Porterfield is currently a freelance writer, specializing in life sciences, biotechnology and healthcare. He has worked with Pfizer, Amgen, CalTech, the University of California, and the Salk Institute. He started out as an assistant in a genetics laboratory, and quickly found a preference for writing about science. He has an M.S. in biotechnology management from the University of Maryland, a B.A. in physical anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania. When not writing about science, he can be found surfing California\\\\\\\'s central coast or biking its rural roads.