Adriana Bankston is a federal government relations expert, and scientific research and innovation advocate.
For close to a decade, Adriana worked to support U.S. scientific research and innovation through government relations and advocacy roles in research universities, non-profits, scientific societies and consulting. Adriana’s work aims to drive policy change at the intersection of academic research, higher education, and STEM workforce development aiming to advance U.S. global competitiveness.
Previously, Adriana advocated for the University of California’s research priorities with Congress, the Administration and federal agencies, as a Principal Legislative Analyst at the University of California Federal Governmental Relations. In this role, Adriana drafted a STEM pipeline amendment to support postdoctoral researchers. The amendment was included in the CHIPS and Science Act, which was signed into law.
Prior to this role, Adriana was a Policy & Advocacy Fellow at the Society for Neuroscience, where she advocated for federally funded research in neuroscience and contributed to SfN’s Hill Day. Her first research advocacy role started almost a decade ago with the non-profit organization Future of Research, where she advocated for an improved academic scientific environment to support future leaders in STEM.
While in the U.S. House of Representatives, Adriana bolstered scientific research and innovation as the inaugural Congressional Policy Fellow sponsored by the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT), as part of the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships Program. In various projects, she worked with the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, R&D Caucus and National Labs Caucus.
Adriana’s work in policy entrepreneurship with the Federation of American Scientists aimed to assist the federal government in fostering innovation and U.S. competitiveness. Through her role at Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society, she worked to examine online science policy engagement for academic scientists, and assisted with policy pitches on enhancing university research.
Over the years, Adriana held leadership positions in several national-level organizations and led projects focused on advancing university research and developing the scientific workforce, including The Science Coalition, Advancing Research Impacts in Society and AAAS Section X Steering Group. Previously, Adriana was part of the ASCB Public Policy Committee, where she educated Congress and the Administration on the importance of basic biomedical research funding and policy on behalf of ASCB.
Through the non-profit STEM Advocacy Institute, Adriana’s policy group documented some of the Trump administration’s detrimental impact on research and careers experienced by early career researchers. The organization operates as a resident collective expanding pathways between science and society. In addition, Adriana developed and led educational programs, such as URA’s Science Policy and Advocacy for Research Competition (SPARC) program, aiming to provide trainees with the skills and competencies necessary to advocate for their priorities in Congress.
Adriana’s work in advocacy and writing to support federal research funding, STEM workforce development and academic systemic change has appeared in multiple national outlets including Nature, Science, Rescuing Biomedical Research, Inside Higher Ed, ASBMB, and Issues in Science & Technology. Additionally, Adriana published several scholarly articles calling for enhanced STEM research training and mentoring, and increased postdoctoral salaries.
Adriana has given numerous talks and workshops on the importance of research policy and STEM workforce development in universities across the country including California, which is a national leader in science and innovation. She also spoke in broader venues including the NAGPS Advocacy Summit and Legislative Action Days, the AAAS ERN Conference and a meeting by the NASEM Strategic Council.
In recognition of her work supporting the U.S. research enterprise and future of STEM, Adriana has received many honors and awards. She was recognized with an Award For Excellence in Advocacy from The Advocacy Association, the inaugural ARIS Emerging Broader Impacts Leader Award, and Sigma Xi’s Mantel Next Generation Women’s Leadership Award. Adriana earned her Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology from Emory University. Connect with Adriana on Twitter, BlueSky and LinkedIn.
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