Co-Executive Directors
Co-Executive Director
Ona Ambrozaite, Ph.D.
US East Coast Director, UK Science and Technology Network (STN) & Co-Founder, Johns Hopkins Science Diplomacy Hub
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Dr. Ona Ambrozaite is the East Coast Director for the UK Science & Technology Network at the British Consulate General Boston, with a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Johns Hopkins University. Ona’s Ph.D. work focused on developing novel 1D and 2D semiconducting quantum materials and tunable optoelectronic properties with applications in quantum sensing, computing, communication, and beyond.
Ona's experience in Japan, France, the U.S., and other countries working on international scientific projects led her to spearhead the field of science diplomacy at Johns Hopkins and wider Washington, D.C., resulting in the launch of the Science Diplomacy Hub in D.C. together with 2003 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry Prof. Peter Agre. With a multidisciplinary background ranging from biochemistry and molecular genetics to semiconductors and quantum information science, Ona looks forward to using science diplomacy as a tool to advance international research and innovation partnerships and build strong synergies between academic fields, industry, government, and other sectors.
Co-Executive Director
Senior Advisor, Digital Technologies, Head of Dual Use Defense USA Export Booster Program | Business Finland
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Fikriye is a tech-savvy and analytical advisor and business development executive who has successfully implemented high-impact business strategies for global businesses. She is a dynamic and inspiring leader who brings a rare mix of strategic thinking and creative talent with excellent analytical skills.
Board of Directors
Board of Directors Member
Senior Executive | National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA)
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Experienced program director and strategist with a demonstrated history of working in the innovation, science, and technology as well as public relations industry. Skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Public Affairs, Intercultural Communication, Translation, and International Business Development. Strong media and communication professional with a Master of Arts (MA) focused in International and Intercultural Communication from American University.
Board of Directors Member
Senior Director of Global Sustainability and Development | National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM)
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Dr. Franklin Carrero-Martínez is the Senior Director of Global Sustainability and Development Programs at the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine. Dr. Carrero-Martínez holds a B.S. in Biology, with honors from the University of Puerto Rico, a Ph.D. in Cell and Developmental Neurobiology and a Certificate in Business Administration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His multidisciplinary career includes roles as researcher and educator, science administrator, and science policy expert in government, academia and NGOs. Previously, he was acting as Science Advisor to the Secretary of State in the U.S. Department of State. At the Academies, he leads innovative programming in sustainability and a program aimed at ensuring scientists remain connected to science while displaced or exiled.
Board of Directors Member
Professor Dame | School of Biological Sciences and School of Chemical Science, University of Auckland
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Juliet trained at Oxford University and moved to New Zealand in 1993 where her career has included roles in both research institutes and universities. Her research background is in chemical sciences and she has a broad range of governance and advisory experience. From 2018 to 2024, Juliet served as the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor in New Zealand, working from a base of four founding principles: rigour, inclusivity, transparency, and accessibility. She supported the science and science advisor community to provide advice to the PM, ministers, and the public on a wide range of topics, including advice on the Christchurch mosque shootings, the response to the Whakaari | White Island eruption, the Cannabis referendum, and the Covid-19 pandemic. On her return to academic life at the University of Auckland, Juliet is pivoting her research interests towards the interface of research and policy.
Board of Directors Member
Omid Noroozian, Ph.D.
Strategic Quantum Science Advisor | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
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Leader in space and quantum technology at NASA with 20 years of experience in quantum sensors, systems engineering, space instrumentation, and developing state-of-the-art measurement facilities. I have managed large-scale national R&D programs worth $200M for NASA headquarters, led high-performing research teams, and secured over $10M in individual science and technology research grants. I thrive in multidisciplinary fields, collaborating across physics, engineering, and technology to solve complex challenges and drive innovation in the space and quantum sectors.
Board of Directors Member
Deputy Director General | International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
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Karen Lips joined IIASA as Deputy Director General on 1 July 2024. She is a renowned ecologist who studies global change and its impacts on animal populations, community composition, and ecosystem function in Latin America and the US. She has a particular interest in increasing engagement on environmental issues, promoting scientific leadership, and fostering international scientific collaborations.
From 2022-2023, Lips worked in science diplomacy while serving as Program Director in the Office of International Science and Engineering at the National Science Foundation. She has been a Professor of Biology at the University of Maryland College Park, USA, since 2009, where she was Director of the Graduate Program in Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology from 2009-2015. She served as a Jefferson Science Fellow at the Department of State in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Office of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs from 2016-2017. As a Jefferson Fellow she spent time as an Embassy Science Fellow in Bogota, Colombia where she worked on biodiversity policies related to the Peace Accords in the Instituto Alexander von Humboldt.
Lips has authored over 190 articles (H-index 56; 17,230 citations) and has given more than 250 invited lectures at international conferences and institutions in 13 countries. She holds a BS in Zoology from the University of South Florida, and a PhD in Biology from the University of Miami.
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Zia Mohammad is a product leader whose experiences center around developing emerging technologies across artificial intelligence (AI), financial technology (fintech), and quantum computing. He currently serves as a Senior Technical Product Manager at Amazon Web Services (AWS), for the Amazon Braket team. Beyond his professional endeavors, Zia is interested in the development of emerging technology policy. His recent fellowship with The Internet Law and Policy Foundry, aimed to bridge emerging technologies with public policy driven by his diverse experiences in venture capital, AI, and quantum computing.
Zia's academic background is rooted in Electrical Engineering and Computational Neuroscience, with degrees from The Ohio State University. An advocate for community engagement, Zia helps maintains a community garden and volunteers as a Chef de Cuisine on weekends. He is currently working on his pilots license and is on a quest to visit every country, embodying his passion for global cultures and perspectives.
Advisory Board
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Dr. Mathilde Cerioli is the Chief Scientist and cofounder of everyone.ai, a nonprofit dedicated to anticipating and educating on the opportunities and risks of AI for children. She holds a Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience and a Master’s Degree in Psychology, with a research focus on how AI intersects with cognitive and socioemotional development in children, adolescents, and young adults. In May 2024, she published the influential report Child Development in the AI Era, examining the potential impact of emerging technologies on cognitive and socioemotional development. Within everyone.ai—and in collaboration with the Paris Peace Forum—Dr. Cerioli contributed to the launch of the Beneficial AI for Children Coalition, an international initiative supported by 11 governments, various tech companies including Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic, as well as the support organizations such as UNICEF, UNESCO, and Common Sense Media. The coalition’s goal is to guide AI development, deployment, and adoption to support healthy short and long term brain development among younger users.
Through her work, Dr. Cerioli emphasizes the importance of collaboration among researchers, technologists, and policymakers to shape responsible technology solutions. everyone.ai continues to advocate for AI practices that encourage child-centered innovation, aiming to ensure that, in an evolving digital landscape, children have access to tools that foster positive cognitive and socioemotional outcomes while minimizing risks.
Advisory Board Member
James “Jamie” Hyneman
Former Co-host | MythBusters
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James “Jamie” Hyneman, PoP
Best known as former Co-host and Executive Producer of MythBusters on the Discovery Channel, Jamie graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Russian linguistics, and he has received honorary doctorates from Villanova University (US), from the University of Twente (Netherlands), and the Lappeenranta University of Technology (Finland), where he also is a Professor of Practice in the business school.
He is a recipient of the Washburn Award and an Honorary member of the University of Maine College of Engineering Francis Crowe Society. Jamie’s background is unusually varied; he grew up on a farm, is an expert in wilderness survival, has worked at the UN’s International Labour Office Library in Geneva, and owned and ran a sailing and diving charter boat and marine salvage business in the Caribbean for a number of years.
His longest occupation was as a special effects expert, and he and his company, M5 Industries Inc, has been involved in producing over 800 commercials and feature films through the course of over two decades. Mythbusters evolved out of his work at M5, and received seven Emmy nominations. It was one of Discovery Channel’s longest-running shows at 14 years. He is both a lifetime honorary member of the California Science Teacher’s Association, and of the International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators. He is currently a senior advisor at Fulbright Scholars, Finland.
In recent years he and his company have partnered with businesses and government agencies in developing new technologies: among others; robots for NASA, high speed vessels, light weight armour for the US Office of Naval Research, counter drones and anti piracy devices for US special forces under the US DOD's Defence Innovation Unit.
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Dr. Julia Kostova is the Director of Open Science for North America at Frontiers, where she leads efforts to accelerate the transition to Open Science. She oversees institutional and community engagement, collaborating with research institutions, libraries, funders, and policymakers to develop sustainable Open Science policies and models. Her work aims to empower researchers and drive innovation, while also ensuring robust policies that foster economic growth and technological progress in the US. Dr. Kostova brings nearly 20 years of experience in the publishing industry. Before this role, she served as Director of Publishing Development for the US at Frontiers, where she successfully established the company’s regional operations and strategy.
Prior to joining Frontiers, she was VP for Scholarly Communications at Outsell Inc., and held key positions as executive editor at Wiley’s Global Research division and senior acquisitions editor at Oxford University Press. Throughout her career, she has built long-lasting partnerships across the scholarly communications ecosystem. An advocate for Open Science and innovation, Dr. Kostova is committed to working with stakeholders to design solutions that accelerate scientific and technological advancement for the public good. Dr Kostova is also committed to the cultivating and mentoring of women executives and leaders, having held a fellowship at Women in Power at 92Y in New York City. She holds a PhD in French literature from Rutgers University and has taught at Columbia and Rutgers Universities for over a decade.
Advisory Board Member
Dawn O'Connell, JD
Former Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response | US Department of Health and Human Services
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Dawn O’Connell served as the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) from 2021-2025. She is currently a Menschel Senior Leadership Fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health. In her role at ASPR, O'Connell led the nation in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from public health emergencies and disasters. During her tenure, she responded to 20 public health emergencies; dozens of natural disasters–including Hurricane Helene and the Maui wildfire; dozens of infectious disease outbreaks–including COVID-19, mpox, and H5N1; and over 400 cyber security incidents. Before joining the Biden Administration, she was the Director of the US Office for the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovation (CEPI), a global partnership to develop vaccines to stop future epidemics. As Director, she was responsible for managing the broad spectrum of CEPI’s U.S. and North American interests including its relationships with U.S. and North American-based stakeholders, government entities, and industry partners.
Prior to her work with CEPI, O’Connell served as a Senior Counselor to Secretary Sylvia Burwell and Deputy Chief of Staff to Secretary Sebelius at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) during the Obama-Biden Administration. In these roles, O’Connell advised the Secretaries on high-priority domestic policy, global health and humanitarian issues, including infectious diseases, public health emergencies, and refugees. She worked with HHS leaders, the White House, and other federal and international partners, to resolve key policy challenges, lead implementation, and drive progress toward Administration goals. O’Connell received a Bachelor of Arts in Literature from Vanderbilt University and a Juris Doctor from Tulane University School of Law. She lives in Washington, DC with her husband Ben and two daughters, Frannie and Maddie.
Advisory Board Member
Joni L. Rutter, Ph.D.
Director | National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)
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Joni L. Rutter, Ph.D., is the director of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She oversees the planning and execution of the center’s complex, multifaceted programs that aim to overcome scientific and operational barriers slowing the development and delivery of new treatments and other health solutions.
Under Rutter’s direction, NCATS supports new tools and approaches to make each step in the translational process more effective and efficient. A key goal is to speed research across a range of diseases, with a particular focus on rare diseases. By advancing the science of translation, NCATS helps turn promising research discoveries into real-world applications that improve people’s health.
In her prior role as the NCATS deputy director, Rutter worked with colleagues from government, academia, industry and nonprofit patient organizations to create robust interactions with NCATS programs.
During her career, Rutter has earned a national and international reputation for her diverse and unique expertise via her journal publications. She has received several scientific achievement awards, including the 2022 Rare Disease Legislative Advocates–RareVoice Award for Federal Advocacy and the 2022 FedHealthIT–Women in Leadership Impact Award.
Rutter received her Ph.D. from the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire, and completed a fellowship at the National Cancer Institute within the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics.
Advisory Board Member
Martha Wallace
Director of Research Security | University of Calgary
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Martha Wallace joined the University of Calgary in December 2022 as the Director of Research Security in the Office of the Vice President of Research. Martha came to the University with over 20 years of federal and provincial public service experience. She has worked with senior leaders in academia, government, and industry to develop innovation and research security policy and programs including developing the Safeguarding your Research Portal.
Martha has been an invited speaker at numerous academic and international conferences, most recently at the Canadian Association of Research Administrators, the Transatlantic Science Conference, the Johns Hopkins Science Diplomacy Summit, the Higher Education Export Control Association, and the Canada-UK Research Security Workshop.
In her present role, Martha has been an instrumental leader in building a robust Research Security posture for the University of Calgary and across Alberta through collaborations with Team Canada, the Alberta Research Security Community of Practice, and within the University of Calgary to build awareness and safeguard research. Martha currently serves as Secretariat for the Executive Committee of the Alberta Research Security Community of Practice.
Martha was the first female leader hired across Canada in this sector and quickly established the Research Security Division (RSD). RSD works with the campus community to support researchers in complying with new federal and international research security requirements and ensures that they are able to establish transparent, secure and mutually beneficial collaborations and partnerships.
RSD is a one-stop-shop for research security that provides identification and mitigation of risks; open-source intelligence expertise; guidance on sanctions and export controls; management of the Contract Security Program and Controlled Goods Program; support for the International Loaner Device Program and Laboratory Security Program; and assistance in navigating federal, provincial and international research security requirements.
Martha has a BA (Honours) from Bishop’s University and a Master’s in Public Administration from Queen’s University.
Volunteers
Constance de Tarragon
Academic Fellow | Science Diplomacy Grid & Undergraduate | University of Vermont
Noora Hiltunen
Academic Fellow | Science Diplomacy Grid | Independent Consultant
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Noora Hiltunen is a strategy and sustainability professional with a diverse background across the public and private sectors. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences from the University of Helsinki and a Master's degree in Business Management from Aalto University.
Hiltunen has worked on international initiatives that connect diplomacy, innovation, and sustainable development, including roles at the Permanent Mission of Finland to the United Nations and Business Finland in New York. Her career has centered on advancing global collaboration, strategic growth, and impactful cross-sector partnerships. She currently works as an independent consultant focused on coordinating quantum technology events and conducting U.S. market research.
Tianna Wilson
Academic Fellow | Science Diplomacy Grid & Undergraduate | George Washington University
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Tianna Wilson is a senior at The George Washington University majoring in Neuroscience. As a first-generation Jamaican-American student on the pre-med track, she is deeply passionate about maternal and infant health, with interests spanning fetal surgery, child development, and health equity. Tianna currently serves as Co-President of the Black Girl Pre-Health Collective, where she leads initiatives that support underrepresented students in healthcare. Her experiences include interning at the Science Diplomacy Hub, volunteering, and mentoring youth through Life Pieces to Masterpieces. Tianna is committed to using science and service as tools for global collaboration, education, and community impact.