Qualifications

  • Seventeen years’ experience in substantive editing of scientific journal articles (>1000) written by authors for whom English is a second language (ESL); articles have been submitted to more than 140 peer-reviewed journals
  • Certified as an Editor in the Life Sciences (ELS) by the Board of Editors in the Life Sciences
  • Extensive experience in copyediting scholarly and trade book-length manuscripts (>70) in the sciences and social sciences, as well as how-to handicraft books
  • Excellent command of grammar, punctuation, usage, and editorial style
  • Extensive knowledge of The ACS Style Guide, Scientific Style and Format, and The Chicago Manual of Style; familiarity with The AMA Manual of Style and Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
  • Expertise in editing and coding electronic manuscripts in Microsoft Word, creating custom templates, and writing Word macros to automate repetitive tasks
  • Experience in editing tables, illustrations, and a wide variety of bibliographic sources, from books and journals to archival material and government publications
  • Undergraduate training in chemistry and biochemistry, including two years of undergraduate research; postgraduate training in synthetic organic chemistry

Content Areas

  • Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular biology
  • Paleontology
  • Ornithology
  • General science
  • History of science
  • Quilting, knitting and crochet, weaving, soap-making, basketry, and other handicrafts

Background

  • Certification: Editor in the Life Sciences, 2011
  • Nine editing and proofreading courses, including medical editing, 1989–2002: New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies; Editorial Freelancers Association;  and University of California Extension, Berkeley
  • M.S., Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, 1987
    Worked on approaches to the synthesis of a potential HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor
  • B.S., Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, 1985
    Worked on the synthesis of small-molecule neurotoxins and opioid receptor probes
  • Research Scientist, Sandoz Crop Protection Corporation, Palo Alto, Calif., 1989–1991
    Worked on the synthesis of novel pesticide candidates
  • Research Chemist, Dow Chemical Company, Walnut Creek, Calif., 1987–1989
    Worked on synthetic studies directed toward the development of a novel insecticide based on a natural product lead

Publications

Jacobson A.R.; Coffin, S.H.; Shearson, C.M.; Sayre L.M. β,β’-Iminodipropionitrile (IDPN) Neurotoxicity: A Mechanistic Hypothesis for Toxic Activation. Mol. Toxicol. 1987, 1, 17–34.

Monaco, S.; Wongmongkolrit, T.; Shearson, C.M.; Patton, A.; Schaetzle, B.; Autilio-Gambetti, L.; Gambetti, P.; Sayre, L.M. Giant Axonopathy Characterized by Intermediate Location of Axonal Enlargements and Acceleration of Neurofilament Transport. Brain Res. 1990, 519, 73–81.

Sayre, L.M.; Shearson, C.M.; Wongmongkolrit, T.; Medori, R.; Gambetti, P. Structural Basis of γ-Diketone Neurotoxicity: Non-Neurotoxicity of 3,3-Dimethyl-2,5-hexanedione, a γ-Diketone Incapable of Pyrrole Formation. Tox. Appl. Pharm. 1986, 84, 36–44.

Shearson, C.M. Approaches to the Synthesis of a Potential Inhibitor of 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl Coenzyme A Reductase. M.S. Thesis, University of California, Berkeley, 1987.

Volunteer Work

  • Million Mom March (Mercer County, NJ), 2000: Compiled and maintained database of potential donors for the Mercer County chapter, wrote materials, and conducted mailing campaign in preparation for the May 2000 march on Washington DC.
  • Cornwall Community Cooperative (Cornwall, NY), 2009–2010: Served on the marketing committee; was responsible for writing and sending of biweekly email marketing blasts; maintained email list; edited and wrote website content.
  • Downing Film Center (Newburgh, NY), present: Edit and send membership renewal letters on a weekly basis.
  • Board of Editors in the Life Sciences, present: Member of exam development committee.