Meet the 2025 NSPN Science Diplomacy Fellows

Fellow with the Department of State

Samuel is a software engineer and a Master’s candidate at Pardee RAND Graduate School, specializing in emerging technologies, ethical governance, and national security policy. As a Technical Product Manager at Eboore LLC, Samuel led the development of a self-publishing platform, and reading apps that increased access to organized knowledge in emerging markets. He has also volunteered with the McKinsey Foundation, managing educational support program for abandoned children in Uganda, and has worked on technology initiatives that have improved donor engagement and operational efficiency for social impact.

His current research focuses on the Ethical Mesh Network (EMN), a governance framework for autonomous systems designed to integrate ethical principles through cross-domain learning and dynamic trust protocols. This innovative framework aims to create an adaptive, moral ecosystem that allows autonomous systems to evolve collaboratively while maintaining ethical integrity. He is uniquely positioned to bridge technology and ethical innovation, contributing to solutions that address global challenges.

Fellow with the Institut Pasteur, France

Aixa is a social scientist with an international perspective seeking an immersive learning experience in science diplomacy. Aixa’s research interrogates global ideas in national policies for science, technology, and innovation (STI) to understand the ways in which national tropes and objectives are co-constructed locally. She is interested in the science of science policy and the politics of innovation. Aixa is a postdoctoral researcher at Emlyon Business School where she examines the organization of science advice across national strategic STI policy making initiatives in emerging technologies. Aixa has also worked on housing policy as a Presidential Management Fellow in the U.S. Previously she co-led an international research network on child and adolescent health in Europe and North America. Aixa has also consulted for the WHO on the European child and adolescent health and well-being strategy, and established a WHO collaborative center on child and adolescent health policy in Scotland. Aixa takes every opportunity to advocate for the use and translation of scientific evidence in policy making. Dr. Alemán-Díaz has a Bachelor's degree and a Master’s in public policy from the University of Chicago, and a PhD in Sociology from the Copenhagen Business School in Denmark.

Fellow with the Embassy of Argentina

Angelicais a Project Manager at the New Jersey Department of Health’s Office of Minority and Multicultural Health, where she leads initiatives to address health disparities in populations experiencing inequities in health access and outcomes. Previously, she was an Eagleton Science and Policy Fellow, where she worked on the New Jersey COVID-19 Task Force on Racial and Health Disparities, helping to design strategies for equitable distribution of health resources. Angelica’s expertise in public health policy, data analysis, and project management informs her work, with a focus on improving health outcomes, and promoting equity. She holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Rutgers University and is passionate about advancing global health, with particular interest in improving health systems across diverse regions. Angelica is dedicated to bridging science, policy, and diplomacy to create sustainable solutions to global health challenges, with a focus on addressing the social determinants of health and ensuring equitable access to research and innovation.

Fellow with the Global Health Agenda Security Consortium

Raegan is a postdoctoral research fellow at the National Human Genome Research Institute at the National Institutes of Health. interested in the factors that influence health behaviors in marginalized communities, primarily Black Americans. Her work currently focuses on how to encourage family health history communication within families, and how that communication can be used to encourage engagement in healthy behaviors. Dr. Bishop is also interested in the role of social support in health behavior engagement, particularly among women in marginalized communities.

Fellow with the Department of State

Paris is a third-year PhD candidate in Biomedical Engineering at Duke University and is also pursuing an MA in Bioethics and Science Policy. Her research focuses on using human brain organoids to study neuroinflammation, with applications in regenerative medicine and disease modeling. Paris is passionate about the intersection of neurotechnology, artificial intelligence, and science policy, with a goal of developing equitable and ethical policies for emerging technologies. Beyond her academic work, she serves as the DEI Chair for the Engineering Graduate Student Council and is actively involved in initiatives like Sisters in STEM and the PhD Advisory Board for Duke's Graduate Communications and Intercultural Programs. She is also an associate editor for the Journal of Science Policy and Governance (JSPG) and mentors students to help them achieve their academic and professional goals. Paris aspires to advance global collaboration in science policy and diplomacy, ensuring that innovation is responsibly developed and accessible to all.

Fellow with the Department of State

Laurais a geochemist whose research focuses on the Origins of Life with a PhD from the California Institute of Technology. During her postdoc at The University of Colorado Boulder she was an AGU's Voices for Science Fellow in Science policy. She has applied her knowledge of STEM education and lobbying to aid rural towns in increasing STEM funding and opportunities. These efforts included bringing scientists into rural towns for STEM outreach events, organizing constituents to reach out to their lawmakers on specific legislation, and teaching scientists about the STEM-related needs of rural towns.

Fellow with the Global Health Agenda Security Consortium

Kaitlyn is pursuing a master’s in Biohazardous Threat Agents & Emerging Infectious Disease at Georgetown University. She also studies the Dengue virus and Wolbachia co-infections in Dr. Tadahisa Teramoto’s research laboratory. She aims to move from academia in science and biotechnology policy aimed at improving global health surveillance and data integration. Kait holds a BS in Biology and Public Health from the George Washington University in Washington, DC.

Fellow with the Embassy of Argentina

Paola is a fourth-year Ph.D. student in Biomedical Sciences at Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) in Puerto Rico. Her research focuses on understanding the adaptive immune response in individuals seropositive for dengue in Puerto Rico, contributing to the broader knowledge of tropical diseases in endemic regions. She is an active member of professional organizations such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Puerto Rico Society of Microbiologists, and the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH). In 2023, she was awarded the prestigious ACAV Travel Award during the ASTMH annual meeting for her outstanding research in arboviral diseases. Committed to science communication and policy advocacy, she aspires to contribute to improved science policy in Puerto Rico, fostering a stronger connection between research and societal impact. She earned her bachelor's degree in Industrial Microbiology from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez.

Fellow with the Department of State

Jayashreecurrently attends Georgetown University as a Master’s student in Global Health. During her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering at Arizona State University (ASU), she interned for three years at a translational research institute studying brain tumors and drug delivery. She also worked in education policy research for a year through ASU to study STEM education styles in different global contexts. After college, Jayashree moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts to work at Draper Labs as a bioengineer. There, she conducted cellular and molecular research to model organ systems, primarily the intestine and brain. Throughout her work experiences, she led outreach efforts to promote bioscience to schools in the surrounding community, hoping to eventually combine her love of science and communication in a graduate program in DC. Her personal goal is for reproductive education and healthcare to be completely accessible. Post-graduation, she aims to support different communities to receive preventative care and promote long-term wellbeing for women and children in an equitable manner, as she is pursuing a Global Health degree to accomplish this abroad. Her current internship in science policy at Research!America is equipping her with the skills necessary to advocate for evidence-based policymaking.

Fellow in the Institut Pasteur, France

Emma is a PhD candidate at the University of Georgia and researches how nutrients move through the environment to reliably grow food and keep water clean. She plans to continue researching how agricultural practices can be incorporated into policies to improve equity in addressing the challenges of global food and water security. She is passionate about community engagement and has served two AmeriCorps terms to help meet critical needs in education and the environment. Emma has also worked in academic, government, and industry settings and is skilled in bioinformatics, microbial and molecular techniques. She completed her bachelor’s degree in biology from Bard College.

Fellow with the Global Health Agenda Security Consortium

Jeffrey Lee,PhD is a Technology and Security Policy Fellow at RAND. His research covers AI and biosecurity topics with a focus on evaluating AI capabilities and misuse risk. Previously, Jeffrey was a Security Working Group Liaison for Engineering Biology Research Consortium where contributed to a technical research roadmap for space health, established the EBRC’s BIoSecurity Opportunities Nexus (BISON), and developed educational material for students interested in biosecurity. His dissertation work focused on mining the gut microbiome for peptides that modulate host-microbe and microbe-microbe interactions using virtual chemical screening approaches and functional assays. He also completed a science, technology, and environmental policy certificate where he focused on antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial drug markets, and national security. Jeffrey holds a PhD in molecular biology from Princeton University as well as an MEng in Energy, Environment, and Chemical Engineering, an MPH in global health, and a BA in biology from Washington University in St. Louis.

Fellow with the Department of State

Malina Loeher is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Alaska Pacific University, based at the USGS Western Fisheries Research Center. Her NSF-funded work focuses on understanding how wildlife epidemiology and climate change interact and impact fish species which are critical to sustainable local economies and subsistence food systems in the Pacific Northwest. Previously, her doctoral work focused on understanding viral evolution in vertebrate hosts following host jumps. She holds a BS in Environmental Toxicology from UC Davis and a PhD in Marine Science from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary.

Fellow with the Institut Pasteur, France

Mary McDonnell is a Biomedical Engineering PhD student within the Pathways & Omics Group at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). Currently, her project focuses on the etiological basis of colon cancer. Her previous work at OHSU was in translational medicine focused on providing genomic data for clinical assessment of patient pancreatic cancer tumors in order to improve patient outcomes.

In the past, Mary taught both undergraduate and graduate students the principles of genetics and systems biology as an adjunct professor of Biology and Engineering.

She holds both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in biology. She plans to utilize her training and experience in biomedical engineering towards improving patient outcomes through the development of models that can be used for clinical assessment of disease progression.

Fellow with the Institut Pasteur, France

Emma-Rose Newmeyer is a Ph.D. student at Northwestern University, supported by the NSF GRFP fellowship, her research integrates catalysis and photonics. She investigates photoactive nanomaterials to decarbonize the chemical manufacturing industry. She has spent her time in academic, government, and corporate labs in the United States and in Europe before starting her journey in science policy and diplomacy. She has joined The Carbon League as a fellow working with key stakeholders to tackle pressing sustainability and equity challenges in Chicago. Her work promoting equitable grid modernization and clean transportation in environmental justice communities has cemented her desire to make meaningful impact through policy. She serves as a Legislative Outreach Co-chair for Northwestern’s science policy group and has helped start a coalition of university science policy organizations across Illinois, the Illinois Science Policy Consortium. She grew up in France before moving to the United States to later pursue a B.S. in Chemistry at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Emma-Rose’s path into academia was unorthodox making her passionate about increasing access to spaces requiring a graduate education. Overall, her interests lie in climate policy and community engagement, addressing issues of environmental justice at the local and international level.

Fellow with the Embassy of Argentina

Dorianis Perez, PhD is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Los Alamos National Laboratory working on AI trustworthiness for scientific applications and simulations of hypersonic mechanics, materials, and structures. Dorianis earned her PhD in Computational Science from Florida State University, where her research focused on characterizing turbulence in simulations of wind flow over a forest canopy for wildfire applications. She also holds a Master of Science in Forensic Anthropology from Mercyhurst University and a Bachelor of Science with dual majors in Forensic Science and Mathematics from Hofstra University. As a first-generation college graduate and daughter of Dominican immigrants, Dorianis has always had a passion for programs and organizations that propel underrepresented communities into STEM fields. She serves as the Vice President of Collegiate Relations for SHPE New Mexico Professional, a non-profit that focuses on community-building and professional advancement for Hispanics in STEM, the Board Secretary for The MASTERS Program Early College Charter High School, an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Physical Sciences at Northern New Mexico College, and a Project Assistant for the Our Future is Science Program at the Aspen Institute.

Fellow with the Embassy of Argentina

Roberto Rodriguez Cartagena is a Ph.D. candidate at The Rockefeller University, where he is exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal development in the central nervous system. Before joining The Rockefeller University’s graduate program, Roberto obtained his bachelor’s degree in Biology at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, followed by an NIH Post-baccalaureate Research Fellowship at the University of Washington. Roberto’s experiences as a Puerto Rican in STEM inspire him to complement his scientific endeavor with leading efforts aimed toward the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minorities in STEM. At his graduate institution, he co-founded, along with four of his classmates, a community college outreach initiative. Currently, he serves as the Webinar Coordinator for the nonprofit organization Cientifico Latino, which focuses on providing aspiring graduate students from minoritized backgrounds careful mentorship for their graduate school applications. His scientific research and diversity advocacy have awarded him scholarships to further his training at the Marine Biological Laboratory and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. He currently aims to use the expertise obtained from his research and scientific outreach experiences to create inclusive spaces in international scientific collaboration as a strategy to address the world’s most pressing challenges.

Fellow with the Global Health Agenda Security Consortium

Kaetlyn Ryan is a Ph.D. student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she studies drug discovery for Neglected Tropical Diseases. She previously received BS degrees in chemical engineering, biochemistry, and biology from North Carolina State University. She hopes to engage in science policy and apply research like her own to addressing health disparities caused by infectious diseases, especially those whose challenges are worsened by climate change. She is also passionate about increasing STEM education access to those historically underrepresented or underserved.

Fellow with the Department of State

Aicha Sama is a chemical engineer at Saint-Gobain, a global material manufacturer and innovative research hub. In this role, she creates and tests various resin formulations for ceramic 3D printers. She also implements sensors that live track the humidity, temperature, and quality of a print to enhance quality control measures and further advance digital manufacturing goals. Aicha further explores manufacturing principles by visiting and working in Saint-Gobain manufacturing plants across the United States and Canada every three months. She participates in group projects at each plant, aimed at providing a new perspective on ways plants can improve their processes to maximize yield and come closer to reaching company-wide sustainability goals. Driven by her passion for science-based communication, and closing the gap between science, industry, and law, she plans to further explore technology and environmental policy in law school and beyond. She earned a BS in Chemical Engineering and a BA in Political Science from Brown University.

Fellow with the Department of State

Harrison Schreiber is a Master of Public Policy candidate at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy and a William D. Clarke Diplomatic Security Fellow with the U.S. Department of State. His studies focus on global security issues, with a particular interest in the intersection of diplomacy, technology, and governance.

Harrison graduated from Claremont McKenna College with a degree in Government and History, where he also minored in Genocide and Human Rights Studies. He began his career as a consultant at FTI Consulting, where he collaborated with clients in the aerospace and defense sector, honing his analytical and problem-solving skills.

 At Duke, Harrison conducts research on critical issues in space policy and cybersecurity, focusing on international cooperation, governance frameworks, and the implications of emerging technologies. He has contributed to projects examining how nations collaborate on complex global challenges and is passionate about advancing equitable policies that foster innovation and resilience. Through his work, Harrison aims to strengthen global partnerships and ensure technological progress benefits a diverse array of communities.

Fellow with the Institut Pasteur, France

Sarah Shainker recently graduated with her PhD in Biology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her research focused on the population genetics and ecology of freshwater algae. During this time, she became involved with science policy through a graduate certificate program and the Scholars Strategy Network. Prior to graduate school, she served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines, working with the local government, schools, and fisherfolk to implement projects in environmental education and coastal resource management. Sarah is excited to strengthen her science policy skills through the Mirzayan Fellowship and aims to pursue a career in community-engaged, science-based environmental management or conservation.

Fellow with the Embassy of Argentina

Emmy Tither is a PhD candidate at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the School of Information Sciences’ Informatic Program. Emm’s research is grounded in complex systems theory, with a focus on measuring and mapping political and cultural systems through mixed methods, driving efforts to bridge the gap between research and actionable policy. Emmy's work broadly examines armed conflict, humanitarian crises, and multilateral interventions, with a specific emphasis on the interaction between sound, violence, and international law. This research investigates sound as both a primary tool for violence and as an additional dimension of violent acts. Emmy holds an MA with Distinction in Documentary Arts from the University of Cape Town and a BSc with Honors in Social Sciences from Birkbeck, University of London.

Fellow with the Department of State

Abdul Zamani, PhD is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pittsburgh  where he develops entropy-driven computational methods for modeling electron correlation effects important for describing chemical reactivity. Abdul aims to make impactful contributions to equitable science policy initiatives with a specific interest in digital rights, ethical AI practices, and managing the carbon footprint of supercomputing. He obtained his PhD in quantum chemistry from the University of California, Merced and a BS in biochemistry from La Sierra University.