Dr. Nataliya Shok is an accomplished academic with over 10 years of transdisciplinary experience in health and science policy research. Holding dual PhDs in political science and the history of science and technology, Dr. Shok brings a deep understanding of the complex intersections between these fields. As a seasoned program manager, she possesses strong analytical skills and a wealth of experience in policy development, strategic planning, and communications. She has effectively blended administrative leadership and teaching at prestigious medical schools in Russia and Kazakhstan. In 2019, she enriched her expertise as a visiting scholar at Wake Forest University.

At Georgetown, Dr. Nataliya Shok teaches in the Graduate Program in Biohazardous Threat Agents & Emerging Infectious Diseases, as well as in the Graduate Program in Biomedical Science Policy and Advocacy. In addition, she leads a Russia-focused team within a project on COVID-19 public health management in Asia, Russia, and Oceania, initiated by Dr. Tomoko Steen. Nataliya’s team investigates Russian approaches to global health and their implications for health security and future pandemic preparedness amid strategic competition.
Throughout her career, she has contributed to and led multiple research projects across academia, government, and civil society organizations, demonstrating her commitment to advancing impactful policy solutions. Her research findings became a subject of visiting lectures and talks across America and Europe – Cornell University, Wake Forest University, University of Notre Dame, Arizona State University, Ohio State University, Brussels School of Governance, Ulm University, Asfendiyarov Medical University, etc.

Professor Claudia Vickers is an internationally recognised leader in synthetic biology and metabolic engineering, with over 25 years of experience spanning academia, government, and industry. She is Professor at the Queensland University of Technology and Founder and Director of BioBuilt Solutions.

Professor Vickers has played a central role in building the synthetic biology ecosystem in Australia and connecting it globally. She was founding President of Synthetic Biology Australasia, where she established and grew a regional community spanning academia, industry, and government, including major conferences and collaborative networks that have helped bring the field to critical mass in Australia. As inaugural Director of CSIRO’s Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform, she grew a A$13M initiative into a A$60M national program involving over 200 researchers across more than 40 national and international partner organisations, establishing Australia’s first nationally accessible BioFoundry and creating enduring frameworks for cross-sector collaboration.

Professor Vickers is deeply engaged in international policy and strategy for engineering biology. She has represented Australia in global forums including the OECD (Synthetic Biology and Biofutures Working Groups), the World Economic Forum (Co-Chair, Global Future Council on Synthetic Biology), and the FAO. She contributed to Australia’s national synthetic biology roadmap and has advised federal and state governments through ministerial briefings and expert working groups. Her experience spans translation and industry engagement, including executive roles in biotechnology companies and advisory work with industry, investors, and government. Alongside this, she leads a research program focused on engineering biological systems for sustainable production, with over 100 publications and significant international impact.