Delia O’Hara

Delia O’Hara is an award-winning writer and journalist, a former longtime features reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times. Specialties include science, health care, profiles, education, history, culture and the arts for magazines and websites. She is presently a member of the National Association of Science Writers and the Association of Health Care Journalists. She is also a published short story writer.

From this contributor

Spectrum

By Delia O’Hara

10 February 2022

6 min read

Dr. Kostas Zarbalis standing in front of a window in his office.

Beyond the bench: A conversation with Konstantinos Zarbalis

Konstantinos “Kostas” Zarbalis talks about the upside of unexpected experimental results, and why he eats just one meal per day.

Spectrum

Beyond the bench: A conversation with Konstantinos Zarbalis

By Delia O’Hara

10 February 2022 | 6 min read

Spectrum

By Delia O’Hara

13 January 2022

6 min read

Beyond the bench: A conversation with Kristin Sohl

When pediatrician Kristin Sohl isn’t building programs to improve care for and research about autistic people, you can find her reading psychological thrillers or playing Pokémon Go.

Spectrum

Beyond the bench: A conversation with Kristin Sohl

By Delia O’Hara

13 January 2022 | 6 min read

Spectrum

By Delia O’Hara

24 November 2021

7 min read

Professor Andrew Whitehouse surrounded by playful children in the busy clinic in Subiaco Western Australia.

Beyond the bench: A conversation with Andrew Whitehouse

Andrew Whitehouse talks about his conservation efforts in the Australian Outback, what it’s like to be an identical twin and why he leaves work promptly at 5 p.m.

Spectrum

Beyond the bench: A conversation with Andrew Whitehouse

By Delia O’Hara

24 November 2021 | 7 min read

Spectrum

By Delia O’Hara

13 September 2021

9 min read

Scientist Ethan Scott takes aim with a bow and arrow in his backyard.

Beyond the bench: A conversation with Ethan Scott

Ethan Scott packs his lab with math, physics and computer science experts to decode sensory brain networks in zebrafish models of autism.

Spectrum

Beyond the bench: A conversation with Ethan Scott

By Delia O’Hara

13 September 2021 | 9 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Spectrum

By Holly Barker

8 July 2026

5 min read

Research image of proliferating neural cells.

Diverse autism genes derail common developmental pathways

Multiple genetic mouse models initially show delayed cortical development, but the animals’ molecular trajectories diverge within weeks after birth, a new study finds.

Spectrum

Diverse autism genes derail common developmental pathways

Multiple genetic mouse models initially show delayed cortical development, but the animals’ molecular trajectories diverge within weeks after birth, a new study finds.

By Holly Barker

8 July 2026 | 5 min read

Sex differences

By Lauren Schenkman

8 July 2026

5 min read