Since joining NIH in 2020, Dr. Laura Biven has led the Integrated Infrastructure and Emerging Technologies (IIET) branch in ODSS. She is responsible for strategic planning, coordination, and oversight of programs that integrate independently managed, cloud data resources across the NIH to advance NIH’s vision for an integrated, FAIR biomedical data ecosystem. She also oversees multidisciplinary NIH-wide programs that focus on integrating computational, mathematical, and biomedical research communities around emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, (AI/ML) quantum computing, and digital twins.
Laura co-led the development and 2021 launch of NIH’s flagship initiative in AI/ML and health equity- the Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Consortium to Advance Health Equity and Researcher Diversity (AIM-AHEAD) program. She served as Acting Director, overseeing the launch of new fellowship programs, regionally based outreach and research partnerships, and pilot research activities at the intersection of AI/ML and health equity.
Before joining NIH, Laura spent 12 years at the Department of Energy, where she led strategic efforts in data management and data science including the development and implementation of the department-wide data management plan requirements; the PuRE Data initiative, a new stewardship model for high-valued public data repositories; and new research opportunities to leverage DOE data and advance AI/ML. She also served as Acting Research Division Director in DOE’s Advanced Scientific Computing Research office.
Laura began her public service as an AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow, serving first in the U.S. Department of Agriculture and then in the Department of State. She holds a first class MSci in math and physics from the University of Bristol and a Ph.D. in applied mathematics from the University of Warwick.