Professional Profile
Melissa is the Emerging Technology Advisor at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. As the Emerging Tech Advisor, they provide advice to the Center on translating research in emerging technology into actionable policy recommendations. She previously served as Senior Policy Advisor at the Center. As Senior Policy Advisor, Melissa led several policy initiatives in gene synthesis screening and AIxBio, including the development of the Gene Synthesis Screening Information Hub and serving as PI on the Center's AIxBio project team. They bring years of experience working on Capitol Hill, including as a Legislative (Tech) Fellow specializing in AI and biotech for a senior member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee and conducting investigations for the House Oversight Committee. In addition to experience on the Hill, Melissa has worked in the executive branch, for a technology trade association, and on a successful Senate election campaign. They are an alum of the Tech Policy Fellowship at UC Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy and the Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity Initiative (ELBI) Fellowship through Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
Melissa graduated from The George Washington University Law School, where they specialized in administrative law and legislation with a national security focus. Before that, they were a Davies Jackson Scholar at the University of Cambridge and graduated summa cum laude from Bucknell University. In their spare time, Melissa organizes several monthly emerging technology and national security events, including a monthly biosecurity meetup and several AI policy meetups in Washington, DC.
Recent Publications
Risk-Based Categorization and Governance of Biological Data in AI Systems
Biological AI Is Slipping Through Europe’s AI Law — For Now
Response to AI Regulatory Reform RFI
Response to Request for Information on the Development of a 2025 National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research and Development (R&D) Strategic Plan
Response to NIST AI 800-1 2PD, Managing Misuse Risk for Dual-Use Foundation Models Request for Comment
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