Our Team

Fiona MacDonald is an award-winning science reporter. She’s been a journalist and editor with ScienceAlert since it launched and became CEO in 2017. Fiona has a Bachelor of Science with Honours in zoology and has written for publications including Australian Geographic, Harper’s Bazaar, GQ, and Popular Science .

Chris Cassella is an ex-Microsoft programmer and failed neuroscientist turned science communicator who is a strong proponent of inspiring and engaging young people with science. He founded ScienceAlert Pty Ltd in 2007.

Peter Dockrill is an award-winning science and technology journalist, formerly with APC, TechLife , and PC User. He’s been a columnist for Money magazine for 10 years and joined ScienceAlert in 2015.

Mike McRae has been reporting on science and developing educational resources for over a decade. He’s written and illustrated for the CSIRO’s Double Helix and ECOS publications, the ABC, The Guardian, Fairfax, and authored Tribal Science: Brains, Beliefs, and Bad Ideas , and Unwell: What makes a disease a disease?

Noel Kirkpatrick is an editor and writer with more than 10 years of experience in digital publishing. He’s written about the environment, space, US politics, and cute cat videos for Mother Nature Network (now Treehugger) and about too many television programs to count for TV.com and TVGuide.com. He would very much like to meet a penguin.

Michelle Starr is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years of experience in the science and technology sectors. At ScienceAlert, she loves exploring the vast cosmos through the spaceship of scientific curiosity. She is also a firm believer that ravens will one day rule the world.

Carly Cassella is a science journalist with a background in neuroscience. Her work has been published in High Country News, Australian Geographic , and Farrago magazine .

Tessa Koumoundouros is a science journalist with a Masters in Science Communication and a background in zoology and genetics. Tessa’s contributed behind the scenes at The Conversation and the Climate Council, and has been published by Lateral Magazine .

Rebecca Dyer joined ScienceAlert in 2022. A firm believer in lifelong learning, she has a Bachelor of Medical Science and a strong interest in genetics research. She loves learning about new technology. Rebecca thinks anyone can find science fun and interesting when it is communicated engagingly.

David Nield is a freelance journalist who has been reporting on science and technology for more than 10 years. His work can be seen on The Guardian , Gizmodo, TechRadar, Digital Trends and numerous other places.

Clare Watson is a freelance science journalist whose work has appeared in Nature, Undark, Hakai, Cosmos, Australian Geographic and more. She’s been reporting for ScienceAlert since 2020.

Felicity Nelson is a science journalist who’s written for The Medical Republic, Lawyers Weekly, The Guardian, and The Best Australian Science Writing. She was an intern at ScienceAlert and is now a regular contributor to the site.

Jacqui Brown is a freelance science editor with a Bachelor of Science and a Masters in Creative Writing. She spent 20 years working in clinical research and medical information before becoming an editor and is passionate about promoting accurate and intelligent science content in a fun and accessible way.