Biden’s science team sees another mini-transition: Alondra Nelson departs as others shift over

Alondra Nelson, once the interim head of the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, has now decided to leave President Biden’s science team after about one year working there. Her departure comes amid a concerted effort to boost some scientific knowledge at the office.

Nelson, who will return to the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, NJ according to the Axios scoop, stepped into the role alongside a reemerging, post-NIH Francis Collins to fill the hole left by ousted Eric Lander, who also recently moved back to the Broad Institute, after allegedly bullying his former staffers at OSTP.

Nelson served as OSTP’s deputy director for science and society since February, and Arati Prabhakar more recently won Senate confirmation as the head of OSTP.

Prabhakar is also a trailblazer as the first woman, immigrant, or person of color nominated to serve as the Senate-confirmed director of OSTP.

But with Nelson’s departure, OSTP looked to poach talent from elsewhere in the government. James Coburn, an FDA leader with more than a decade of experience as former senior advisor for emerging technologies, is taking on a new position as manufacturing innovation lead for pandemic preparedness at OSTP, according to a LinkedIn post.

Mark Latonero

Mark Latonero, who’s on detail from NIST, also announced on LinkedIn today that he’s joining OSTP as deputy director for the National AI Initiative Office.

“At OSTP, I am part of the Technology team and Science & Society team, helping to lead the work of advancing policy to address the sociotechnical implications of emerging technologies,” he wrote.

Other recent departures (in addition to the continued absence of a nomination at the NIH) include former FDA commissioner David Kessler, who recently departed, and chief of staff Ron Klain.

fda