About
SciTech ForefrontForefront is a space for the science and technology policy community to express their ideas and share information about how to enhance society — now and into the future.
Note from the editor
Forefront is a space for the science and technology policy community to express their ideas and share information about how to enhance society — now and into the future.
Editors
Rachel K. Owen, Ph.D.
Editor of SciTech Forefront | Science Policy Writer, Founder, and Director | Find me in the Midwest, USA
Deborah Stine
Dr. Deborah D. Stine is Founder of the Science and Technology Policy Academy, an Independent study director and consultant, and co-editor of Forefront on Medium
Natalie R. Pilgeram
Natalie holds a PhD in Psychology from Emory University. Also an NSPN SciPol Scholar, she writes on animal behavior, disability, & mental health.
Writers
Meredith Ward
Meredith is an analytical chemist in the cannabis testing industry, passionate about the environment and safe consumption of cannabis.
Tara Illgner
Studies atmospheric chemistry, works with legislators on science policy and EJ, published writer, business owner, painter, mom of humans and non-humans.
Adriana Bankston
Adriana Bankston is an advocate for scientific research and innovation at the federal level. Connect with Adriana at https://adrianabankston.com/.
Jasmine Yu
PhD candidate at Texas A&M | Plant biochemist | Hong Kong native | Passionate about science policy and outreach Follow me @kmJasmineyu
Chris Unterberger
I am currently a PhD candidate in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Find more about me at https://chrisunterberger.com/.
Nikita Lad
Nikita is a Ph.D. student of Environmental Science and Policy at George Mason University. She is a social scientist with interdisciplinary research.
Sci4NY | Science For New York
Sci4NY is science policy organization that brings scientists and government policymakers together to enhance the wellbeing of New York City
Jennifer Pearl
Jennifer Pearl likes to think about how to foster collaboration and promote discovery across the science and engineering community.
Christopher Tonnu Jackson
Chris is a PhD candidate at UC Berkeley. He frequently writes and advocates for public policy related to science, energy, climate, immigration, and equity.
AJ @WPC
PhD in biomedical science focusing on rare disease therapeutic development. Writing from Northeast U.S.
Ashley E. Orr
Ashley E. Orr is a PhD Student and National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program Fellow at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College.
Lauren Wagner
Neuroscience PhD student at UCLA and editor-in-chief of Knowing Neurons. I enjoy researching issues in science policy & organizing scipol/scicomm events!
Brittany Baur
Senior Data Scientist, University of Michigan Medicine. Ph.D. in Computational Sciences & MS in Bioinformatics, Marquette University.
Lindsey Fernandez, PhD
Postdoc at the University of Pennsylvania | Computational cancer modeling | Co-president of the Penn Science Policy and Diplomacy Group (pspdg.com)
Christine Ray, Ph.D.
Dr. Christine Ray is a postdoctoral scientist at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas, who is also involved in science policy and advocacy.
Madeleine Roberts
Ph.D. candidate in Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Chemistry. Co-President of Catalysts for Science Policy.
Daniel Puentes
Daniel Puentes is a Physics Ph.D. Candidate at Michigan State University, with expertise in nuclear arms control and non-proliferation.
Grace Burleson
Design Researcher and PhD Candidate at the University of Michigan | ‘17-’21 Engineering for Change Fellow.
John Tracey
PhD candidate, Princeton University, Department of Geosciences with interests in environmental policy, oceanography, environmental science, and microbiology
Eugenia Volkova
Biotech Scientist | JHU ChemBE PhD | JHU APL Fellow ‘17-’22 | Role of ECM in Sarcoma and Pulmonary Hypertension | Runner | she/her
Bek Petroff
she/they | writer and postdoctoral scientist in environmental health at the University of Michigan School of Public Health | all these thoughts are my own
Kelsey Kochan, PhD
Kelsey has a Ph.D. in Pharmacology and a Science and Technology Policy Certificate from the University of Michigan with a passion for advocacy and research.
Rachel Hostetler
Neuroscience PhD candidate interested in sci pol and sci comm. My posts “Scientists Did What?!” explore the research behind wacky science headlines in the media
Krystina Hird
Krystina is a Biochemistry PhD candidate at Michigan State University with an interest in Natural Resource and Environmental Justice Policy.
Natalie R. Pilgeram
Natalie holds a PhD in Psychology from Emory University. Also an NSPN SciPol Scholar, she writes on animal behavior, disability, & mental health.
Kelley Dugan
2 years of experience facilitating workshops on community engagement and socially engaged design | 4th yr mechanical engineering PhD student | vegan foodie
Rosa E. Lozano (Tina)
Self-driven student pursuing a PhD degree in Entomology. Committed to advancing the understanding of insecticide resistance to support food security.
Tuhina Srivastava, MPH
Tuhina Srivastava, MPH, is a doctoral candidate in Epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania who studies disparities in infectious diseases and vaccines.
Sharmini Pitter Boghos, Ph.D.
Sharmini Pitter Boghos, Ph.D., is a 2023-2024 AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow at the National Science Foundation.
Nanxi Xu, Ph.D.
Senior Policy Research Associate | Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center | Vanderbilt University
Hlanovoi
Hunter is a Ph.D. candidate at Rutgers University and co-president of Science Policy and Advocacy at Rutgers (SPAR), a student-run policy and advocacy group.
Simone Imani Boyd
Clinical Psychology PhD Student interested in understanding how adolescent development influences suicidal behavior and aggression.
Elizabeth Bramhall
Doctor of Public Health Candidate at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All views on this page are my own.
Jelonia Rumph
Jelonia “Loni” Rumph is a Biomedical Science PhD candidate with research interests in exposure science, environmental epidemiology and environmental justice.
Steven Jerjian
Neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins University. Interested in data science and visualization on urban policy, technology, and sports.
Anastasia Bernat, Data Scientist
I'm a Data Scientist at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory where I build data tools for energy and environmental issues on regional to global scales.
Dezmond Cole
Dezmond is a queer scientist and a PhD candidate in Biochemistry, Cellular & Molecular Biology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine 🏳️🌈
Ebony D. Johnson
Social scientist & epidemiologist studying the social determinants of neuropsychiatric health & science policy. Passionate about health equity.
Miles J. Arnett
Bioengineering PhD Student at the University of Pennsylvania | Systems and Stem Cell Biology | Penn Science Policy and Diplomacy Group
Ale Villegas Lopez
Ale and Inam are PhD candidates in cellular biology and genetics at the University of Georgia.
Emily Packard Dawson
Emily is a Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the National Academies with a passion for health equity and access.
Shane Coffield
Postdoc researcher at the University of Maryland / NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Interests include Earth, environment, science policy, DEI in STEM
Chia Chun Angela Liang
PhD candidate, UC Irvine; Science Policy Scholar, AAAS & National Science Policy Network; Science & Tech Advisor, Open Dialogues International Foundation
Ryan Nesselrodt
Ryan Nesselrodt is a West Virginia Science & Technology Policy Fellow at West Virginia University. He has a PhD in physics from Georgetown University.
Uche Samuel Osuji
Uche is a Ph.D candidate in the Chemistry Program at Georgia State University, with a passion for advocacy and research.
Broderick Johnson
PhD Candidate, Northwestern Univ.; Science Policy Scholar in Residence, National Science Policy Network; National Defense Science & Engineering Graduate Fellow
Jon Judd
Stanford PhD Student researching the genetic and social causes of disease. Passionate about science advocacy/policy revolving around health access and equity.
