Adriana Bankston

Washington, D.C., United States

Advocate for federal scientific research and innovation. AAAS STPF/ASGCT Congressional Policy Fellow in U.S. House of Representatives. Views my own.

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Articles

Science Under Threat in the United States: Campaigning for science and scientists

4 weeks ago | elifesciences.org | Adriana Bankston

Main text Since President Trump took office, we have seen a complete disregard for science and technology. The new administration’s attacks on science will severely harm our nation’s competitiveness and gravely weaken and diminish its scientific workforce, with researchers from underrepresented groups being particularly at risk.
Diversity in STEM is Critical for the U.S. Research Enterprise

2 months ago | abankston.substack.com | Adriana Bankston

A few years ago, then-President Joe Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act that mandated a National Science Foundation (NSF) diversity office. Although this was a Congressional mandate, it is now shut down as part of President Trump’s sweeping efforts to eliminate DEI offices in the federal government. This development not only impacts NSF, an agency that seeks to develop a diverse, skilled, and well-informed workforce that can drive innovation and economic growth.
Introducing Adriana's Substack

Jan 18, 2025 | abankston.substack.com | Adriana Bankston

Welcome to my first post! Excited to be here to share thoughts, findings, ideas and models for improving scientific research, to promote important work in this space, and to learn from others on the platform interested in similar topics. Connect here. I am a former bench scientist who transitioned into policy and advocacy to support an improved scientific research enterprise through a number of roles with universities, non-profits and scientific societies.
Immigrant Graduate Students and Postdocs Enhance U.S. Research and Innovation

Jun 27, 2024 | medium.com | Adriana Bankston

The U.S. research enterprise is dependent upon the best and brightest STEM talent contributing to scientific innovation, the American economy and national security. Our country's leadership in science and technology requires both domestic STEM talent development, and attracting and retaining foreign-born scientists within our nation's leading universities. Foreign-born immigrant scientists are a critical part of developing and advancing U.S. research and innovation in science and technology.
How Scientists Can Enhance Scientific Research Through Legislative Change in the CHIPS and Science Act

May 8, 2024 | medium.com | Adriana Bankston

Adriana Bankston·FollowPublished inSciTech Forefront·5 min read·May 8, 2024--Biden signs CHIPS and Science Act into law to boost U.S. chips and compete with ChinaI’m a researcher with a PhD in Biochemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology from Emory University. However, I didn’t go on to work in the private sector or academia. Instead, I transitioned into a policy career focused on scientific research and STEM pipeline issues.
What academics can learn about careers from Michael Phelps (opinion)

Apr 22, 2024 | insidehighered.com | Adriana Bankston

Navigating transitions can be both exciting and challenging, at whatever stage you are in your career, as they require you to leave your comfort zone and take a road less traveled. That has certainly been the case for me. In the last several years, I’ve had many different types of roles that have posed challenges I didn’t think I was ready for or would be able to tackle. And they have all provided fantastic opportunities for professional development.
The need for government support of grad students and postdocs (opinion)

Nov 27, 2023 | insidehighered.com | Adriana Bankston

You have /5 articles left. Sign up for a free account or log in. Scientists bring important expertise and contributions to government decision-making by engaging with legislative staff and making their voices heard in Congress in relation to important legislation. That has especially been the case in the CHIPS and Science Act, which National Science Foundation Director Sethuraman Panchanathan has called the most important U.S. science and engineering legislation in a generation.
Stoddard changes mentoring practices in academia

Nov 8, 2023 | asbmb.org | Adriana Bankston

Shana Stoddard says her goals are to “train people to be mentors,” to change the way people in academia think about mentoring, to connect students with role models and to help all students feel like they belong. To achieve these goals, she has developed toolkits — frameworks and strategies, essentially — to help academics become engaging mentors.
Education about state-level science policy can enrich one's career

Jun 12, 2023 | insidehighered.com | Adriana Bankston

You have /5 articles left. Sign up for a free account or log in. Supporting the next generation of scientists is vital for advancing the research enterprise and maintaining our nation’s economic competitiveness in science and technology. Achieving this goal requires academic culture to change in ways that make education, mentoring and professional development in science policy for scientists, including early-career scientists, integral to their academic training with the goal of improving society.
Cultivating a Generation of Civic Scientists Through Science Policy

May 8, 2023 | medium.com | Adriana Bankston

The role of scientists is expanding beyond the bench. Many within the scientific community and beyond are calling for scientists to use their research knowledge and skills to benefit society in a multitude of ways, including through science policy.