Dr. Heather Masson-Forsythe

After completing her Ph.D. in Biochemistry & Biophysics at Oregon State University, Dr. Heather Masson-Forsythe joined the National Science Foundation in the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), Office of the Assistant Director.

 

Heather is passionate about scientific impact and effective science communication, and in an effort to make science available to increasingly more diverse members of the community she turned her Ph.D. work into a dance performance, winning the COVID-19 category in the International 2021 Dance Your Ph.D. contest hosted by Science. She has also used dance to create hundreds of TikTok videos discussing science & science culture. On the popular social media app, she quickly accumulated over fifty-thousand followers, earning her recognition in Forbes and International Business Times.

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Passionate about creating a sustainable future through community engagement, a circular economy, scientific advancement, and policy implementation. To this end, she founded Communitique, a free online community for trading clothes locally to minimize the heavy environmental cost of the fast fashion industry.

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Heather's scientific experience and expertise span biochemistry, molecular biology, biophysical methods, and animal models, across academic, industry, and clinical settings. 

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In her free time, Heather continues dancing, a featured performer during a Washington Wizards NBA game, and in The National Cherry Blossom Parade. She is also an ardent traveler, hiker, rock-climber, karaoke singer, runner, and baker.