The contributing writers. Top row (from left): Mia Bjelogrlic, Victoria Brun, and Marsha Duncan. Bottom row (from left): Tracie Frederick, Sarah Hooper, and Kaitlyn May.
As we begin the 2022 fiscal year and prepare to enter calendar year 2022, we on the editorial team want to take a moment to introduce ourselves to you. Some of us have worked with you for years to operate NCI at Frederick and Frederick National Laboratory and—through Poster—tell their stories. Others are newer but equally thrilled to be here.
First up are our contributing writers, staff in program areas around our institutions who pitch ideas and cover topics related to those groups. Read on to meet them.
Mia Bjelogrlic
Contributing Writer, Occupational Health Services
Department: Occupational Health Services
What do you do at NCI at Frederick or Frederick National Laboratory, and what’s your favorite part of your job?
I work as the occupational health RN. My job is to ensure that employees stay up to date on their medical surveillances and get their annual physicals done. I fit them for respirators, draw blood for the Research Donor Program when needed, see individuals for sick visits, promote employee health, and do many other occupational-health-related tasks. My favorite part of the job is getting to know so many of our employees, since I see some of them several times a year.
What led you to your career field?
I decided to become an RN because I interact with and directly help other people, which gives me a sense of fulfillment. The field also has plenty of different career and advancement opportunities.
What do you enjoy about working on Poster?
I enjoy working with the rest of the staff at Poster. They have been very kind, inclusive, and collaborative. Through my involvement, Poster has given the nurses and students at OHS the opportunity to share health-related news, updates, or reminders with employees.
What’s something you like to do off the clock?
Gardening, running, canoeing, hiking, reading, learning, and anything art related.
What’s a little-known fact about you?
I am an artist whose favorite mediums include oil painting and charcoal drawing.
Victoria Brun
Contributing Writer, FNL Partnership Development Office
Department: FNL Partnership Development Office
What do you do at NCI at Frederick or Frederick National Laboratory, and what’s your favorite part of your job?
As a project manager at the Partnership Development Office, I support a variety of partnership initiatives across the laboratory. To serve its role as a national laboratory, it is important for the FNL to be a shared national resource and to collaborate with external investigators in government, academia, industry, and the nonprofit research sector. My office helps make that happen. My favorite part of the job is working in such a collaborative environment.
What led you to your career field?
I began as a technical writer working in clean energy, but I’ve always been interested in public health and medical research. To make the transition, I started working on a Master of Public Health degree, and I was able to get a job as a science writer at the FNL. I’ve since earned my degree and transitioned to a project manager position, but my job allows me the flexibility to continue to write about the lab’s partnership activities for both Poster and the FNL website.
What do you enjoy about working on Poster?
It’s always exciting to hear about the research happening at the FNL. The scientists here are making important discoveries, and working on Poster is a great opportunity to learn more and then share that knowledge.
What’s something you like to do off the clock?
I enjoy running. I have several upcoming races on my calendar.
What’s a little-known fact about you?
I threw discus in college. I wasn’t great at it, but it was fun.
Marsha Duncan
Contributing Writer, Community Outreach
Department: Education and Outreach, NCI Office of Scientific Operations
What do you do at NCI at Frederick or Frederick National Laboratory, and what’s your favorite part of your job?
I am a program analyst/manager and oversee the Werner H. Kirsten Student Intern Program, the Summer Internship Program, the Capstone Program, and a few others. I act as the liaison and point of contact for NCI at Frederick and have the opportunity to work with fantastic mentors from both the Center for Cancer Research and the Frederick National Laboratory. I’m also able to share resources with other NCI and NIH training coordinators to improve and expand both our and their offerings for students. I love working with students, schools, and professional and scientific staff whose motivation in life is to improve the lives of everyone else. It is a great feeling to know you are working for the greater good, and while I will never discover a cure for a cancer, HIV or HPV, or a coronavirus, I can do my part to ensure that our programs reach and attract the students who will do those things. Every day is a new day with a new opportunity to make something better.
What led you to your career field?
My parents lived lives that were focused on improving circumstances for others. They raised my siblings and me in a group home for boys, and then for several years after that, we always had between three and six foster kids living with us. I took up that path and met my husband working at the Victor Cullen Academy for juvenile offenders. We got married and started taking foster kids from the Department of Juvenile Services ourselves. From there, I spent a year with AmeriCorps and a few other jobs in the nonprofit human service arena, including starting a Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program (PRP) where my husband provided PRP services to at-risk youth in Frederick for over 20 years. I discovered that I like working more on the development and creation of programs, figuring out what works, what doesn’t, and how to bring a program to its peak potential. I did that for the Frederick County Office for Children and Families and then at Army Community Services on the other side of the post before landing here almost eight years ago.
What do you enjoy about working on Poster?
The Poster staff are terrific. If I have an idea, they make it happen. They see the value in the student programs and are always helping me find ways to highlight what we are doing as well as giving many students an opportunity to expand their own skills through researching and writing for Poster.
What’s something you like to do off the clock?
I love making things. Right now, I LOVE all things wood. I have made a few coffee, couch, and end tables and different live-edge pieces and am always on the lookout for slabs with potential. I think it is the challenge of figuring out the best way to showcase the natural beauty of the wood that make it so interesting. The process is different every time.
What’s a little-known fact about you?
I am an introvert. I love my work because of the people I get to interact with, but when I go home, I need to decompress and recharge. After a few hours with the goats and dogs and some alone time with my tools, I am usually good to go again.
Tracie Frederick
Contributing Writer, Scientific Library (interim)
Department: Scientific Library
What do you do at NCI at Frederick or Frederick National Laboratory, and what’s your favorite part of your job?
I have been working in the Scientific Library since 2007 and currently serve as the library director. My favorite part of my job is helping people find information that they need and resolving issues that come up with EndNote. It is great to hear that I saved someone time or made their work easier in support of the amazing research that is done at NCI at Frederick/FNL.
What led you to your career field?
Libraries have been my favorite places since I was young, and I have always enjoyed finding the answers to questions and learning something new. I originally thought I would be a school librarian, but different opportunities along the way led me to a career in health sciences libraries. It has been very rewarding to support medical research and still bring in the educational aspect when teaching classes on library resources.
What do you enjoy about working on Poster?
It’s wonderful to have an opportunity to promote the Scientific Library’s resources and services and learn more about what other groups at NCI at Frederick/FNL are doing. I filled in as the Poster representative for the library until our new public services librarian started in September. This time getting to know the Poster editorial board and all that goes into publishing Poster has been an excellent experience.
What’s something you like to do off the clock?
Since I am inside all day, I enjoy getting outside as much as possible. Our family likes to walk at different parks and trails in the area, and it is relaxing to work in the yard and garden.
What’s a little-known fact about you?
I have attended several science fiction conventions with my family, including one Star Wars Celebration.
Sarah Hooper
Contributing Writer, Occupational Health Services
Department: Occupational Health Services
What do you do at NCI at Frederick or Frederick National Laboratory, and what’s your favorite part of your job?
Occupational Health Clinic manager. My favorite part of my job is the people!
What led you to your career field?
I did my nurse practitioner clinicals at the OHS clinic.
What do you enjoy about working on Poster?
The Poster staff and the glimpse they provide into the important services and research that is being done here at FNL.
What’s something you like to do off the clock?
I like to garden and participate in community organizations.
What’s a little-known fact about you?
I was born and raised in Frederick. I worked 37 years at Frederick Health Hospital.
Kaitlyn May
Contributing Writer, Scientific Library
Department: Scientific Library
What do you do at NCI at Frederick or Frederick National Laboratory, and what’s your favorite part of your job?
I’m the public services librarian. I enjoy coming up with new ways to reach people and tell them about what the library can do for them, all the services we offer and the resources available to them. It’s rewarding to make contact and help with someone’s work.
What led you to your career field?
I’ve always loved the research process: asking questions, gathering and evaluating resources, organizing information. I’m also a generalist; I like to learn about many different areas and topics. As a librarian, you get to learn a little bit about everything your community works on.
What do you enjoy about working on Poster?
I like hearing about what everyone is working on, what projects they’re passionate about, what’s new and exciting. It’s a great way to feel connected to the community.
What’s something you like to do off the clock?
I’m a new mom and I love being with my daughter, playing with her, and seeing the world through her eyes.
What’s a little-known fact about you?
I have a rescue greyhound and I’ve also fostered rescue greyhounds fresh off the racetrack.
A list of contributing writers, along with their contact information, can be found on the About page.
