I led the Rapid Evaluation team at X (fka Google X), the Moonshot Factory, which probed the horizons of scientific and engineering excellence to create new technologies and solve big problems. Previously, I was Scientific Director of The Thiel Foundation, where we created Breakout Labs, a philanthropic program to support bold scientist-entrepreneurs. I was responsible for establishing the scientific priorities of the program, evaluating submitted proposals, and advising our 50 portfolio companies. I was also CSO and Founding Partner in Breakout Ventures, which backs deep-technology companies at the intersections of technology, biology, materials, and energy. I was a member of the Board of Directors of Phylagen and a Board Observer for several Breakout portfolio companies including Twelve (fka Opus 12), Epibone, Calwave, C2Sense, Curie Co, and Napigen. Earlier in my career, I specialized in scientific publishing and communications, first as North American Editor for Nature, where I oversaw the Washington, DC bureau and evaluated research articles for publication, with a focus on neuroscience. Later, as a founding editor of PLOS and Managing Editor of PLOS Biology, I led an international team that selected and published outstanding research articles and magazine content across all areas of the biological sciences. I served on the Publications and Ethics Committees for the Society for Neuroscience, the NIH PubMed Central Advisory Committee and on the Journal of Emerging Investigator's Board of Directors. Both as VP of Scientific Communiations at Ogilvy (FKH) and independently, I have consulted for clients ranging from academic institutions to biotechnology companies, helping them to identify and communicate the strengths of their innovative research and development programs. I have published many articles and editorials about science and the scientific process. I have also led seminars on scientific communication and was a TEDMED speaker. I currently serve on the Maxterial Board of Directors, the Activate Leadership Council, the Moore Inventor Fellows advisory panel, the E11 Bio Scientific Advisory Board and the Digital Science Advisory Board. I have a Ph.D. in Brain and Cognitive Sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a B.A. in Biophysics and Russian from The Johns Hopkins University.