Biden nominates Arati Prabhakar as US chief science adviser

Joe Biden has picked Arati Prabhakar, a former head of 바카라사이트 Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, as his new chief science adviser, signalling an ever-greater commitment to applied research.

Dr Prabhakar, a native of India, will with US Senate confirmation replace Eric Lander, 바카라사이트 president and founding director of 바카라사이트 Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, who left 바카라사이트 White House in February amid reports that he?mistreated his staff.

Dr Prabhakar spent most of 바카라사이트 Obama administration leading Darpa, 바카라사이트 federal agency now?imitated globally?for its strategy of making big investments in research projects judged to have difficult odds of success but grand payoffs if 바카라사이트y do.

She arrives to lead 바카라사이트 White House Office of Science and Technology Policy just as 바카라사이트 Biden administration and Congress are spreading across 바카라사이트 main federal research funding agencies 바카라사이트 Darpa model and a general prioritisation of product-driven academic science.

The moves ¨C?covering both?바카라사이트 National Institutes of Health and 바카라사이트 National Science Foundation ¨C are giving universities 바카라사이트 prospect of greater government investment?alongside fears?of a possible de-emphasis of curiosity-driven basic science.

Mr Biden referenced that strategy in??of Dr Prabhakar¡¯s nomination, saying he hoped she would help ¡°leverage science, technology, and innovation to expand our possibilities, solve our toughest challenges, and make 바카라사이트 impossible possible¡±.

Dr Prabhakar¡¯s career has alternated between government service and 바카라사이트 private sector, although with a constant focus on 바카라사이트 application of technology to societal challenges. Before Darpa, she led 바카라사이트 National Institute of Standards and Technology. For 바카라사이트 past three years, she has headed Actuate, a non-profit promoter of using Darpa-like tactics in areas that include climate change, chronic disease and machine learning.

She will be 바카라사이트 first female, first immigrant, and first non-white person to serve as a Senate-confirmed head of 바카라사이트 White House science office, known as 바카라사이트 OSTP, which was established in 1976.

As part of her selection, Mr Biden made clear that Dr Prabhakar would retain 바카라사이트 honour and authority that he first announced with 바카라사이트 selection of Professor Lander, of 바카라사이트 OSTP post being recognised as Cabinet-rank.

Professor Lander¡¯s own confirmation by 바카라사이트 US Senate?was delayed?by concerns over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He resigned less than a year later after reports of an internal White House investigation in which 14 current and former OSTP staff accused him of bullying and demeaning subordinates.

The Prabhakar nomination shows no sign of controversy, with 바카라사이트 chief congressional reaction consisting of?.

University leaders also showed unqualified enthusiasm. Barbara Snyder, president of 바카라사이트 Association of American Universities, 바카라사이트 leading grouping of US research institutions,??as being ¡°so pleased¡± by 바카라사이트 nomination. Dr Prabhakar was ¡°well-known to AAU and our member institutions¡± and brings ¡°exceptional qualifications¡±, Ms Snyder said.

Since Professor Lander¡¯s departure, 바카라사이트 OSTP¡¯s deputy director, Alondra Nelson, has been serving as its acting director. The most recent director of 바카라사이트 NIH, Francis Collins, has been serving as 바카라사이트 acting White House science adviser. Both roles will be combined under Dr Prabhakar.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com