Lily Burton spent years in the lab. PhD in biochemistry and molecular biophysics at the University of Chicago. Deep research. Big questions. But something was missing. "I really enjoyed thinking…

WordPress.com News Read on blog or Reader Lily Burton Is Pivoting from PhD to Science Journalism. Her Portfolio Took an Hour to Build — and Already Landed Her Work. By WordPress.com Staff on February 18, 2026 Lily Burton spent years in the lab. PhD in biochemistry and molecular biophysics at the University of Chicago. Deep research. Big questions. But something was missing. "I really enjoyed thinking about very deep questions," she says. "But I kind of missed the human element. I would get frustrated — why should a normal, everyday person care about this?" That question led her toward science writing. And eventually, to a portfolio she built in an hour using our AI website builder. From lab to byline To pursue her science writing dream, Lily built up slowly. Volunteer projects. Small bylines. Then, in late 2023, she applied to the AAAS Mass Media Fellowship — mostly as practice. She got in. Ten weeks at a public radio station in North Carolina, reporting on science. That was the moment it became real. "This might actually be something I could do." The portfolio problem But to get paid work, she needed a portfolio. A place to show her clips. Proof she could do the job. She kept putting it off. I had been dreading making the website — not because it would be so hard, but I just didn't know exactly how to do it. Then a deadline hit. An internship application. Four hours to finish everything — resume, cover letter, portfolio. She opened WordPress.com, found the AI website builder, and started typing. About an hour later, her online portfolio was live. It lowered the barrier for me to get started and get everything together. What Lily's new website delivered She didn't get that first job. But the website stuck around. A few weeks later, another interview. They wanted writing samples. She sent the website immediately. As a result, Lily got: Contract work from that company A separate internship A portfolio ready to send whenever opportunities come up They asked for writing samples. I sent them my website. I got the contract. Your story deserves a home, too Lily had been putting off her portfolio for too long. A deadline forced her hand — and the AI website builder got her there in an hour. WordPress.com's managed hosting also means she's not dealing with updates or maintenance. She focuses on her career. The platform handles the rest. Her story started in the lab. But her website is where the next chapter begins. Yours can too. You bring the idea — AI makes it real Use our AI website builder for free today. Try it now Comment Like WordPress.com News © 2026. Unsubscribe or manage your email subscriptions. Get the Jetpack app Subscribe, bookmark, and get real-time notifications – all from one app! Automattic, Inc. 60 29th St. #343, San Francisco, CA 94110