Recognizing the profound influence of federal policies on the practice and progression of science, I embrace the responsibility of advocacy and aim to shape decisions that affect our scientific community and society at large. My work, grounded in a career that spans rigorous research and active policy engagement, reflects a commitment to enhancing the scientific landscape for fellow researchers and the community.
Advisory Committee to the NIH Director working group on postdocs. The 21-member committee was formed to provide “bold” recommendations to the NIH Director to re-imagine postdoctoral training nationally in the United States. We advanced multiple recommendations, including significantly increased pay, a 5-year cap on the length of postdoc positions, an expansion of health care, retirement, and child care benefits, increased support for international postdocs, and other measures meant to enhance to quality of the postdoctoral experience.
You can read our full 53-page report to the NIH Director here.
You can find press about our work in STAT and Science.
In parallel, I also wrote a related column in Nature (2023) that frames the postdoc crisis as an opportunity to reimagine how we do biomedical training. Moreover, I view it as one one part of a system that broadly is in decline and is in dire need of re-envisioning and reinvigoration. You can read my Nature column here.
Chair, Training Advisory Committee to the Society for Neuroscience. I chair this 14-member advisory committee to the Society for Neuroscience (SfN, largest neuroscience society in the world, with 30,000+ members). We provide input and guidance to SfN Council and committees on issues that are central to the early career neuroscientists with the goal of assist the Society in supporting neuroscience training and development and enhancing the early career members' experience.
Panel for development of NINDS Strategic Plan to enhance training of the workforce . I served on on a group empaneled by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke aimed at developing a five year strategic plan related to enhancing the training and diversity of its extramurally funded biomedical workforce.
Amidst a global pandemic, the U.S. federal government began issuing new policies that significantly restrict international scholars' ability to stay in or come to the US for study or work. This was done generally with the purported reason of boosting economic recovery, despite virtually all expert opinions being to the contrary. In response, I took to social media and the press to push back against the policies and educate the public about the data surrounding these issue. I posted a series of well-circulated tweets raising awareness about this issue. Perhaps the most notable post was this thread which was a massive nationwide effort to push universities to sign on to legal action to protect their students. I then authored an article in The Washington Post arguing against the proposed visa restrictions and emphasizing not just the moral imperative to welcome foreign talent, but the economic one as well. The policy was ultimately rescinded. I write about this process here at Neuronline. I have also written other articles on the intersection of immigration policy and the strength of the U.S. scientific enterprise in the Huffington Post and other outlets.
To increase the voices of international scholars in decision-making, one of the priorities of my tenure as Chair of the advisory committee at the Society for Neuroscience is to augment the representation of neuroscientists practicing in the global south who are invited to serve in this leadership position. With a particular focus on scholars in west asia, africa, and china.
Most recently, our report to the NIH Director (mentioned above) also included recommendations that emphasized the need for new and expanded funding mechanisms to support international scholars in the NIH-supported biomedical workforce, in addition to longer and more stable contracts, as well as support with visa applications.
Cofounding Board Member of Black In Neuro. Black In Neuro (BIN) is a grassroots project-turned-nonprofit organization with the goal of empowering Black scholars in neuroscience related fields. I am a co-founder and my role initially was in fundraising and strategy. We successfully $100k+ and attained tax-exempt status in 2021. BIN's growth and impact has been covered by Forbes, USA Today, and other outlets including in academic journals. In four years, BIN has launched 110 free events with 22,000 registrants and 2.5+ million social media impressions. In a given year, BIN's programming includes over 30 speakers with 1600+ attendees, and BIN boasts a membership of 1000+ people, all scholars in different fields of neuroscience. I currently serve on the Board and oversee policy, structure, and strategy for the organization. You can learn more about this project at blackinneuro.com.
Invited talks and panels on mentorship, DEI & Academic culture. I am often asked to speak on topic relating to diversity and inclusion, mentorship dynamics, and broader themes relating to academic culture and wellbeing. Exemplar events include "Race, Gender and Science" at Rockefeller University; "Addressing global socioeconomic inequalities in neuroscience" in a collaboration between ALBA and the International Brain Research Organization; and "Navigating Mentorship Relationships" organized by the NIH and the Society for Neuroscience.
Lifetime appointed member at saf. Economic inequality across many Arab countries is preventing millions from accessing scientific research and knowledge. This is fueling intellectual disparities between regions, and affecting human life and welfare in this and future generations. Sustained and structured provision of scientific knowledge and nourishment of scientific intellect across the Arab World is becoming a fundamental and pressing need. The scientific arab forum (saf) aims to establish a world-class membership of Arab scientists and science communicators to promote scientific excellence and enquiry, and to to inspire curiosity and shape science policy in the Arab World.