Forbes business magazine has twice featured scientist Paige Cramer in its list of rising stars aged under-30. This weekend she makes her first visit to Bermuda, and will compete in the Bermuda Triangle Half Challenge.

Cramer is an associate principal scientist at Merck, working in their discovery preclinical sciences group with neuroscience. She leads two teams working on programmes into treatment for Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

She was featured in Forbes for her work on Alzheimer’s treatment while still a graduate.

She took up running ten years ago when she started graduate school. “It is the perfect stress reliever. I could be alone with my thoughts, listening to music, or just hearing my shoes hit the pavement. As I continued, I found out that there were a few other graduate students who ran together, so eventually running became a social endeavour for me, as well.”

Earning her PhD, in 2012, and getting her first job offer are among her proudest achievements. She also ran a half-marathon on the morning of her graduation.

She is looking forward to visiting the Island. “Everything I’ve heard from everyone who’s been there has been nothing short of fantastic,” she said.