About

I’m a scientist turned writer who is interested in creative nonfiction and science journalism. I was the 2020 writer-in-residence at Porter Square Books.

As a scientist, I have spent more than a decade studying the beautiful and intricate forces shaping an embryo as it develops from a single cell into a complete body. My research—conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Oberlin College—helped me understand how strange and wondrous life can be.

Before completing my PhD at MIT, I studied creative writing at Oberlin College with a focus on literary nonfiction told through a lyrical storytelling voice. I’m still growing as a writer but I enjoy writing personal essays as well as profiles of scientists that highlight their personality and explain how they find meaning in the world. I spend much of my free time reading. Some of my favorite writers are David Foster Wallace, Kazuo Ishiguro, and Lorrie Moore. I also enjoy running, biking, and swimming. Recently, I've tried yoga. My goals for the future are to touch my toes and own a dog.

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Email me at JustinChenat@gmail.com

Follow me @atJustinChen