(HEROES) Program
The “Hiring Experienced Researchers to Optimize Ecosystems in STEM” (HEROES) program brings together researchers with experience in federal agencies to lend their expertise and support to the STEM research community. Our Fellows are here to provide tools and tips for navigating the federal funding landscape, developing STEM programs and partnerships, and improving talent retention in in-demand fields. Our goal is to build sustainable ecosystems for STEM research and education at colleges and universities across the country, not just those with large federal funding portfolios.
Please navigate to the interactive map to contact a HEROES Fellow serving your region.
Search HEROES Fellows
Amaka Nwankwo
Previous Agency
CDC, State Dept, USAID
Expertise
Data Science, Epidemiology, Public Health, Research, STEM
State / Region
MD / NJ / PA / VA
Aprille Ericsson
Previous Agency
DOD, NASA
Expertise
Aerospace and Defense Technologies, Space Science, STEM Education
State / Region
CT / MA / MD / ME / NC / NH / NY / RI / VA / VT
Bradley Lusk
Previous Agency
DoS, NRL, USAID
Expertise
Biotechnology, EnvEngineering, scicomm, STEM, TechTransfer
State / Region
AZ / NM
Carrie Hall
Previous Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Expertise
Biology, Ecology, Education, Inclusivity, Mentoring
State / Region
AR / LA / OK
Chaz Gipson
Previous Agency
Department of Education
Expertise
Capacity Building Evidence-Aligned Design, Proposal Competitiveness
State / Region
GA / TN
Christopher Atchison
Previous Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Expertise
Broadening Participation, Geology, STEM Education
State / Region
IN / KY / OH
Emily Davis
Previous Agency
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Expertise
Professional Development, Program Management, Workshop Facilitation
State / Region
MD / PA
Frances Carter-Johnson
Previous Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Expertise
Analytics, Engineering, Evaluation, Physics, Policy
State / Region
AL / AR / DE / LA / MS / VA / WV
Gregory Davis
Previous Agency
Department of Commerce and Department of Defense
Expertise
Acquisition, Defense, Physics, Security, Trade
State / Region
VA
James Smith
Previous Agency
National Security Agency
Expertise
3D Graphics, AI/ML, Visualization
State / Region
TX
Jehnae Linkins
Previous Agency
Department of Defense
Expertise
Academia-to-Federal Translation, Centered STEM Design, Research Capacity Building
State / Region
SC
Jennifer Riehl
Previous Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Expertise
Collaboration, Forests, Genetics, Outreach, Wildfire
State / Region
NJ / PA
Joseph Isaac
Previous Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Expertise
Connector, Education, STEM
State / Region
DE / MD
Josh Trapani
Previous Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Expertise
Geoscience, Higher education, Science policy
State / Region
CO / UT
Karen Ford-Jackson
Previous Agency
U.S. Department of Education
Expertise
Analyze, Evaluate, Organize
State / Region
VA / WV
Kenneth Wright
Previous Agency
NASA
Expertise
Innovation, Strategy, Technology
State / Region
MI
Naomi Hall-Byers
Previous Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Expertise
Evaluation, Methodology, Research, Social Sciences
State / Region
NC / SC
Quincy Brown
Previous Agency
White House and NSF
Expertise
HCI, Policy, Space, STEM Education
State / Region
DC / MD / VA
Shadei Jones-Laird
Previous Agency
Naval Sea Systems Command
Expertise
Naval Engineering, Systems Engineering, Workforce Development Programs
State / Region
AL / GA
Sharmini Pitter Boghos
Previous Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Expertise
Diplomacy, Education, Quantum Policy
State / Region
FL / GA / IL / MO
Toni Dancstep
Previous Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Expertise
Informal STEM, Learning, Research
State / Region
CA
Tori Rhoulac Smith
Previous Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Expertise
Education, Innovation, Participation, Research, STEM
State / Region
MS / NC
Toya Frank
Previous Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Expertise
Equity, Mixed methods, STEM Education
State / Region
DC / VA
Yulia Goreva
Previous Agency
NASA-JPL
Expertise
Planetary, Space Sciences
State / Region
CA