Elaine Vitone (she/her) is a freelance science writer, editor, and audio producer. She specializes in character-driven stories that humanize academia and make complex research accessible for lay audiences.

Elaine’s longform magazine features and narrative podcasts have won awards from the National Association of Science Writers, the Carnegie Science Center, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation, the International Association of Business Communicators, the Pennsylvania Women’s Press Association, and the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned her MFA in nonfiction writing.

Previously, she was senior editor of Pitt Med magazine and host/producer of Pitt Medcast. The series aired regularly on the National Science Foundation’s Science Zone Radio and was also handpicked by Public Radio Exchange’s highly curated storytelling channel/app, PRX Remix.

Most recently, she was host and producer of Consequential, a narrative podcast about public policy from Carnegie Mellon University. 

Elaine’s stories have also appeared in GQ, Ladies’ Home Journal, Publishers Weekly, San Francisco Chronicle, The Allegheny Front, US Airways Magazine, Pennsylvania Pursuits, Pittsburgh magazine, and Pitt Magazine, among others. 

Elaine, her husband, Dylan, and their three kids live in Pittsburgh.