Miranda Wilson is our executive director and editor-in-chief. She holds a B.S. in Aquatic Biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Ph.D. in Biology from Georgia Tech. She has brought her passion for science and research into classrooms at the college and high school level where she has taught courses in biology, environmental science, marine biology, and biomimicry.
Tanya Dimitrova is the founder and managing editor of Science Journal for Kids. She has taught science for elementary to high school level in Austin, TX and in Bulgaria. Previously, Tanya worked as an environmental reporter and magazine editor in California, following a 7-year career in the US Army Medical Corps. She has a B.S. in Environmental Science from University of London and a master's in Energy and Resources from UC Berkeley.
Rachel Watson brings over a decade of experience in cross-cultural communication and project coordination to our team. She also runs Tailored English Online, editing business materials for corporate clients and helping researchers craft journal submissions. She holds a CELTA and a B.S. in Middle Grades Education from Appalachian State University.
Fiona Firth is a freelance publishing professional who specializes in book indexing. In the past she has taught ESL and worked as a children’s librarian in public and school libraries. Fiona has an M.A. in English and Psychology from St Andrews University and postgraduate degrees in Publishing and Library Studies from Robert Gordon University.
Alexandra Appleton is a freelance editor and independent researcher, based in the UK. She previously worked as a project manager for a London-based design agency. Alexandra has undergraduate and master's degrees from Edinburgh University and Liverpool University, and a Ph.D. in English from Royal Holloway, University of London.
Elitsa Panayotova is a virologist at the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases in Sofia, Bulgaria. She studies vector-borne diseases and hemorrhagic fevers, particularly laboratory diagnostics and viral infection surveillance. She has a Ph.D. in Virology, a master's in Microbiology, and a B.S. in Environmental Science.
Daniel Watkins is senior research associate at Brown University, where he explores the Arctic climate system using drifting buoys, computer simulations, and satellite photography. He earned his Ph.D. in Ocean, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences at Oregon State University and has a master's degree in Mathematics from Drexel University.
Allison Gamzon is a science curriculum developer, writer, and editor who designs engaging and standards-aligned learning materials, including textbooks. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Science and Geology from the University of Connecticut and a master’s in Environmental Education from Southern Connecticut State University.
Kristina Slavkova is a graphic designer and illustrator based in Sofia, Bulgaria. She graduated from the National School of Fine Arts specializing in painting, then completed a master's degree in Book and Print Graphics at the National Art Academy, Sofia. Over the past ten years, she has worked in the field of graphic design, book layout, and children's illustration.
Alex Firth is a Scottish developer with a B.S. in Games Software Engineering from Glasgow Caledonian University. He enjoys problem solving and creating things that bring joy to people, and has a lifelong interest in science. In his free time, he likes working on indie game projects.
Ablena Georgieva is a graphic designer and illustrator with over 10 years of experience. She studied in Ecole Estienne, Paris and graduated with a master's degree in Illustration and Book Design from The National Academy of Art in Sofia. Ablena has taken part in numerous exhibitions in Bulgaria, France, Germany, England, Israel, and South Korea and has received multiple awards for her work.
Liz Yohn brings 18 years of experience in research communication for diverse audiences through roles in education, homeless services, and medical services. She holds an M.A. in Comparative and Transnational History from the College of William and Mary.
Laura Rogers is currently working at the Georgia Department of Public Health with the Chemical Hazards Program after receiving her master’s in Public Health at Emory University. Prior to this, she was a teacher for seven years in Atlanta, Georgia. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from Duke University and a master’s in STEM Education from Mercer University.
Kalina Panayotova is the SJK treasurer. She is a software engineer living and working in Silicon Valley. Her career path has led her through three countries, multinational corporations, and tiny startup companies. She loves good ideas and solving problems through technology.
Naomi Greenberg holds a B.S. in Biology from Georgetown University and a master’s in Research from Imperial College London. She is studying science communication and public engagement at the University of Edinburgh. She previously wrote science content for the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and is passionate about making complex topics accessible to a broader audience.
Daniel Marchan is a translator and content specialist from Colombia working across English, Spanish, French, and Italian. He helps businesses and authors reach new audiences. His translations preserve the meaning and voice of the original.
Jane I. P. Nurse is a sustainability and environmental consultant with experience across the Caribbean, United States, and United Kingdom. She currently coordinates the EU-Caribbean Sargassum Valorisation Initiative for the EU Delegation in Barbados and the Government of Grenada. Her work spans policy, private sector, and NGO settings, including projects with the World Bank, Climate Analytics, and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre. Jane holds a master’s in Environmental Law and Sustainable Development from SOAS, University of London (Chevening Scholar), and a B.A. in Human Ecology from College of the Atlantic, USA (Shelby Davis Scholar).
Melinda P. Simmons is an ocean scientist and educator with over two decades of experience bridging research, teaching, and public engagement. She is currently with the Marine Sciences Department at California State University Monterey Bay and has held leadership roles at Jacksonville University, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and the Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens. Melinda serves on the board of Science Journal for Kids and Teens and on committees for the National Association of Marine Laboratories. She holds a Ph.D. in Ocean Sciences from the University of California, Santa Cruz, an M.S. in Biological Oceanography from UC San Diego, and a B.S. in Aquatic Biology from UC Santa Barbara.
Lindsay Martin is a freelance editor and grant consultant with Vivid Impact Consulting. She holds degrees from San Diego State University in Spanish and International Communications. Lindsay has previously worked for NGO’s in the US, as well as an ESL teacher to young learners and teens. She is an alumna editor and currently the chief grant writer at Science Journal for Kids.
Francesca Oggioni is a geophysicist based in London. Her work and interests include acoustics, signal processing and machine learning applied to Big Data. Francesca has a Ph.D. in Marine Geophysics from Imperial College London, where she specialized in researching the opening of the Dover Strain in the English Channel and the possible impact of megaflooding on climate.
Earl McGehee owned and operated a small business and served in information technology management for financial institutions and a large manufacturing corporation. In the past he has served on the board of an IT professionals organization and since retiring he has been a board member of several non-profit organizations. He also volunteers as the photographer for three non-profit dance companies including Blue Lapis Light Aerial Dance.
Tadeja Gračner is a research scientist/senior economist with the Center for Social and Economic Research (CESR) at the University of Southern California and an adjunct senior economist at the RAND Corporation. She hold a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, an M.S. in Economics from the London School of Economics, and a B.S. in Economics from the Faculty of Economics, University of Ljubljana.
For information about people who have worked with us in the past, you can check out our Alumni page.