Snapshot: Michael Matrone

Position: Program Coordinator, Office of Career and Postdoctoral Services, since January 2012

Responsibilities: Matrone coordinates career and professional development events spotlighting careers in industry, biotech, academia, and other sectors. In addition, he develops new programs to help scientists-in-training improve their presentation and scientific writing skills for fellowships, grants, and manuscripts. Matrone’s short-term goals include strengthening accessibility and availability of career and postdoctoral services on the Florida campus, refining the department’s website, and re-establishing a Council of Scientific Editors at Scripps Research. Longer term, he hopes to conduct and publish research on graduate/postdoctoral science education and training and to secure education grants to help expand department services

Background: Growing up in Turnersville, New Jersey, Matrone earned a BS in biology from Philadelphia University, then worked as a research assistant for the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia and Thomas Jefferson University. He went on to earn a terminal master’s degree in molecular biology from Lehigh University in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and a PhD in molecular medicine at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. In 2010, he joined Scripps Research as a postdoctoral fellow, working in the Kuhn, Vogt, and Morris labs.

Reflections on the Program Coordinator job: Matrone finds his new position a “perfect balance” of research, teaching, and education with science policy, marketing, and outreach. His background in science and previous Scripps Research experience provides a valuable perspective and connection to graduate students and postdocs. “I know and understand their needs,” he says. “A good analogy for my position is that it is bilingual. I can speak fluently the language of scientists and of non-scientists.”

Impressions of Scripps Research: “I was immediately impressed with the collaborative environment here. Scripps does well in fostering interdisciplinary relationships and provides great opportunities for learning at and beyond the bench.”

Professional and Volunteer activities: Matrone was executive committee member (2010-2011) and 2011 Vendor Show Chair, California campus Society of Fellows. He is also an executive committee member of QuEST: Queer Engineers, Scientists, and Technical professionals (QuEST)—a San Diego group founded to raise awareness of and advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) issues in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields and to provide a local network encouraging scientific collaboration and social interaction among LGBTQ technical professionals.

Extracurricular activities: A camping enthusiast and “sci-fi and fantasy geek,” Matrone is a self-described “foodie” with an affinity for new foods, wines, and beers.

Send comments to: press@scripps.edu