Together, our team summarizes upcoming publications for The American Naturalist to promote readership and scientific curiosity. Our goal is to promote the publicity of pressing research about all things of the natural sciences!
Meet our Press Release Team at The American Naturalist!
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Julia G. Harenčár
Press release co-editor-in-chief
Julia is an evolutionary biologist passionate about combining ecology and genetics to understand plant evolution. She is currently a Center for Population Biology Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, Davis. Her work focuses on the eco-evolutionary role of gene flow between species. Julia joined the editor team for the American Naturalist press releases because she is passionate about science communication and broadening participation and accessibility in the sciences. Julia also loves surfing and snowboarding, hunting down rare plants, and backpacking.
Genrietta Yagudayeva
Press release co-editor-in-chief
Gretta is an early career scientist, currently in her 3rd year as a Ph.D. Candidate at St. John’s University in Queens, New York. Professionally, Gretta uses bioinformatics to understand molecular and genetic evolution in a multi-species approach. She is passionate about using bioinformatics and molecular evolution to help solve pressing real-life scientific issues while explaining our planet’s fascinating biodiversity. When she is not doing research, Gretta spends her professional time teaching and mentoring STEM students in her home university and external programs with a goal to encourage diversity in STEM. Outside of work, Gretta enjoys to spend time with her family and friends, travel, and take walks on the beach with her mini-dachshund.
Lena Holtmanns
Press release editor
Lena just started her second year of the PhD at the Centre of Marine Science and Innovation at UNSW Sydney. Lena is working on the effects of Light Pollution on coastal marine ecosystems. Originally, Lena is from Germany, where she completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Recently, Lena moved to Sydney, not only for the research, but also for the beach, surfing, and new experiences. Lena also enjoys photography and documentation of exciting moments. She is becoming more and more interested in science communication, journalism, and outreach, which is why she was excited to be part of the team that creates the press release at the Am. Nat.
Juan D. Carvajal-Castro
Press release editor
Juan is a 4th-year Ph.D student at St. John’s University in NYC. He studies the evolution of parental care, molecular evolution, and coloration evolution using transcriptomics and phylogenetic comparative methods of frogs. He enjoys reading, playing board games, cooking, and doing fieldwork. He is motivated to become a PR editor because of his passion for learning, sharing science, and helping others.
Swapna Krithika Subramanian
Press release editor
Swapna is a Ph.D. candidate studying evolutionary biology, specifically whether she and her research team can predict evolution using yeast experimental evolution and in Connecticut apple orchards. She also does experimental evolution on yeast for hard cider production, so naturally she loves apple picking in the fall and baking fun apple goodies! Swapna loves storytelling and thinks that the story behind a study is just as interesting as the study itself, so becoming a press release editor for the ASN was a great opportunity for her to encounter stories from the great work and authors that publish in the Am. Nat.!