Richard Watkins, PhD
Chief Executive Officer
Richard earned his PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) in Microbiology and Immunology with a speciality in Virology. Richard's research focused on the factors that influence disease progression in HIV infected patients. Prior to attending UNC-CH, Richard earned a bachelor degree in science in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Fayetteville State University, making him an extremely well rounded and dynamic scientist.
With a deep passion for service, Richard has extensive experience bridging the gap between the scientific enterprise and stake holders.
Joanna Warren, PhD
Researcher and Consultant
Joanna recently earned her PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) in Microbiology and Immunology, with a focus in immunology and vaccine development. Joanna's research focused on studying the immune response to HIV infection in various cohorts, including analyzing various immunotherapies in HIV individuals. Prior to attending UNC-CH, Joanna earned a bachelor's degree from Lehigh University in Biology and International Relations with a minor in Health, Medicine and Society.
During her time at UNC-CH, Joanna was active in multiple groups. She served as the Chief of Staff and Executive Secretary of the Graduate and Professional Student Federation, Vice President of External Affairs of the Science Policy Advocacy Group, President and Vice President of the Frank Porter Graham Honor Society, co-founder/President of Global Perspectives in Biomedicine, as well as the Secretary of Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honor Society.
Brian Langloss, PhD
Researcher and Engagement Officer
Brian W. Langloss is a Lead Policy Analyst for Duke Science & Society, where he is part of a team working to couple scientific knowledge and policy decisions. In this role, Brian works on a variety of projects, including the ongoing Coronavirus Conversation Series, which discusses the societal impacts of the pandemic; developing courses to help students understand emerging science and technology and the related ethical concerns; and engaging with STEM graduate students regarding the broader social context of research. Prior to this work, he oversaw the development and publication of content related to Health, Genetics/Genomics and Neuroscience for SciPol.org, a policy tracking website run by Science & Society. Originally a chemist by training, Brian received his PhD in Chemistry from Duke in 2018, where his research focused on the practical application of nanomaterials in biological imaging and radiation detection. Prior to graduate school, Brian completed his BS in Chemistry at the University of California, Riverside, and worked in industry as an R&D chemist.
Tia Morgan, PhD
Engagement Officer
Tia Morgan obtain her PhD in Microbiology and Immunology with a specialty of infectious disease. She obtained her Masters of Science of Biology with a concentration in Microbiology from North Carolina Central University in August 2014. There she studied the mechanism of antibiotic resistance in Neisseria Gonorrhoeae; specifically in regard to characterizing cell wall degrading enzymes. During her graduate studies, she also served as a graduate teaching assistant and taught microbiology lab. Prior to NC Central, Tia earned her Bachelors of Science-Biology from Shaw University in Raleigh, NC May 2011; the first historically black college in the South. During undergrad she was given the opportunity to do bench work, and that is where she fell in love with the research side of science. Over a course of two summers, Tia was an intern at the National Institutes of Health. She was also a summer intern (2011) at North Carolina State University for the Department of Environmental & Molecular Toxicology.
Natasha Wilson
Financial Officer
Natasha Wilson has been helping people succeed financially with Wells Fargo since 2012, where she currently works as a personal banker and loan officer. She has made people the focus of her work, relying on customer service skills and open dialogue to create unique action plans in order to reach business and personal financial goals. Prior to her time with Wells Fargo, Natasha studied Communications at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, serving as treasurer for Delta Psi Xi Fraternity and President of Cadence a Capella group. She currently attends Durham Technical Community College and will join the Wolf Pack of NC State in the fall to finish her bachelor’s in Psychology before applying to Graduate School upon completion. Her interests in mental health, the biological components of mental health, and mental health as it pertains to public health, have roots in social, medical, and biological science. Natasha hopes to further cultivate those interests as well as gain new insight and perspective into the progressive world of science with her participation in Science Policy Action Network.
