Michael Stebbins
Encyclopedia
Michael Stebbins is an American geneticist
and science writer. He received his B.S. in biology
from the State University of New York at Stony Brook
, and his Ph.D. in genetics
while working at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
, where he constructed genetic systems to artificially control gene expression
in the brain.
Stebbins is the President of the SEA Action Fund, a partner organization to Scientists and Engineers for America
. Since August 2005, he has been the Director of Biology Policy for the Federation of American Scientists
(FAS), and runs FAS's Biosecurity Project. His work at FAS focuses on control of biological weapons, preparedness for biological, nuclear, and chemical weapons attacks, and the responsible use of science and technology.
Previously, Stebbins worked as a legislative fellow for U. S. Senator
Harry Reid
(D-NV) and as a policy fellow for the National Human Genome Research Institute
. He has also worked as a senior editor for the journal Nature Genetics
, and as a science journalist for Reuters
. He has written for Seed Magazine
, and is a science advisor to ScienCentral, a company that produces science-related news stories for ABC
and NBC
television affiliates.
Stebbins is the author of the book Sex, Drugs and DNA: Science's Taboos Confronted, and serves on the Board of Advisors of Scientists and Engineers for America
(SEA), an organization focused on promoting sound science in government. He is also a frequent contributor to This Week in Science
, where he discusses issues relating to science and policy in his segment entitled, The Weird from Washington.
As of November 18, 2008, Stebbins has been named a member of the Obama transition in the "Executive Office of the President Team," with responsibility for the Office of Science Technology and Policy."http://change.gov/learn/obama_biden_transition_agency_review_teams
Geneticist
A geneticist is a biologist who studies genetics, the science of genes, heredity, and variation of organisms. A geneticist can be employed as a researcher or lecturer. Some geneticists perform experiments and analyze data to interpret the inheritance of skills. A geneticist is also a Consultant or...
and science writer. He received his B.S. in biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
from the State University of New York at Stony Brook
State University of New York at Stony Brook
The State University of New York at Stony Brook, also known as Stony Brook University, is a public research university located in Stony Brook, New York, on the North Shore of Long Island, about east of Manhattan....
, and his Ph.D. in genetics
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
while working at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is a private, non-profit institution with research programs focusing on cancer, neurobiology, plant genetics, genomics and bioinformatics. The Laboratory has a broad educational mission, including the recently established Watson School of Biological Sciences. It...
, where he constructed genetic systems to artificially control gene expression
Gene expression
Gene expression is the process by which information from a gene is used in the synthesis of a functional gene product. These products are often proteins, but in non-protein coding genes such as ribosomal RNA , transfer RNA or small nuclear RNA genes, the product is a functional RNA...
in the brain.
Stebbins is the President of the SEA Action Fund, a partner organization to Scientists and Engineers for America
Scientists and Engineers for America
-Mission statement:The organization's mission statement states:-SHARP Network:The Science, Health and Related Policies Network is a wiki to track congressional representatives, senators, and candidates as well as presidential candidates....
. Since August 2005, he has been the Director of Biology Policy for the Federation of American Scientists
Federation of American Scientists
The Federation of American Scientists is a nonpartisan, 501 organization intent on using science and scientific analysis to attempt make the world more secure. FAS was founded in 1945 by scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project to develop the first atomic bombs...
(FAS), and runs FAS's Biosecurity Project. His work at FAS focuses on control of biological weapons, preparedness for biological, nuclear, and chemical weapons attacks, and the responsible use of science and technology.
Previously, Stebbins worked as a legislative fellow for U. S. Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Harry Reid
Harry Reid
Harry Mason Reid is the senior United States Senator from Nevada, serving since 1987. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been the Senate Majority Leader since January 2007, having previously served as Minority Leader and Minority and Majority Whip.Previously, Reid was a member of the U.S...
(D-NV) and as a policy fellow for the National Human Genome Research Institute
National Human Genome Research Institute
The National Human Genome Research Institute is a division of the National Institutes of Health, located in Bethesda, Maryland.NHGRI began as the National Center for Human Genome Research , which was established in 1989 to carry out the role of the NIH in the International Human Genome Project...
. He has also worked as a senior editor for the journal Nature Genetics
Nature Genetics
Nature Genetics is a scientific journal concerning genetics. It is published by Nature Publishing Group, and was founded as part of the Nature family of journal in 1992. The 2010 impact factor is 36.377. Its sister journal is Nature Reviews Genetics.- External links :*...
, and as a science journalist for Reuters
Reuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
. He has written for Seed Magazine
Seed (magazine)
Seed is an online science magazine published by Seed Media Group. The magazine looks at big ideas in science, important issues at the intersection of science and society, and the people driving global science culture...
, and is a science advisor to ScienCentral, a company that produces science-related news stories for ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
and NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
television affiliates.
Stebbins is the author of the book Sex, Drugs and DNA: Science's Taboos Confronted, and serves on the Board of Advisors of Scientists and Engineers for America
Scientists and Engineers for America
-Mission statement:The organization's mission statement states:-SHARP Network:The Science, Health and Related Policies Network is a wiki to track congressional representatives, senators, and candidates as well as presidential candidates....
(SEA), an organization focused on promoting sound science in government. He is also a frequent contributor to This Week in Science
This Week in Science
This Week in Science is a science radio talk show broadcasting from KDVS 90.3FM on the UC Davis campus. Each week, TWIS founder/host Kirsten Sanford and co-host Justin Jackson review current research in technology...
, where he discusses issues relating to science and policy in his segment entitled, The Weird from Washington.
As of November 18, 2008, Stebbins has been named a member of the Obama transition in the "Executive Office of the President Team," with responsibility for the Office of Science Technology and Policy."http://change.gov/learn/obama_biden_transition_agency_review_teams
External links
- Scientists and Engineers for America Action Fund
- Bio at sexdrugsanddna.com
- official website for Sex Drugs and DNA (includes frequently updated blog supplement to book)
- Bio at Federation of American Scientists
- Scientists and Engineers for America - Board of Advisors
- "Wanted on the Hill: A Few Good Scientists", US News & World Report, December 6, 2007