Originally a biology major at Union College in New York, Andrea Barrett ended up applying her degree in scientific studies in a more literary fashion. Barrett is now a published author specializing in historical fiction; her works reflect her overall interest in science, particularly women in science, and the history behind it. *Ship Fever,* her best-known publication, is a collection of short stories that won the National Book Award in 1996. She also received a MacArthur Fellowship in 2001.