About

Adriana Bankston is an advocate for scientific research and innovation at the federal level.

For close to a decade, Adriana has worked to nurture U.S. competitiveness in science and technology through a number of roles with universities, non-profits and scientific societies. Adriana works at the intersection of scientific research, higher education and STEM workforce development with a focus on science policy to advance our nation forward through evidence-based practices and inspire the next generation to get involved.

As the first-ever Congressional Policy Fellow sponsored by the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) as part of the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships Program (AAAS STPF), Adriana worked to support federal scientific research and innovation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Previously, Adriana supported scientific research and the future STEM pipeline as a Principal Legislative Analyst with University of California Federal Governmental Relations, where she advocated for the university’s research priorities with Congress, the Administration and federal agencies. Prior to this role, Adriana advocated for federally funded research in neuroscience as a Policy & Advocacy Fellow with the Society for Neuroscience, where she provided staff support for special and on-going projects, including SfN’s annual lobby event and the society’s annual meeting.

For several years, Adriana worked to strengthen the research workforce through advocacy efforts with Future of Research, a non-profit organization looking to improve the scientific research endeavor, with a strong focus on biomedical policy issues impacting early career researchers including graduate STEM education. She held a number of leadership roles with the National Postdoctoral Association, where she advocated for policies supporting the postdoctoral community. As a member of the ASCB Public Policy Committee, Adriana worked to educate Congress and the Administration about the importance of basic biomedical funding and policy.

Adriana contributed to policy entrepreneurship with the Federation of American Scientists to make the work of policymakers more impactful and help realize the potential of landmark legislation by assisting the federal government in fostering innovation and U.S. competitiveness. Adriana has worked to connect science and society through several roles with the SAi Resident Collective, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society, and as a member of the AAAS Section X Steering Group.