Apoorva Mandavilli

Founding Editor-in-Chief
Spectrum

Apoorva Mandavilli created Spectrum as an authoritative news source for scientists interested in autism. As editor-in-chief, she oversees Spectrum’s operations. 

Before launching Spectrum, Apoorva was senior news editor at Nature Medicine. She also worked as U.S. news editor at BioMedNet, health editor at About.com and was a newspaper and radio reporter. Her work has been featured in The New York TimesThe New Yorker online, The Atlantic, Slate and Popular Science, among others. Her article for Spectrum,The Lost Girls,” won first place in its category in the 2015 Association of Health Care Journalism Awards for Excellence, and is included in the 2016 “Best American Science & Nature Writing” anthology. Another article for the site, on electroconvulsive therapy, also won first place in its category in the 2016 Association of Health Care Journalism Awards for Excellence.

Apoorva has an M.S. in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an M.A. in science journalism from New York University.

From this contributor

Explore more from The Transmitter

New questions around motor neurons and plasticity

A researcher’s theory hangs muscle degeneration on a broken neural circuit.

By David Adam
10 October 2025 | 9 min read
Research image of SCN2A neurons.

Boosting SCN2A expression reduces seizures in mice

A modified form of CRISPR amps up expression of the gene—a strategy that could apply to other gene variations linked to autism.

By Charles Q. Choi
9 October 2025 | 5 min read

Nikolay Kukushkin discusses his book, ‘One Hand Clapping: Unraveling the Mystery of the Human Mind’

He explains how meaning arises in the interactions found throughout nature and evolution, from molecules to minds.

By Paul Middlebrooks
8 October 2025 | 1 min read

privacy consent banner

Privacy Preference

We use cookies to provide you with the best online experience. By clicking “Accept All,” you help us understand how our site is used and enhance its performance. You can change your choice at any time. To learn more, please visit our Privacy Policy.