Mikayla Eppert

Mikayla Eppert, PhD

Scientific rigor. Strategic thinking. Clear communication.

I completed my PhD in four years, compared to a 5.7-year national median, publishing two first-author papers (Molecular Cell, Science Advances) and contributing to work in Cell. I secured an NIH F31 fellowship, ranking in the top 5th percentile nationally on first submission, and led biostatisticians, external labs, and core facility staff through peer review.

At Hatched Genetics, I ran competitive and regulatory analysis on a global market and delivered findings directly to the CEO.

I also founded SciPeer Network from scratch to close a peer review gap for early-career researchers, and built communication skills as Associate Editor at the Journal of Science Policy and Governance and Science Writer for the Society for Developmental Biology.

Dallas, TX
Mikayla Eppert
Latest Lab Notes Million Dollar Pigeons →
UT Southwestern
PhD Biomedical Science (Sabari Lab, 2025)
Univ. of Iowa
BA Biochemistry & Spanish (2021)
Initiative
Peer Review Platform

Founded & built SciPeer Network, a free peer-review platform for grad students and postdocs.

Founder & Lead Editor
Bibliography
Peer-Reviewed Publications

Independent editorial writing alongside a full research load, published in Cell, Molecular Cell, and Science Advances.

8 publications in 4 years at high-impact journals
Business Acumen
Global Market Analysis Report

Competitive & regulatory analysis on the global egg-laying chicken market, delivered directly to the CEO of Hatched Genetics.

Directly interfaced with startup's CEO
Fellowship Grant
NIH F31 Fellowship

Wrote & secured a fellowship grant funding my doctoral research on first submission.

Top 5% ranked nationally

Selected Research & Publications

full bibliography
Condensates enhance gene activation by increasing the frequency and intensity of transcription
Molecular Cell — First Author, In Revision

Led research demonstrating that transcriptional condensates boost gene activation by increasing how often and how strongly genes fire, not just by concentrating machinery in one place.

Density transitions in the regulation of transcription
Molecular Cell — Co-Led, Review

Co-led a review bringing together emerging evidence that changes in how densely molecules pack together inside the nucleus are a key, underappreciated way cells control gene activity.

Coactivator condensation drives cardiovascular cell lineage
Science Advances — Co-Led

Co-led research showing that certain proteins clump together inside cells to help decide whether a stem cell becomes a heart or smooth muscle cell, revealing a new layer of control behind cell identity decisions.

RNA Pol II partitioning is a shared feature of diverse oncofusion condensates
Cell — Co-Author

Contributed to research revealing that diverse cancer-driving fusion proteins rely on the same clustering trick to hijack gene expression, pointing to a possible shared vulnerability across cancer types.

Context is key: Modulated protein multivalency in disease
Molecular Cell — First Author, Editorial

Wrote an editorial exploring how small changes in the number of connection points on a protein can tip the balance between healthy cell function and cancer.

Experience

Hover a role for details (tap on mobile).

'25–'26
  • Led manuscript revisions for a first-author Molecular Cell paper independently after PhD defense.
  • Served as the lab's resource for confocal microscopy and flow cytometry.
'21–'25
  • Led two first-author research projects from concept to publication, coordinating biostatisticians, collaborators, and core facility staff through peer review.
  • Upheld methodological rigor across experimental studies, from protocol design through data validation.
  • Secured NIH F31 fellowship funding, ranking in the top 5th percentile nationally on first submission.
'25–'26
  • Tracked trends in primary scientific literature, translating technical material into audience-centered content.
  • Owned the full editorial lifecycle of 4 articles, independently managing research and writing under strict deadlines.
  • Conducted interviews with experts and collaborated in editorial feedback cycles.

This role was completed part-time, concurrent with my UT Southwestern role.

'25
  • Conducted competitive & regulatory analysis on the global egg-laying chicken market, delivering an executive summary directly to the CEO.
  • Used PitchBook and other research tools to identify competitors, market trends, and regulatory precedents.

This role was completed part-time, concurrent with my UT Southwestern role.

'23–'25
  • Synthesized findings across 10+ policy manuscripts, extracting strategic takeaways for decision-maker audiences.
  • Gave critical feedback to improve policy analyses for clarity, coherence, and logical flow.

This role was completed part-time, concurrent with my UT Southwestern role.

Skills

Research & Scientific Analysis

Data Analysis — UT Southwestern
Statistics — UT Southwestern
Research Design — UT Southwestern
Cell & Molecular Biology — UT Southwestern
Genetics & Genomics — Cold Spring Harbor Labs course

Scientific Writing

Scientific Translation — SDB Science Writer
Grant Writing — UT Southwestern
Slide Decks — UT Southwestern
Academic Writing — UT Southwestern
Conference Abstracts & Posters — UT Southwestern

Strategy & Competitive Intelligence

Market Research — Hatched Genetics
Competitive Intelligence — Hatched Genetics
Project Management — JSPG, UT Southwestern
AI Fluency — Claude certifications

Leadership & Collaboration

Leadership — UT Southwestern
Stakeholder Communication — UT Southwestern
Collaboration — JSPG
Interpersonal Skills — SDB Science Writer

Contact

Let's talk

Open to consulting & strategy roles in life sciences. Reach out directly or send a note.