HEATHER POLLINGTON, Ph.D.
SUMMARY
• 6+ years experience combining rigorous scientific training with visual design.
• Practicing artist and scientist skilled at generating animations, illustrations, website design, and written publications.
• Currently managing multiple concurrent projects that combine research findings with
visual storytelling for an NIH grant, research manuscripts, and website development.
• Seeking a position to utilize my skills to apply rigor, creative execution, and project
management for clients with ambitious communication goals.
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Biology, University of Oregon June 2025
• Relevant courses: 20-week writing workshop January – May 2025
B.S. Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Puget Sound December 2018
PUBLISHED ILLUSTRATIONS
1. Pollington H.Q., Radler M., Lee K., Hirono K., Doe C.Q. (2026) Castor specifies NB5-2
late-born interneuron molecular identity and premotor connectivity. Developmental
Biology (in review).
2. Lee K. Graciani. J., Carvajal N.R., Clark M., Doe C.Q. (2026) Cell body clustering drives
gap junction-mediated synchronous activity in command neurons. Science (submitted).
3. Pollington H.Q. Environment is vital: development of in vitro mouse embryos lag behind
their in vivo counterparts (2026). preLights, The Company of Biologists.
https://doi.org/10.1242/prelights.42981
4. Pollington H.Q. and Doe C.Q., (2025) The Hunchback transcription factor determines
interneuron molecular identity, morphology, and presynapse targeting in the Drosophila
NB5-2 lineage. PLoS Biol 23(3): e3002881. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3002881
5. Pollington, H.Q., Seroka, A.Q., Doe, C.Q., (2022) From temporal patterning to neuronal
connectivity in Drosophila type I neuroblast lineages. Seminars in Cell & Developmental
WORK EXPERIENCE
Graphic and Web designer (February 2026 – Present)
• Spearheading the visual identity and website design for Neurodiversity Innovation
Center of Excellence in Neuroscience.
• Creating customized illustrations to increase name recognition and visual
Illustrator and Writer, preLights, The Company of Biologists Oct 2025 – Present
• Designed graphical abstracts on emerging research, summarized key findings and
provided necessary background information for a broad audience.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Doe Lab, University of Oregon June 2025 – Present
• Conceptualized and delivered illustrations and slide decks for 4 major projects to
communicate complex scientific techniques and findings for presentations and
manuscripts submitted to high impact journals.
• Completely redesigned a highly traditional scientific illustration, optimizing design and
maximizing information clarity for an NIH grant.
Graduate Research Associate, Doe Lab, University of Oregon 2019 – 2025
• Created illustrations and animations for scientific manuscripts and slide decks to
disseminate complex scientific research to audiences ranging from specialists to the
general public.
SKILLS
• Illustrative and graphic design
• Science Communication (oral, written,
visual)
• Project management
• Grant and manuscript writing • Collaborative team member
• Proofreading and editing • Critical thinker
• Presentation and Figure illustrations • Solution-oriented approach
• Software: Microsoft 365 Suite, iWork
Suite, Adobe Creative Suite, Google
Workspace Suite, Zoom
• Highly conscientious of detail and
accuracy
• Motivated self-starter eager to learn