Dr. Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Akinbiyi, Ph.D. has joined the Office of the BRAIN Director (OBD) as an AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow. Liz brings over a decade of diverse research experience that ranges from digestive diseases to neuro-oncology. She attended the University of New Haven (UNH) for her undergraduate studies where she was recruited to play volleyball and studied Biology. While at UNH, she gained her initial research experience down the street at Yale University where she investigated the effects of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption on acute pancreatitis. Thereafter, she moved on to Case Western Reserve University for her Ph.D., where she grew her immuno-oncology background and investigated mitochondrial dynamics as a therapeutic intervention for glioblastoma (an aggressive brain cancer).
Prior to joining the OBD, Liz was a science teacher mentor to 6-12 graders teaching biology, chemistry, and anatomy and physiology. She is enthusiastic about science communications and excited to engage this beyond the bench and classroom in her role within OBD. While Liz is from South Florida, she appreciates experiencing all four seasons and enjoys all things plants, traveling, baking, and spending time with her niblings (niece and nephews).