Michael Eisenstein.

Michael Eisenstein

Freelance Writer

Michael Eisenstein is a freelance writer covering a broad range of topics in biomedical research and biotechnology. Prior to working as a freelancer, he was on the founding editorial team of Nature Methods, where he served as news and technology editor. His writing has appeared in Nature, Nature Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News and Scientific American, among other publications.

Eisenstein has an M.S. in molecular biology from Rockefeller University and an Sc.B. in biology from Brown University.

From this contributor

Annette Dolphin.
Ion channels Microphone

Remembering Annette Dolphin, who helped explain gabapentin’s effects

By Michael Eisenstein
13 March 2026 | 7 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.
Spectrum

Treatments: In the waiting room

By Michael Eisenstein
6 December 2012 | 13 min read

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Many complex behaviors have stubbornly resisted mechanistic explanations. Deciphering them will require new approaches—and perhaps a new concept of “understanding.”

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University probe leads to retraction of four neural tube studies

The University of Maryland conducted an internal investigation that identified image duplications and other data integrity issues in the studies, according to the retraction notices.

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Highly cited autism paper earns expression of concern over data duplications

The notice, published in Nature last week, also addressed an image duplication identified by a prominent research-integrity sleuth.

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