Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Fellowshi[

Summer 2003 Fellow Biographies

Liz Alter (Intl Programs/PGA) completed a master's degree in environmental science, policy and management at the University of California, Berkeley, and will begin a PhD program in biological sciences at Stanford University this fall.  Her doctoral research will focus on the conservation genetics and molecular evolution of marine organisms. Liz is interested in the policy implications of environmental problems that require cooperation across international borders, particularly issues related to marine conservation and climate change. Throughout her academic and professional career, Liz has worked to encourage greater public understanding of the science that shapes our society. As an undergraduate at Yale University, she taught for and eventually directed an environmental education program for low-income New Haven elementary schools. After graduating from Yale, Liz taught high school biology in Cairo, Egypt, and worked at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History on a biodiversity database project. Her professional goal is a career in academic research with a focus on producing science that will aid the conservation of natural resources. During the course of the fellowship, Liz hopes to gain a deeper understanding of the ways in which scientific research is translated into public policy. Contact by email.

Angela Armendariz (FNB/IOM) is a PhD candidate in molecular and biochemical nutrition at the University of California, Berkeley.  She earned a BS in human nutrition and food science with a minor in biochemistry from New Mexico State University.  She spends the majority of her time understanding molecular processes of micronutrient metabolism, but has taken the time during graduate school to pursue other interests by enrolling in several policy-related courses as well.  She has yet to declare a definite career plan, but is certain of one goal: to continue the pursuit of scientific knowledge, and at the same time, making sure that this knowledge is used to benefit the population as a whole.  She feels that science policy could offer her the opportunity to accomplish this goal. Angela hoped that her Mirzayan Fellowship would allow her, a lab scientist, the unique opportunity to gain insight into the ways in which science influences governmental policies and vice-versa.  Whether science policy becomes a new career path for her or not, she knew that, at the very least, the Fellowship would be an invaluable tool to use in her future work as a scientist.  Angela finds time to perform some volunteer work by giving scientific talks and demonstrations at children’s summer camps and is an active participant in her daughter’s team sports.  Contact by email.  (Updated 04/09)

Kristen Averyt (PRB/DELS) finished her PhD in geological and environmental science at Stanford University in 2004.  She earned an MS in chemistry from the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand while on a Fulbright Fellowship, and received her BS in chemistry and marine science from the University of Miami.  Subsequent to completing her PhD, she was a NOAA Knauss Legislative Fellow in the Office of US Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).  She then became a staff scientist for Working Group I of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.  Currently, she is the deputy director of the Western Water Assessment, one of ten NOAA Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessment Programs.  Her current work involves incorporating climate science into adaptation and mitigation planning on regional scales.  Contact by email.  (Updated 4/09)

Amy Brown (BCYF/DBASSE) earned a master's degree public health, concentrating in health policy and administration at Yale, and a bachelor's degree in biology from Smith College.  As a Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Graduate Fellow during the summer of 2003, Amy contributed to a study to help build the research base to improve adolescent health and development outcomes, particularly among those at increased risk.  Amy currently works as a policy associate at Health Systems Research, Inc. (HSR) in Washington, D.C.  She has coordinated data collection, analytic, and writing support on numerous maternal and child health projects, including an needs and capacity assessment for the State of Idaho and a national evaluation of the Food Stamp Nutrition Education program.  She also serves as the project manager for a national evaluation of infrastructure-building activities across Title V Block Grant programs for the Maternal and Child Health Bureau.  Amy is also the project manager for an evaluation of National Women’s Health Week for the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health.  In addition, Amy has continued to pursue her personal and professional passion engage in research to reduce health disparities among vulnerable populations and has recently presented a poster at the National Leadership Summit on Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health.  Amy hopes to obtain a doctoral degree in public health policy. Contact by email. (Updated 06/06)

Amy Love Collins (BBCCSS/DBASSE) obtained her PhD in developmental psychology from Boston College where she was involved in research examining older adults' psychological resilience against life challenges associated with normal aging.  She continued her research on health and well-being in older adults as a postdoctoral fellow at Princeton University.  Prior to Boston College and Princeton, she earned an MA in psychology from The Catholic University of America and a BA in English literature from the Honors College at the University of South Florida.  Contact by email.  (Updated 4/09)

Stephanie Cupp (CASEE/NAE) has been working on a master's degree in computer science at George Washington University.  She earned a bachelor's degree in computer science from Kennesaw State University.  In selecting a course of study in college, she immediately gravitated toward technology, and her research interests have been focused around bringing technology to people.  Her interest in computer science is focused around human-computer interaction and technology presentation.  As a graduate research assistant, she is researching and producing a collaborative learning environment for the National Security Agency.  The project involves creating an experience for users to learn how to collaborate online in order to solve “Wicked Problems.”  The reseacrch includes the areas of teaching and learning styles, groupware and other collaborative tools.  Her goal is to continue to explore and expand the ways in which science and technology are introduced to children and/or adults in an effort to spark an interest in a broader arena of people who will be able to bring more talent into the engineering workforce.  Growing up in a U.S. military family, and living in seven states and Japan, provided a personal familiarity with cultural diversity.  She is excited to see the role of technology and engineering in government and policy at the National Academies.

Collette Eccleston (CFE/DBASSE) has been working towards a doctorate in social psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara.  She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Columbia University.  Her research attempts to gain a greater understanding of the psychological experience of individuals who belong to stigmatized groups.  Specifically, she is interested in how structural and psychological factors contribute to differences between members of relatively disadvantaged groups and relatively privileged groups in important life outcomes, such as educational achievement and health.  Her career goal is to conduct scientific research that has potency outside the realm of academia.  Collette had hoped that her Mirzayan Fellowship would provide her with an opportunity to learn about the process through which scientific research influences public policy.  In her free time, Collette enjoys running and hiking. Contact by email.

Mary Feeney (COSEPUP/PGA) is an assistant professor in the Department of Public Administration at the University of Illinois at Chicago.  She is interested in public management and science and technology policy.  Feeney recently served on the National Research Council Panel for Modernizing the Infrastructure of the NSF Federal Funds Survey.  She studied S&T policy at the Georgia Institute of Technology and holds a PhD in public administration and policy from the University of Georgia. (Updated 4/09)

Lee Finewood (Summer 2003, BRWM/DELS) has worked for more than 12 years in the engineering, science policy, energy and security fields.  While his work has taken him to Philadelphia, Denver, Boston and NYC, he has called D.C. home for more than 5 years now.  His work during graduate school with the New York state Office of the Attorney General began his career in science and technology policy while he also tutored disadvantaged youth in a federal education program.  At the National Academies, Lee worked with the Board on Radioactive Waste Management (now the Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board) exploring the important policy issues of safety and security of the Nation’s nuclear facilities and associated waste disposition.  He finished his MS with his thesis on kinematics and dispersal of particle bearing jets and gravity flows at the State University of New York and has been working on the important union between science and public policy ever since.  Lee has worked with Booz Allen Hamilton as a consultant for the US Department of Energy on safeguards, security and emergency management for special nuclear materials as well as the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Science and Technology helping to bring advances in science to bear on the practical needs of safety and security.  Presently he is a Federal government employee at the Department of Energy.  Lee is an avid outdoorsman and sports enthusiast who enjoys adventure racing, kayaking, climbing and cycling in the D.C. area and playing on various softball and other sports teams.  Contact by email.  (Updated 03/10)

Monique Hite Head (NRD/DELS and BICE/DEPS) is a native of Newark, Del.  She received her bachelor’s and master’s of civil engineering degrees from the University of Delaware in 2000 and 2002, respectively, and her doctorate in structural engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in May 2007.  In August 2007, she began a tenure-track position as an assistant professor at Texas A&M University, where she conducts reduced- and full-scale experiments that are complemented by structural analysis using state-of-the-art software to study the response of bridges subjected to lateral, dynamic, and impact loads.  The broader impact of her research will help to improve the resiliency of our nation’s bridge infrastructure while protecting lives during extreme events.  She is also interested in exploring research in the areas of hybrid simulation of bridges for the assessment of performance-based design, multi-hazard mitigation of transportation structures to establish guidelines for new design and retrofit criteria, and structural health monitoring of bridges.  Contact by email.  (Updated 4/09)

Rima Izem (BMSA/DEPS) has been progressing towards a doctorate in statistics at University of North Carolina.  She previously earned a Maîtrise de Mathématiques Appliqués in applied mathematics from Université de Montpellier II, in France.  Her doctoral research is on quantifying the effect of selection on evolution using functional data from evolutionary biology.  Her interest as a statistician is in collaborating with experts to answer questions in their fields by developing new statistical methodologies or improving existing statistical methods.  Particularly, she would like to apply statistics to questions in health, biotechnology, agriculture, and the economic and social development of third world countries.  Rima also works as a statistic tutor with the disability services of the University of North Carolina and assists a visually impaired student in a statistics course by developing non-visual tools to explain statistical concepts.  She believed her Mirzayan Fellowship would complement her academic experience and her personal motivation to work on policy related projects.  Contact by email.

Sarah Kieweg (PNAS/NAS) is a PhD candidate in biomedical engineering at Duke University.  She earned an MS in bioengineering from University of California, San Diego.  She would like to focus her career not merely on the consolidation of scientific and technical knowledge, but in the successful explanation of it to others.  This includes working with students, educating the general public, or providing information to policy makers.  Her other career goal is to continue a multidisciplinary approach, particularly applying engineering techniques to unexplored interfaces with science and medicine.  Her doctoral research involves fluid dynamics modeling of polymer gels for the development of a topical microbicidal formulation to protect women from HIV infections.  Her research presentations at professional meetings on microbicide development have enabled her to network with others to learn a great deal about policy issues in AIDS research, prevention, and advocacy and the urgent need to educate the public and the policy makers on the issues.  Sarah hoped that her Mirzayan Fellowship would allow her to explore additional interests in science writing, increasing the public's understanding of science, and enhancing math and engineering education for women.  Sarah also enjoys reading, being outside, and spending time with her husband.  Contact by email.  (Updated 4/09)

Aaron Levine (STEP/PGA) is an assistant professor in the School of Public Policy at Georgia Tech.  He completed his PhD in public affairs at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School.  His research interests focus on the intersection between biomedical research, ethical controversy and public policy.  His most recent research has focused on stem cell policy and assessed the impact of the atypical policy environment regulating human embryonic stem cell research on the development of this field.  Aaron is the author of Cloning: A Beginner's Guide (www.cloningBG.com), published in May 2007 by Oneworld Publications.  This book offers an accessible introduction to the science of cloning and human embryonic stem cells and discusses the ethical and policy debates this controversial science inspires.  Aaron completed his undergraduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he studied biology and computer science and completed an award-winning thesis under Dr. Jeff Dangl using DNA microarray analysis to explore disease resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana.  He also holds a master’s degree from the University of Cambridge where he worked with Dr. Richard Durbin and developed computational tools to help analyze and annotate the human genome.  Contact by email.  (Updated 4/09)

Kelly Martinez (HPDP/IOM) has been working towards a master's degree in exercise science/physiology at University of Kansas while attending medical school at University of Kansas School of Medicine, where she earned her bachelor's degree in biology.  While working for the Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) department, she observed that patients’ medical needs simply were not being met because the clinic was ill equipped, both in available technology and bilinqual staff. Kelly aspires to one day provide a health care service that is culturally and linguistically sensitive to the needs of the Latino community and increase availability of medical technology to underserved areas.  Her goal is to help foster a new system that will provide innovative health awareness programs, target specific medical programs for the economically challenged, and establish a bilingual medical program to assist the Latino community in obtaining proper medical care and insurance, with an emphasis on prenatal and child health care.  Kelly hopes that her participation in the fellowship program will contribute to her pursuit of creating that health care system—one that is safe and beneficial to all that utilize it. Kelly, also, volunteers for organizations such as the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute and the Kansas City Kansas Youth Soccer Association. Contact by email.

Robert McDonald (Summer 2003, BANR/DELS) works for The Nature Conservancy’s emerging strategies science unit, working to evaluate the drivers, trends and conservation implications of emerging or understudied threats to biodiversity.  He collaborates with scientists from the Conservatory and elsewhere to map threats and then help develop appropriate responses by conservationists.  He currently is conducting a global review of threats to Conservancy projects from agriculture and strategies used by the Conservancy to respond to them.  Prior to joining TNC he was a Smith Conservation Biology Fellow at Harvard University, studying the impact global urban growth will have on biodiversity and conservation.  Robert has also taught landscape ecology at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, helping architects and planners incorporate ecological principles into their projects.  He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and then defected down the road to earn a PhD in ecology from Duke.  Currently based at the Conservancy’s World Office, his recent research has developed a global set of scenarios of urban area growth, and then provided quantitative estimates of how many species are likely to be affected as the world adds almost another two billion urban dwellers.  He has also explored the ways urban land use and development more generally can affect nearby protected areas.  In collaboration with researchers at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the City University of New York, and the International Institute for Environment and Development, he is working to assess the effect of global urban growth on the supply and demand of ecosystem services.  Contact by email.  (Updated 3/10)

Naila Moreira (STS/PGA) has been working towards a PhD candidate in geological sciences at the University of Michigan.  An aspiring writer, she has interned at Science News in Washington, D.C., writing science and research articles.  She had planned to complete her dissertation on aqueous geochemistry and carbonate mineral formation after her internship, with the hopes of pursuing a science journalism career.  Naila completed her bachelor's degree in geology at Amherst College, and studied European politics both at Amherst and as an exchange student at the Sorbonne and Institut Catholique in Paris.  During her spare time, Naila plays an inordinate amount of ultimate Frisbee, and traveled last year to the Ultimate National Championships with traveling team Clutch of Michigan.  She also enjoys birdwatching and writing fiction and poetry. Contact by email.  (Updated 06/05)

Blake Purnell (COSEPUP/PGA) is a nuclear engineer at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission where he conducts nuclear criticality safety licensing reviews and inspections of fuel cycle facilities.  Prior to working at the NRC, Blake worked for six months at the Federation of American Scientists.  At FAS, Blake worked on nuclear non-proliferation issues.  Blake received a master’s degree in physics from the University of California, Santa Barbara.  Contact by email.  (Updated 4/09)

Reena Raman (Summer 2003, DSC/PGA) works as a regulatory counsel in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Office of Regulatory Policy.  Her work involves drafting regulations and guidance documents governing the development, manufacture, and marketing of drug products.  Reena earned a law degree from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree in neuroscience from New York University.  Contact by email.  (Updated 3/10)

Ericka Reid (CEE/NAE) is a PhD candidate in educational psychology at Georgia State University.  She previously earned a MEd in counseling and development at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro.  As a part of her research assistantship at GSU, she coordiantes the Advanced Academy for Future Teachers, a program designed to attract high school students to the profession of teaching. Her research interests include women in leadership and women in the sciences, and her dissertation topic has to do with the persistence of African American women in engineering.  While her doctoral degree will be in educational psychology, her professional and academic interests have always been in the educational, professional, and leadership development of women.  From a psychological and developmental perspective, she continuously strives to understand women, their experiences, pursuits, struggles, and achievements.  Ericka looks forward to career opportunities where she can continue to share her knowledge, talent, and energy in researching, supporting, and encouraging the endeavors of women who wish to pursue education, careers, and professional and leadership development in areas where they have been underrepresented.  Ericka views herself as an educator, a researcher, and an advocate for achievement, as well as a promoter of purpose and effectiveness.  She believes this fellowship offers an opportunity to develop and enhance essential skills that will greatly enhance her professional contributions far beyond program and degree completion.  Ericka also enjoys writing on personal growth issues, as well as developing and facilitating leadership seminars for the academic community and the general public.  And just for fun (when there's time) she enjoys Bikram yoga, Salsa, and making jewelry.  Contact by email.

Heather Rosoff (COSEPUP/PGA) has been progressing towards a master's degree in public policy at the University of Southern California, School of Policy Planning & Development.  She earned a bachelor's degree in international relations from Tufts University.  Her academic focus is on science and health policy and how the law pertains to these issues.  Heather completed an internship with Los Angeles County’s Department of Health Services, Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Department.  Her primary duties have been to evaluate the unmet needs of Los Angeles County and assist in the implementation of a federally funded bioterrorism response plan.  Heather is interested in building an expertise in policy analysis and working with the institutions designing and implementing science policies.  This interest developed when she worked for a healthcare communications firm addressing policy issues related to scientific discovery and development.  These include stem cell research, human and animal cloning, patient privacy and race in medicine. The September before her Mirzayan Fellowship, she returned to school to learn about the policies affecting the healthcare industry and build the specific skill sets needed to be a successful policy analyst in this field.  Throughout the Fellowship, Heather had planned to develop her research and analytical skills and learn more about the interaction between science, technology and government.  Contact by email.

Gretchen Schwarz (COSEPUP/PGA) has been at Rutgers University, working towards a master's degree in science & technology policy.  She earned a BA in eEnglish from Warren Wilson College.  Her nine-year career working on documentaries and museum exhibits culminated in a position as creative director of the Rose Center Planetarium space show at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.  Last year, she altered her career as a producer of educational media to pursue a degree in science and technology policy.  Her goal is to explore and mediate the relationship between science and public life.  Before her Mirzayan Fellowship, Gretchen completed a research internship for the Director of Economic Development in the New York office of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.  She is also working on an NSF-funded evaluative study on research and social policy.  The study examined social research and evaluation processes at the Departments of Health and Human Services, Justice, Labor, and Education.  She has served as an editorial assistant for Science and Public Policy, a refereed international journal.  She has planned to pursue a PhD and hoped to gain exposure to a science and technology policy issue that could form the basis for a dissertation topic. Contact by email.

Federico Sciammarella (NMAB/DEPS) is an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Northern Illinois University.  He received his PhD in metallurgical and material science engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology (2003), where he also earned an MS and BS in the same field.  Working in the field of experimental mechanics, he has helped develop cutting edge technology for NDT optical techniques and has contributed to producing Level 1 industry standards.  From 1995 to 2002, he worked as a research associate for the Illinois Institute of Technology in the Mechanical Materials and Aerospace Engineering Department.  As a research engineer with Alion Science and Technology (2002-2007), he provided technical expertise and operational support to the Department of Defense, civilian government agencies, and commercial customers.  His career goal has remained constant—to become a leader in the scientific community building global coalitions to advance science and technology.  Federico has traveled the world and has lived abroad, which he feels gives him a better understanding of the need for developing science and technology worldwide.  Contact by email.  (Updated 4/09)

Andrew Walther (AFSB/DEPS) is a master's degree candidate at the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley.  His focus is on science and technology policy.  His career vision is closely tied to the purpose of The National Academies, providing high-quality advice to the federal government on science, technology and policy issues.  His other policy interests include education/curriculum policy and national security policy.  Prior to entering his graduate program,  he earned a BS in computer science at Harvey Mudd College and spent two years at The Aerospace Corporation as a systems engineer and computer security researcher.  In his free time, he enjoys traveling, concocting culinary experiments and searching for bits of wilderness to hike. (Updated 4/09)