Dr. Reyhaneh (Rey) Maktoufi is an Iranian-American National Geographic Explorer, a published researcher, and science communicator focused on popularizing the science of science communication (SciComm). She is the co-producer, host, and illustrator of PBS| NOVA's digital series Sciencing Out, a mini-series celebrating female science communicators and their unique communication strategies. 

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She is currently an HHMI Fellow, where she designs SciComm training program and strategy. Her latest personal projects are the podcast SciComm Hotline, co-created with her Friend Dr. Stephanie Castillo, and Story Craft: The Stories We Tell and the Science Behind Them, a National Geographic Society-funded project in collaboration with SciComm Lab, aimed at connecting SciComm researchers and practitioners.

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​Through her previous fellowship with Tangled Bank Studios, she has been working extensively with science media and documentary communities. She helps train early career producers and helps them design and run evaluation and impact campaigns that connect science and culture and build trust with audiences. 

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Previously, Rey worked as a Misinformation Civic Science fellow at PBS|NOVA and a visiting researcher at the Adler Planetarium, where she studied curiosity and engagement and trained scientists. Before pursuing her Ph.D. in Media, Technology, and Society at Northwestern University, she worked as a health communication facilitator and cancer preventive/palliative care campaign manager in Tehran, Iran. Rey strongly believes in empowering communities and co-learning with them, leading her to work with communities such as ComSciCon, South Africa-based NEWF, and Jackson Wild. She also engages in SciComm outreach through her comics and illustrations, and pretends to be good at creating social media memes.

In her free time, Rey practices different swordsmanship styles such as iaido and kendo, and annoys her dog with long hugs.