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. 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.