Bio
Rachel Levinson is the Director, Government and Industry Liaison Office, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University . She and her colleagues are responsible for facilitating the establishment of mutually beneficial relationships between Biodesign Institute investigators and federal funding agencies and private sector entities. This involves identifying major new funding initiatives proactively, interacting closely with agency program managers, providing introductions between researchers and agency or company personnel, and overseeing ongoing interactions.
Levinson has more than 30 years experience in science and science policy. She began her career as a biologist for the National Cancer Institute within the National Institutes of Health. She advanced to positions including deputy director of the NIH Office of Recombinant DNA Activities and senior policy advisor of the NIH Office of Technology Transfer. Most recently, she was assigned to the Office of Science and Technology Policy within the Executive Office of the President, where she was the Assistant Director for Life Sciences. In this capacity, she identified science and technology priorities, developed and advocated Administration objectives, and resolved policy issues in life sciences focusing on laboratory biosecurity, bioterrorism preparedness, biotechnology, biomedical research and technology development and transfer.
Levinson earned her B.S. in Zoology from the University of Maryland and her M.A. in Science, Technology and Public Policy from George Washington University.