CLAIRE
BENJAMIN
science writer
About
I've written about DNA debunking war elephant myths, horrifying human parasites that burrow through our skin, animal models paving the way for life-saving medical devices, and how the origin of all life on Earth led to our wacky ways of producing energy.
My stories have trended on Facebook and have been picked up by the New York Times, CNN, Wired, Yahoo News, VICE, Smithsonian Magazine, and others.
Experience
2015 - now
Communications Coordinator | University of Illinois
Coordinate communications for four multi-million dollar grants at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology that are engineering crops to feed and fuel the world. Write and distribute news releases; respond to media requests; write and produce deliverables (e.g. brochures, booth displays, etc.); maintain websites and social media; brand new grants; photograph research; supervise communications interns.
2013 - 2015
Communications Specialist | University of Illinois
Wrote and distributed news releases; developed content for annual reports; wrote and co-edited Biomarker Magazine; wrote newsletter profiles; launched and managed @IGBIllinois Twitter for the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology.
2011 - 2013
Communications Intern | University of Illinois
Wrote news release, alumni profiles, and feature articles. Contributed to ACES@Illinois magazine and Voices of ACES blog for the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES).
Education
Master's in Advertising
College of Media
University of Illinois
2015 - 2017
Bachelor's in Agricultural Communications
College of Media
University of Illinois
2010 - 2013
Highest honors