Karissa L. Cross, Ph.D.

Karissa L. Cross, Ph.D., brings a decade of interdisciplinary scientific research experience to LifeSci Communications, where she specializes in communicating complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences for biotech and healthcare companies across various fields and stages of development. Karissa has served clients across cell and gene therapy, oncology, rare disease, women’s health, and neuroscience to execute their external communications needs, including scientific messaging, corporate communications, social media and media relations, with an eye to scientific accuracy and audience-appropriate tone.

Prior to joining LifeSci Communications, Karissa completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at Vanderbilt University, where she received a prestigious National Science Foundation award to investigate the complex evolutionary relationship between host genetics, the microbiome, and the emergence of new species. During her graduate work conducted at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Karissa studied the human microbiome and how it influences oral health and systemic diseases. She has published twelve peer-reviewed scientific publications and has presented her findings at national and international conferences. Karissa also holds a Certificate in College Teaching from Vanderbilt University.

Karissa completed her bachelor’s degree in microbiology from North Carolina State University and her Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of Tennessee – Knoxville.