Jef (an unusual nickname for Jennifer) is a professional journalist and editor specializing in the life sciences. She earned her master’s degree from Indiana University in April 2009 studying the mating behavior of seahorses and spent the first 13-plus years of her career at The Scientist, where she edited features and oversaw the production of the publication’s digital and print magazines. In 2022, her feature on uterus transplantation earned first place in the trade category of the Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism.
She joined BioSpace as managing editor in early 2023 with a mission to grow the news desk with quality journalism serving the biopharma industry. Stories published the following year, as well BioSpace‘s new website, took home 2025 AZBEE accolades—the brand’s first journalism awards. In 2026, BioSpace also became Neal Award finalists.
She lives in Fredericksburg, Virginia, with her husband, two young kids, wild coonhound and aging cat. Her hobbies including hiking, camping, and shooting pool. You can reach her at jef.akst@biospace.com.
