Conference Cameo: Christine M. Blaumueller

#NORDP2019 starts Monday, April 29, in Providence, RI. Keep checking back here at the blog and on our Twitter feed (@NORDP_official) for conference updates. Register at https://www.nordp.org/conferences.

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Who: Christine M Blaumueller, Director of Scientific Editing and Research Communication Core
Where: The University of Iowa
Number of years in research development: 12
Length of NORDP membership: 3 years
Number of NORDP conferences attended: 1
What is the most interesting place you’ve visited?: Sarajevo and other parts of Bosnia-Herzogovina, on a teaching trip.

I first entered the RD world in 2006. I came from a science background, obtaining my PhD in the life sciences, training as a post-doctoral researcher, and working as an editor at a molecular biology journal in Europe. When I was ready to move closer to home again, I was excited to find a way to combine the skills I’d attained working in the laboratory and as an editor – establishing an editing service at the University of Iowa’s Carver College of Medicine. My role suddenly shifted from journal gatekeeper to author advocate, a transition I found incredibly fulfilling.

My main role as a writing consultant is to help researchers make their grants (and research manuscripts) more compelling. I provide input on everything related to readability – mechanics, aesthetics, clarity – as well as on scientific aspects of the work. I also regularly teach scientific writing and, occasionally, help to organize large-scale proposals and guide authors to funding opportunities and collaborators. Finally, I have had several opportunities to train scientific editing interns; this facilitated the transition of my two-department editing service to a core facility for the college in 2017.

I first heard about NORDP from Debbie Frank, a colleague at Washington University in St. Louis whose position was similar to mine. We thought that attending a NORDP conference might be a good way to find more people like us. We presented a poster, hosted a networking dinner for writer/editors, and started a list of the people who came to see us (at the poster, the dinner, or both). Eventually, with the help of Meagan Ramsey at the University of Michigan, we converted this list into a network (Scientific Editors Network, a.k.a. ScENe), which is quickly becoming a fabulous forum for information exchange.

This is my first opportunity to return to the NORDP conference. I’m greatly looking forward to learning about new strategies to bring back to my office – whether in relation to editing, mentoring, or broadening the impact of our services. NORDP conference participants are amazing with respect to both their openness in sharing their knowledge and their willingness to take on organizational roles at the meeting. If this is your first time, be sure to attend a networking dinner or participate in a morning activity (a walk, a run, or whatever). You’ll be sure to make at least one contact who will have a surprisingly significant impact on your work!

Visit the NORDP Store online now through March 15! 

We hope to see you at the Conference, which will be held April 29 – May 1, 2019, at the Omni Providence Hotel in Providence, RI. For more information about the conference program or to register, visit http://www.nordp.org/conferences. Follow @NORDP_official on Twitter for all the latest #NORDP2019 updates.

NORDP fosters a culture of inclusive excellence by actively promoting and supporting diversity, inclusion and equity in all its forms to expand our worldview, enrich our work, and elevate our profession.