Melinda Gormley, the Reilly Center's Assistant Director for Research, has accepted a Science and Technology Policy fellowship with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for the 2015-2016 academic year. She will relocate to Washington D.C. and spend the year working with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Scientific Integrity team. Her responsibilities include enhancing a culture of scientific integrity at EPA, developing and executing an education strategic plan, and performing an assessment and history of human subjects’ research and protections at EPA which will be used for regulatory reform.

Gormley holds a Ph.D. in history of science and her research focuses on the role of scientists in public policy. In recent years her attention has centered on research integrity, science policy, and responsible communication. As Assistant Director for Research at Notre Dame's John J. Reilly Center for Science, Technology, and Values, her duties include grant development and ethics education in responsible conduct of research and social responsibility. She and her colleagues have received two National Science Foundation awards to support ethical leadership training programs. Gormley also offers professional development training in grant writing and communication skills to graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.

"This is a great opportunity for me. It's a great opportunity for Notre Dame. The connections I make and the insights I gain will be invaluable, and I will bring this back to Notre Dame when I return," said Gormley. 

The AAAS Science and Technology Policy fellowship “provides opportunities for scientists and engineers to learn first-hand about policymaking while contributing their knowledge and analytical skills in the federal policy realm.” Fellows perform a service by working for a federal agency and learn through professional development training and on-the-job mentoring. Learn more about the fellowship at aaas.org/stpf.