MIT-trained neuroscientist turned digital strategist and professional science storyteller, Dr. Caitlin Vander Weele, leverages her analytical background to develop smart, data-forward strategies that enhance messaging signal-to-noise and reach target audiences online. As founder and CEO of Stellate Comms, she is passionate about helping her clients tell their stories in an accurate, comprehensive, and engaging manner.

Caitlin received her B.S. in Brain and Cognitive Sciences at The University of Michigan and her doctorate in neuroscience from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her research focused on the role of the neurotransmitter dopamine in emotion and decision-making– work that has been published in the field’s top peer-reviewed journals, including Nature, Science, and Cell.

Prior to founding Stellate Communications, Caitlin was a PR professional specializing in executive thought leadership and social strategy for biopharmaceutical and healthcare companies. She is a frequently invited speaker on the subject of professional branding, networking, and thought leadership on social platforms.

She resides in New York City with her husband, their daughter Lili, and golden retriever Zelda.

Dr. Gabi Serrato Marks is an MIT-trained scientist with a passion for expanding access to science. As a Partner at Stellate Communications, she primarily supports academic researchers, facilitating greater engagement with scientific and non-scientific audiences alike. Gabi received her B.A. at Bowdoin College and her doctorate in geochemistry from MIT. Her research focused on generating records of past climate change using cave deposits.

She enjoys creating all types of media: Dr. Serrato Marks has published work in Scientific American, Audubon, and the PBS Eons YouTube Channel, and has been featured in several articles and podcasts (Nature Career Guide, Physics Today, Disability Visibility). Gabi is also co-editing an anthology of personal stories from disabled scientists (under contract with Columbia University Press). You can find Gabi on Twitter as @gserratomarks, or in Boston drinking iced coffee with her husband and two cats, Spock and Moose.

Fernanda Graciolli has been building websites since she was 11 years old. From Geocities to hard code, her skillset has evolved alongside new emerging technologies. While keeping up with tech as a hobby, she attended the University of Maryland and graduated with a B.S. in Psychology and Neuroscience. She went on to work in neuroscience labs at the University of California, Davis, where her research ranged from human EEG to non-human primate electrophysiology. She has since been working professionally in web development and design.

At Stellate Comms, she combines her academic background with her tech expertise to help academic clients build a visual web presence through websites, logos, illustrations, and animations.

When not at her desk, you can find Fernanda at one of Massachusetts’ beautiful parks with her partner, twins, and dog.

Kathryn (Kitty) Flaherty is a Corporate Content Strategist with 23 years experience in guiding a hospitality management company. In this role, she managed the finance, accounting, human resource, building and business of the management company and the seven hotel entities in the DML Management, Inc. portfolio. She worked closely with the owner and managing partner in all the aspects of the business.

Kitty has a Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and Accounting from Grand Valley State University. She is an avid fan of University of Michigan athletics, plays pickleball, and cherishes relaxing family time at her lake home in western Michigan on the shores of Silver Lake. She resides there in the summer, and at Nettles Island, Florida in the winter with her life partner, Ken Smith. She has three adult children and is ecstatic to be the grandmother of Liliana Pearl Feghali.

She is excited to be joining the expert team at Stellate Communications.

Ariana White is a passionate about making science accessible to a wide audience. As an Account Supervisor at Stellate, she helps our clients develop their overall branding and is excited about implementing creative ways to help clients achieve their goals. Previously, Ariana worked in Public Relations focusing on executive thought leadership and media strategy for biopharmaceutical and healthcare executives, developing deep expe rience in science storytelling and crisis management.

She is currently completing a MA in Biotechnology and holds a dual BA in Cognitive Science and Psychology from Johns Hopkins University.

Cindy Reyes is a trained behavioral neuroscientist with over 15 years in the academic science realm. As a science communicator she uses the analytical and problem skills she developed in the lab to help clients reach a wider audience. She received her B.S. in Biospychology from UC Santa Barbara and holds a Masters of Science in neuroscience from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. In addition to her academic pursuits, she is widely involved in STEM outreach through volunteer work and believes effective scientific communication is essential for increasing equity and inclusion within STEM fields.

She is a mother to a small human and a dog named Jadzia Dax, a wife, and maker with a fondness for textile crafts and baking.

Yewande Pearse, PhD is a neuroscientist who has dedicated over 10 years of research to understanding how to treat various brain disorders at both King’s College London, The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience and The Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA.

Yewande comes to Stellate Communications with experience in the biotech industry where she specialized in competitive intelligence of global biotech markets in neuroscience and other therapeutic areas to help serve more patients.

Yewande is a passionate science communicator, her communication work exists at the intersection of science and culture, where she strives to make science accessible for all. She produced and hosted Sound Science on Dublab Radio and has collaborated with Headspace, Natural History Museum, Female Collective, SEED, Science Gallery Detroit, NAVEL, Fathomers, Massive Science, TEDMED, DEEM Journal, Grow Magazine by Ginkgo Bioworks and more.

Dr. Deborah Joye is a neuroscientist and science communicator completing her PhD at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She received her BS in Psychology/Behavioral Neuroscience from UC San Diego. Her scientific research focused on the neurobiology of circadian rhythms and how circadian biology can be leveraged to improve human health. During her career, Deb has built a skill set translating scientific ideas into stories that can engage wider audiences including work with UCSD’s BioClock Studio, neuroscience outreach seminars to local high school and middle school students, and volunteering as writer and editor for BrainPost, a science blog that specializes in clear and accessible summaries of cutting-edge neuroscience research.

At Stellate, Deb primarily supports academic researchers to help scientists find accessible and creative ways to tell their science stories to the world. You can find Deb on Twitter as @damjoye, or hanging out in the Midwest with her partner and her cat, Ramona.

Stefania Cerisano, PhD is a cognitive scientist specializing in working memory, divided attention, and psychological indices of cognitive effort. At Stellate Communications, she aims to use her research and leadership experience to help others achieve their science communication and professional goals.

Stefania completed her PhD in Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour at McMaster University, where she studied the complex relationship between listening in noise, dual-task demands, and cognitive effort. While at McMaster, Stefania had the opportunity to lead two student groups focused on community engagement, science communication, and the promotion of equity in science and academic study.

Beyond Stellate, Stefania loves baking, hiking in the waterfall capital of the world, and playing flute with a concert band of talented local musicians.

Jen Kramer has been educating clients, colleagues, friends, and graduate students about the meaning of a “quality website” for over twenty years.

An award-winning instructor, Jen has taught web design, educational technology, and storytelling principles to students from Harvard University and other academic institutions, and students learning in conferences, workshops, and corporate environments.

In addition to Jen’s freelance work as an instructor and educator, she is a prolific video author, creating over 70 training courses for LinkedIn Learning, Frontend Masters, and others.

Jen earned a BS in biology at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a MS in Internet Strategy Management at the Marlboro College Graduate School, and a graduate certificate in Learning Design and Technology from Harvard University Extension School.