And before I was a journalist, I was a scientist. In 2024, I earned my Ph.D. in Plant Biology from the University of Georgia where I studied RNA expression in sunflowers in response to abiotic stresses. I also earned my B.S. and M.S. from the University at Buffalo where I studied the evolution of ancient ebolaviruses.

How did I go from scientist to journalist? During the first semester of my doctorate studies I joined the Athens Science Observer, a graduate student run science blog, and began writing about science. A couple years later, I became the Co-Editor-in-Chief and was awarded a grant from the American Society of Plant Biologists to create and print a zine to freely distribute around Athens, Georgia.

That led me to be awarded the AAAS Mass Media Science and Engineering Fellowship in 2022, where I was placed at National Public Radio. My fellowship was so successful that I was hired, part-time, to keep writing for them while I finished my graduate studies. Now I write about science full-time and have found it an incredibly rewarding career.

If you want to read some of my best work, I encourage you to check out these stories: I recently interviewed gene editing pioneer, Jennifer Doudna, for a recent profile–that was one of the absolute best moments in my career. Another was when I volunteered to get dengue fever as part of a clinical trial. And the story that really made me want to be a journalist was one I wrote about how recurring urinary tract infections change the bladder’s DNA.

To reach me, please send an email to maxhenrybarnhart@gmail.com and I’ll do my best to get back to you in a timely manner.

With hope and curiosity,