ASPET is proud to announce the selection of nine awardees to participate in the 2021 Washington Fellows program. This year’s class of Fellows comprises nine graduate students and postdocs from across the country with sterling credentials and a demonstrated interest in how legislation and policy affects the pharmacology profession and the larger biomedical sciences community.

Due to restrictions on entry to the Capitol Hill complex as a result of COVID-19, this year’s program will be conducted virtually. As part of this year’s program, fellows will participate in a one-day mini-conference organized by ASPET, where they will receive training in advocacy and hear from guest speakers in the policy profession. Fellows will also attend meetings with their congressional representatives and staff so that they can advocate for increased funding for biomedical research and provide education on the necessity of animal research.

Meet the 2021 Washington Fellows:

• Sinibaldo R. Romero Arocha – University of Minnesota
• Anu Balogun – University of Pittsburgh
• Miriam Barnett – University of Rochester
• Kensey Bergdorf – Vanderbilt University
• Phoebe Dacha - Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
• Mark Namba – Arizona State University
• Valeria Robleto – Medical College of Wisconsin
• Serena Scognamiglio – Georgetown University
• Victoria Leroy – University of Florida
  

The mission of the Washington Fellows program is to enable developing and early career scientists interested in science policy to learn about and become more engaged in public policy issues. Through participating in the program, fellows will develop an understanding of how public policy decisions made in Washington, D.C. shape and impact science policy, including funding for the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. At the program’s conclusion, fellows will be equipped with the skills necessary to be lifelong advocates for biomedical research.

View their full bios.