President-elect Joe Biden announced on Friday that for the first time in US history, he will make top science at the White House a cabinet-level position.
The big picture: Biden said he has selected Eric Lander as his presidential science adviser and will nominate the geneticist as director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Biden also announced other key members of his science team, including Francis Collins, who will remain as director of the National Institutes of Health.
The White House science team includes:
- Lander, who will be nominated as the OSTP director and serve as the presidential science adviser.
- Alondra Nelson, who will serve as the deputy director of the OSTP for science and society.
- Frances Arnold and Maria Zuber, who will serve as the outside co-chairs of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
- Collins, who will continue to lead the NIH.
- Kei Koizumi, who will serve as OSTP Chief of Staff.
- Narda Jones, who will serve as director of legislative affairs for the OSTP.
What he says: “Science will always be at the forefront of my administration – and these world-renowned scientists will make sure that everything we do is based on science, facts and truth,” Biden said in a statement.
- “Their trusted guidance will be essential as we come together to end this pandemic, bring back our economy, and pursue new breakthroughs to improve the quality of life for all Americans.”