Maaisha Osman was the Spring 2023 editorial intern at Spectrum, writing articles about the latest in autism research. She graduated from the Northeastern Journalism School in Boston, Massachusetts, and was an editor at Storybench — a digital publication on media innovation. Her work has appeared in STAT, The Bay State Banner and other local news outlets in Boston. You can find her on Twitter @MaaishaO.
Maaisha Osman
Former news intern
Spectrum
From this contributor
Abundant motor proteins disrupt cries in FOXP2 mice
Knocking down the gene that codes for the proteins normalizes the vocalizations.
Abundant motor proteins disrupt cries in FOXP2 mice
By
Laura Dattaro, Maaisha Osman
28 July 2023 | 3 min read
Two scientists, two interventions: A ‘gentle rivalry’ to aid autistic children
Minimally verbal autistic preschoolers gained new words and phrases in a head-to-head comparison of two interventions.
Two scientists, two interventions: A ‘gentle rivalry’ to aid autistic children
By
Maaisha Osman
2 June 2023 | 6 min read
Medicaid waivers curb disenrollment among autistic young adults
Autistic people tend to drop out of Medicaid once they reach adulthood in states that don’t waive the income restrictions on enrollment.
Medicaid waivers curb disenrollment among autistic young adults
By
Maaisha Osman
26 May 2023 | 3 min read
Autism intervention before age 2 may aid social, language skills
Autistic toddlers who receive a personalized intervention at about 18 months of age gain more abilities than those who start the therapy nine months later.
Autism intervention before age 2 may aid social, language skills
By
Maaisha Osman
16 May 2023 | 4 min read
Black and women researchers are less likely to hold three or more NIH grants simultaneously
A growing proportion of researchers has reached such “super principal investigator” status, but the distribution is not even across demographic groups.
Black and women researchers are less likely to hold three or more NIH grants simultaneously
By
Maaisha Osman
5 May 2023 | 4 min read
Explore more from The Transmitter
On the importance of reading (just not too much)
The real fun of being a neuroscientist, and maybe the key to asking and answering new questions, is to think big and take intellectual risks.
On the importance of reading (just not too much)
The real fun of being a neuroscientist, and maybe the key to asking and answering new questions, is to think big and take intellectual risks.
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Sheena Josselyn
9 June 2025 | 8 min read
How developing neurons simplify their search for a synaptic mate
Streamlining the problem from 3D to 1D eases the expedition—a strategy the study investigators deployed to rewire an olfactory circuit in flies.
How developing neurons simplify their search for a synaptic mate
Streamlining the problem from 3D to 1D eases the expedition—a strategy the study investigators deployed to rewire an olfactory circuit in flies.
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Calli McMurray
6 June 2025 | 6 min read
NIH autism database announcement raises concerns among researchers
The U.S. National Institutes of Health announced a plan to pour $50 million into data science projects intended to investigate the condition’s causes, but the initiative’s short timeline and other atypicalities have prompted questions.
NIH autism database announcement raises concerns among researchers
The U.S. National Institutes of Health announced a plan to pour $50 million into data science projects intended to investigate the condition’s causes, but the initiative’s short timeline and other atypicalities have prompted questions.
By
Angie Voyles Askham
5 June 2025 | 5 min read