Hannah Martin Lawrenz

Scientific Writer & Copy Editor

Washington DC Metro Area

Welcome to my portfolio. Here you'll find a diverse sampling of my recent work in science news writing and copy editing.

Hannah Martin Lawrenz

Scientific Writer & Copy Editor

Washington DC Metro Area

Welcome to my portfolio. Here you'll find a diverse sampling of my recent work in science news writing and copy editing.

Fighting World Hunger With Photosynthesis
Many of us rarely face bare food shelves in our pantry or local grocery store. By 2050, however, this may be commonplace for most of the world’s poorest nations. According to the United Nations, the current rates of crop-yield improvement are insufficient to meet future global demands for food. This looming problem prompted plant scientists at the University of Illinois to develop a way to increase plant productivity.
BioTechniques
Why Do Songs Get "Stuck" in Your Head?
During the holiday season, most of us have a festive song or two stuck in our heads. In fact, 90% of us experience one of these so-called “earworms” once a week, while about a third spontaneously recall a tune at least once a day. Why do certain melodies stick in our minds so persistently? Jakubowski and collaborators at the University of London examined the effects of specific triggers in prompting these earworms.
BioTechniques
Mitochondrial DNA Helps Explain Autism
Although researchers traditionally viewed autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as a neurodevelopmental condition, recent studies have shifted their attention to the contributions of systemic physiological problems such as inflammation, immune dysregulation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. This broadened focus led to a new study in PLoS Genetics, which details how children with ASD possess more harmful mutations in their mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) than their healthy siblings.
BioTechniques
Remote Communities Demystify Human Dispersal Out of Africa
Until recently, anthropologists and evolutionary biologists could not agree on the timing of early human expansion out of Africa into Australasia. Their conflicting conclusions persisted despite recent fossil studies and genetic evidence. Did early humans leave Africa in multiple dispersions, or did this expansion occur in a single major event with a few independent waves into Asia?
BioTechniques
How the Snake Lost Its Legs
According to the fossil record, snakes lost their limbs over 100 million years ago. However, scientists never understood which genetic changes caused this pivotal loss. Now, a new study published in Cell identifies a specific DNA segment that mutated millions of years ago across most snake species, making them unable to grow limbs.
BioTechniques
Astrocytes Switch Metabolism On and Off
Our brains rely on glucose to function and to regulate the body’s energy metabolism. Previously, most researchers assumed that neurons passively control the entry of glucose into the brain. Now, a new study from the Technical University of Munich shows instead that astrocytes functioning a “support cells” in the hypothalamus respond to hormone signals and actively transport sugars into the brain to fuel metabolism.
BioTechniques
Invisibility Cloaks: Fact or Fiction?
From Ancient Greek myths to the Harry Potter series, cloaks of invisibility have wooed imaginations and inspired daydreams. Heroes, villains, giants, and fairies have donned this mythical mantle in folklore and fantasy, fascinating readers and researchers alike. In fact, many researchers have tried to push the limits of physics to hide items and people from view.
BioTechniques
For Weightlifting, Bigger Isn’t Better
From professional bodybuilders to average gym-goers, most people base their fitness routines on the assumption that building bigger muscles requires lifting heavier weights. Now, a new article in the Journal of Applied Physiology presents research challenging this long-held belief. Stuart Phillips, director of the McMaster Centre for Nutrition, Exercise, and Health Research, led a research initiative to identify variables that determine skeletal muscle growth and strength.
BioTechniques
Looking Beyond the Lab
As the number of science and engineering PhDs reaches a record high, there simply are not enough traditional tenure-track academic positions to go around. Some biology and physical science PhD recipients opt for positions in industry where they anticipate greater salaries than their peers in academia or in postdoctoral roles, but many recent graduates explore avenues outside the lab.
BioTechniques
Improved Motor Skills Linked to "Light" Sleep
We learn to perform motor tasks such as riding a bicycle initially by practicing stereotypical simple movements. But this acquisition, known as motor sequence learning (MSL), can also be enhanced by a process called consolidation that occurs in the brain during sleep. Researchers don't know how it happens exactly, partially due to uncertainty regarding which part of sleep is involved.
BioTechniques
Sample Magazine Copy Edit
Final print version of Geneva College's student newspaper after copyediting and proofreading.
The Geneva Cabinet
Online Learning at Geneva College: Current programs and future expansion examined
As Geneva College ventures into the realm of online higher education with an online component to the Adult Online Degree Program (ADP), the future of online learning at Geneva has become a topic of discussion among faculty, staff, administration and students. While some are excited about the possibility of using this new medium as a means of delivering Geneva College’s unique blend of faith and learning to a larger audience, others caution that online education presents challenges for delivering a Christian education.
Rehoboth Journal

About

Hannah Martin Lawrenz

Copy Editing

Laboratory Safety

MS Office Suite

Anatomy & Physiology

Microbiology

Biomedical Ethics

Nutrition

Fitness

Chemistry

MLA Style

AP Style

APA Style

Chicago Style

Proofreading

News Writing

My writing has appeared in Ethics & Medicine, BioTechniques News, The Geneva Cabinet, The Rehoboth Journal, multiple academic and professional blogs, and other publications. Please feel free to get in touch with me about my services at hannahbeemartin@gmail.com.

As an editor, I have the privilege of working as your advocate, helping you make your article or manuscript the best it can be. I will partner with you to overcome any barriers that could impair consideration of your article or manuscript. It's my policy never to share edited content without you, the client's, permission.

I earned my B.A. in Informational Writing and Biology at Geneva College. I'm also a member of the National Association of Science Writers. My chief writing interests include nutrition, aging, biomedical ethics, and other topics in human physiology.

For scientific articles and manuscripts, I also promise an appreciation for and understanding of medical terminology to ensure the best preservation and presentation of your researched work. If you are a scientist or a researcher, I can ensure that your work will be polished by a capable, scientifically literate editor.

If you are interested in having your work professionally written or edited for clarity, excellence, and precision, please contact me!