteries
Wrote and edited grant applications and research proposals for project funding
Delivered quarterly project updates and presentations for collaborators and funding agencies
Presented research posters at two internal symposia and an external DOE research hub meeting

Chemist Kelly Scientific (Contract Assignment at Dow Chemical Co.)

June 2016 - August 2017

Investigated the corrosion resistance of polyolefin coatings on a metal substrate.
Collaborated on efforts to stabilize the pH of dispersion-based commercial carpet coatings.
Co-authored internal reports detailing corrosion test results and pH stability work.

Undergraduate Research Assistant Hope College

April 2014 - May 2016

Developed an analytical method for titrating boron trihalides using N,N-dimethylaniline.
Synthesized and electrochemically characterized carbazole monomers for cation radical polymerization.
Wrote and published a communication detailing work on the titration project, as well as semester research summaries and a final comprehensive report.
Presented research posters at 4 external conferences—including a regional and a national ACS meeting—and 3 internal symposia.

Community Involvement

Interviewing Mentor Fermilab Family Open House

January 2021

Virtually visited elementary school classes to talk to students about the questions science writers ask, to prepare them to interview Fermilab scientists as part of the Virtual Open House

Mentee NASW David Perlman Virtual Mentoring Program

May 2020 - July 2020

Engaged in virtual professional development and mentoring program for early-career science writers to enhance pitching, writing, and editing skills
Honors: 2020 Student Summer Writing Award

Science Communication Fellow University of Michigan Chemistry Department

November 2019 - March 2020

Pitching and writing departmental news updates for the Michigan Chemistry website.

Activity Leader University of Michigan Females Excelling More in Math, Engineering, and Science

November 2018, November 2019

Led hands-on science activities for 4th-6th grade girls from underserved backgrounds

Course Leader Michigan Math and Science Scholars

July 2018 - July 2019

Co-led a 2-week intensive science camp course focused on sustainable polymer science for high school students.
Tested, refined, and edited experimental procedures to create a “lab manual” for the course.

VP of Communications UM Chemistry Graduate Student Council

August 2018 - August 2019

Coordinated e-mails to the department with news about upcoming CGSC-sponsored social events.
Planned and executed CGSC events such as the summer picnic, holiday party, and recruiting activities.
Consulted on the formation of a Mental Health Task Force for the Chemistry Department

Outreach Volunteer American Chemical Society, Midland Chapter

January 2017 - July 2017

Conducted science demonstrations for children at fairs and other public events

Demonstration Leader Delta College STEM Festival 2016

September 2016

Conducted hands-on science activities and demonstrations for local elementary through middle school students.

Publications

"The critical role of chemistry in D&D poisons" published on chemistryworld.com February 19, 2021.

"New metamaterials for studying the oldest light in the universe" published on news.fnal.gov February 17, 2021.

"One minute with Maxine Hronek, DUNE collaboration coordinator" published on news.fnal.gov February 1, 2021.

"Heat-Responsive Coordination Polymers Warm Up To Reversible Motion" Barbu, B.N. Spotlights on Recent JACS Publications. Online January 27, 2021. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 1681–1682.

"Reducing Synthetic Challenges with Reductive Electrochemical Coupling" Barbu, B.N. Spotlights on Recent JACS Publications. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 20913-20914.

"Meet Four Ph.D. Students Who Passed Their Candidacy Exams in Quarantine" published on gpchemist.acs.org November 11, 2020.

"Funding for all: The inside scoop on grants and fellowships" published on nasw.org November 10, 2020

"Radical Mediators Help Electrocatalysts Achieve Their Potential" Barbu, B.N. Spotlights on Recent JACS Publications. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 19411–19412.

"Aromatic Molecules Bond under High-Pressure Situations" Barbu, B.N. Spotlights on Recent JACS Publications. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 18733–18734.

"Ligand Conformation Is Star Player in Self-Assembling Supramolecules" Barbu, B.N. Spotlights on Recent JACS Publications. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 17209–17210.

"Questing for Cures from a Boiling River" published on nasw.org October 3, 2020.

"Esterification Expands to a New Framework" Barbu, B.N. Spotlights on Recent JACS Publications. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 16097–16098.

"Grad Students Weigh In on Returning to Lab After Quarantine" published on gpchemist.acs.org September 14, 2020.

"To Stop Coronavirus’ Spread, We’ll Need New Testing Technology" published on discovermagazine.com September 11, 2020.

"Heavy Halogens Broaden the Photopolymerization Spectrum" Barbu, B.N. Spotlights on Recent JACS Publications. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 14752–14753.

"High-Valent Cobalt Complex Is a Mighty C–H Activator" Barbu, B.N. Spotlights on Recent JACS Publications. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 14005–14006.

"One Small Step for MAE, One Giant Leap for Polyyne." Barbu, B.N. Spotlights on Recent JACS Publications. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 13255.

Fagnani, D.E.; Hall, A.O.; Zurcher, D.M.; Sekoni, K. N.; Barbu, B.N.; McNeil, A.J. A short course on sustainable polymers for high school students. J. Chem. Ed. 2020, 97, 2160-2168.

"Graft Copolymers Remember How to Shape Up." Barbu, B.N. Spotlights on Recent JACS Publications. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 11611–11612.

"We Need to Talk About Plastic Lab Waste" published on medium.com/bioeconomy-xyz June 19, 2020.

"Side Chains Point the Way to Stereoselective Glycosylation" Barbu, B.N. Spotlights on Recent JACS Publications. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 10569-10570.

"Why Aren't Academic Sustainable Lab Programs Gaining More Traction?" published on labmanager.com June 3, 2020.

"Automated Separation Technique Gives Chips Off The Old Block Copolymer" Barbu, B.N. Spotlights on Recent JACS Publications. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 9859–9860.

"Copper Carbene Complex Shines as a Deep Red Emitter" Barbu, B. N. Spotlights on Recent JACS Publications. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 8539-8540.

"Chiral Urea Catalyst Tackles Tricky Terpene Synthesis" Barbu, B. N. Spotlights on Recent JACS Publications. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020. 142, 7243-7244.

"Researchers Apply MAD Skills to Block Copolymers" Barbu, B. N. Spotlights on Recent JACS Publications. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 6447-6448.

"Mental Health, Well-Being, and Research" published on lsa.umich.edu/chem March 2, 2020. Co-written with Taylor Soucy.

Barbu, B.N.; Kosak, T.M.; Prins, A.J.; Gillmore, J.G.; Korich, A.L. Fast Colorimetric Titration Protocol for the Quantification of Boron Tribromide.Tetrahedron Letters 2016, 57, 3746-3748.