The AIDS Beacon is an online service provided by Light Knowledge Resources, an independent Internet publishing company based in Princeton, New Jersey. The Beacon provides objective and unbiased news and other information related to HIV and AIDS. Our mission is to be a key Internet resource and online community for HIV/AIDS patients and others interested in HIV and AIDS.
Currently, the AIDS Beacon is supported solely by the internal financial resources of Light Knowledge Resources and the hard work of many volunteer contributors. It is the Beacon’s intention, however, to eventually gain additional financial support from individuals, companies, and other institutions interested in helping AIDS/HIV patients. When such sponsorships are arranged, the Beacon will be fully transparent about their existence, and they will not alter the Beacon’s commitment to objectivity.
If you are interested in supporting the Beacon’s work, please the Beacon’s publisher.
Boris Simkovich is the Chief Executive Officer of Light Knowledge Resources and Publisher of The AIDS Beacon. Boris co-founded LKR in 2005 when the firm started developing its first web service, Zuula. Boris has a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from Penn State and a Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard. In his free time, Boris enjoys watching movies and reading.
Courtney McQueen joined the Light Knowledge Resources team as a writer and managing editor in May 2009, and as an associate publisher in May 2010. Courtney has a B.S. in Chemistry from Harvey Mudd College in California and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Princeton University. At LKR, she helps manage and develop the Beacon websites. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, watching Mythbusters, cooking, and spending time with her family.
Maike joined Light Knowledge Resources in May 2009 as an associate publisher. She is responsible for the development of the Beacon Web sites. Before joining LKR, Maike worked in consulting for many years. She holds a linguistics degree and a degree in business from two German schools. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, reading, and practicing and teaching yoga.
Julie joined Light Knowledge Resources in March of 2008 after graduating from Princeton University with her Ph.D. in Chemistry. Her dissertation research involved the development of small molecule chemotherapeutics. She also has a B.S. in Chemistry and Mathematics from Moravian College. At LKR, Julie works on the development of the Beacon Web sites. With several family members who have battled cancer, she aspires to help patients through these sites. Julie's interests include crafts, playing piano, and spending time with her family.
April Clayton is a fourth year Ph. D. candidate in the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine's Graduate Program in Biochemistry, Cellular, and Molecular Biology. Her research entails dissecting the mosquito Anopheles gambiae's innate immune response to the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. April is originally from South Carolina and graduated from Erskine College with a B. S. in Biology and Chemistry. April enjoys spending time with her family, practicing Spanish, cooking Southern meals, and going to the beach. April joined the AIDS Beacon in March 2011.
Kieryn is a sophomore at Princeton University. She is hoping to major in either Molecular Biology or Sociology with a certificate in Neuroscience and plans on attending medical school after graduating. Her interests include volunteering at her local animal shelter, reading, playing the violin, and spending time with friends and family. She joined the Light KR team in February 2010.
Cristina Balbas-Martinez is a first year graduate student at Spain’s National Cancer Research Center. Her research focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying bladder cancer. Cristina is originally from Spain but attended the Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong for K11 and K12, followed by Princeton University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology. Cristina joined the AIDS Beacon in October 2010. In her spare time, Cristina enjoys watching movies, going for tapas with friends, and learning languages.
