Alexandra Terashima

EFL/Corpus Linguistics/Biology

I hold a Ph.D. in Genetics from Harvard University and a B.S. in Biology from the University of New Hampshire. My research focused on gene expression during early embryo development using zebrafish as a model. During graduate school, I developed a strong interest in scientific writing and communication. After a brief postdoctoral position at the University of Tokyo, I worked at RIKEN Brain Science Institute as an in-house editor and science communicator, helping scientists improve their writing and promote their research globally. In 2023 I earned a master's degree in corpus linguistics from Lancaster University, further deepening my understanding of language and communication.

The world’s most pressing social and environmental challenges require innovative and interdisciplinary solutions. Yet, academia often encourages deep specialization—focusing intently on a single field of study. While expertise is essential, groundbreaking ideas often emerge at the intersections of different disciplines.
Learning from many fields can change the way you see the world. In biomedical research, for example, studying different model organisms gives us insights we couldn’t gain from a single species. In understanding social inequalities, uncovering the gender data gap reveals biases that affect the lives of women in everything from healthcare to infrastructure. The more perspectives we engage with, the better we can tackle complex problems.
Don’t be afraid to step outside your academic comfort zone—you might be surprised at what you discover.