About
Michelle McRae, PhD, ELS

I provide flexible and specialized editorial support for researchers, journals, medical societies, and medical communications teams who want to publish their work with clarity and confidence. Whether you're preparing a journal article, slide deck, or conference poster, I help you communicate your ideas with greater precision, logic, and impact.

As a former preclinical biomedical researcher and a certified Editor in the Life Sciences, I bring both subject-matter fluency and meticulous attention to detail to every project. My clients value my responsive communication, thoughtful feedback, and editing that genuinely improves their writing.

I founded McRae Editorial after discovering a love for editing through a proofreading course I took on a whim. I enjoy making complex material clearer, refining language, and polishing formatting so the reader can focus on the science. For me, editing is a bit like solving a puzzle: There's satisfaction in bringing order and flow to medical and scientific writing so the audience quickly and clearly understands the work and its context.

My approach is rooted in open communication, integrity, and thoroughness. I believe strong editing supports, not overrides, a writer’s voice. If you’re looking for a medical and biomedical editor who understands your field, respects your ideas, and works with care, you’re in the right place.

Mid-40s woman with wavy red-brown hair and glasses smiling, wearing a teal t-shirt with white spots.
“Michelle brings a meticulous eye, catching not only grammar and style issues but also ensuring clarity and coherence, which is critical in scientific writing. Her work has consistently elevated the readability and impact of complex research content, making it accessible to both specialized and broader audiences.”
— Elaine Seery, Science Editor and Translator
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Qualifications

  • Certified Editor in the Life Sciences (ELS)

  • American Medical Writers Association Certificate in Medical Editing

  • PhD in cancer gene therapy

  • Postdoc in neurodegenerative disease gene therapy

Employment History

  • The Phillips Group Oncology Communications, USA

  • Merck, contracted through Cella by Randstad Digital, USA

  • University of California, San Francisco, USA

  • Cambridge University, UK

  • Wellcome Sanger Institute, UK

  • University of Auckland, New Zealand

  • University of Otago, New Zealand

Volunteering

  • Board of Directors, Northern California Chapter, American Medical Writers Association