Pernille Rorth holds a PhD in cell biology and genetics. She has led research labs at top institutions in the US, in Europe and in Asia, including the Carnegie Institution for Science (Dept. Embryology) and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL). With 25 years as an active scientist, she is senior author of numerous research articles, including some in the most prestigious journals in biology. She also served as Executive Editor (Editor-in-Chief) of The EMBO Journal for 5 years. This is her first novel. She now lives in Copenhagen with her husband, also a scientist.