— About

Dr. Raven

Molecular biologist. Communicator. Builder. Founder & CEO of Fervae. I'm building the infrastructure that lets scientists speak for themselves — and making science feel like it belongs to everyone.

As a kid I had a million questions about the world, and science seemed like the most fun way to get answers. That feeling never left me. What changed is how often the world wanted to turn that joy into labor, or to tell me I didn't quite belong. I kept going anyway. Nobody could take my love for science away from me.

I trained as a molecular biologist and earned a Ph.D. centered on how people learn and come to trust science. Over the past decade, my platform — Dr. Raven the Science Maven — has reached tens of millions of people, translating complex biology, immunology, and health science into something that feels like it's for them. Along the way I've built campaigns and curriculum with Pfizer, the FDA, NASA, Netflix, and the Smithsonian, hosted Pfizer's Science Will Win podcast across two seasons, and stood on stages from TEDx to NSTA to Princeton.

Now I spend my days building the things I always wished existed: Fervae, the infrastructure scientists have never had; The Science Haven, a nonprofit advancing STEM equity; and LearnScience.org. I'm a molecular biologist by training, a communicator by calling, a founder by necessity, and a trailblazer by the path I've been walking most of my life.

— What I lead with
01

Delight

I fell for science because it was fun, and I've protected that feeling ever since. The joy is what makes the hard parts worth it.

02

Community

I don't do this alone. People opened doors for me, so I keep opening them for whoever's coming up next.

03

Love

People hear you once they feel cared for, so that's how I lead.

04

Intention

How I say something decides who feels welcome to listen, so I weigh that with every audience.

05

Purpose

I want science to feel like it belongs to everyone, not only the people already in the room.

— Credentials & roles
2021
Ph.D., Curriculum, Instruction & the Science of Learning — University at Buffalo
Doctorate
2016
M.A., Biology — SUNY Buffalo State
Graduate
2014
B.A., Biology — SUNY Buffalo State
Undergraduate
Since 2022
President & Executive Director — The Science Haven (501(c)(3))
Leadership
2024–25
Director of Science Communication — Mount Sinai's Cohen Center (the CoRE)
Leadership
2021–22
Director of Diversity Initiatives — UC Irvine, School of Biological Sciences
Leadership
Since 2025
Board · Director of Development & Partnerships — Association of Science Communicators
Governance