Members of the New Voices program (2024-2026 Cohort) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, invite you to join us for a panel style webinar on April 23 from 9-10am EST on zoom (registration required). This engaging webinar where leaders in research across engineering, science, and medicine will unpack non-federal funding strategies. Panelists will discuss their own research careers and share insights regarding soliciting and securing funding from non-traditional sources. Panelists include: Dr. Kiana Aran: Dr. Kiana Aran is a professor of bioengineering and medicine at UC San Diego and the director of the Center for Technologies for Healthy Aging. A trailblazer in bioelectronics and precision medicine, she seamlessly merges biology with cutting-edge electronics to revolutionize healthcare solutions. Recognized by Nature as a "Tech Titan in Technology," Dr. Aran has founded multiple successful biotech startups, driving transformative innovations with significant real-world impact. With a portfolio of over 32 U.S. and international patents, her pioneering contributions have earned her numerous prestigious accolades. These include the most recent Sony Women in Technology Award (in partnership with Nature), Senior Membership in the National Academy of Inventors, the Distinguished Engineer Medal of Excellence from Rutgers University, and the Distinguished Engineer of the Year award from the San Diego Society of Engineers. She has also received the Nature Research Award for Inspiring Women in Science, the NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award, and was named one of Inc.'s Top 200 Female Founders and a Clinical OMICs "10 Under 40" honoree. Dr. Aran's expertise extends beyond academia and entrepreneurship; she serves on the scientific advisory boards of several companies focused on precision medicine and wearable sensor technologies as well as member of New Voices program of National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Dr. Ayodeji Coker: Dr. Ayodeji Coker is a Director at Booz Allen Hamilton where he provides AI and Autonomy subject matter expertise, thought leadership, and strategic vision to the GDS NMC Account. Dr. Coker also leads the Intelligent Systems group and oversees Internal Research and Development initiatives for the SEA sub-account. Prior to this role he served as the Office of Naval Research (ONR) Portfolio Manager for Autonomy. As a Portfolio Manager he led ONR's corporate strategy in Autonomy; managed the corresponding investment portfolio; and provided focus on transition, operationalization, and fielding for autonomy and autonomous unmanned systems. He led the development and execution of ONR's corporate strategy in Autonomy. He also led the Navy's Intelligent Autonomous systems S&T strategy focused on the intersections of Unmanned Systems, AI, and Autonomy. Prior to his ONR role, Dr. Coker was the Science Director for AI, Autonomous Systems at ONRG, London. In this role, he was responsible for identifying cutting-edge research and facilitating opportunities for international collaboration and partnerships with the Naval Science & Technology Research Enterprise and with U.S. academic institutions. He also led an international grand challenge effort in partnership with the Alan Turing Institute (United Kingdom) to develop 'AI Scientists' capable of making Nobel quality scientific discoveries comparable and possibly superior to the best human scientists by 2050. Dr. Coker is published in peer-reviewed journals and conferences and is a regular speaker at academic and industry events. Dr. Coker received his BSc in Physics from the University at Albany, New York, his MSc in Electrical Engineering from Northwestern University, and his doctorate in Computer Engineering from Texas A&M University. Dr. Coker is also a member of New Voices program of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, which aims to expand the diversity of expertise engaged in the convening and advisory functions of the National Academies. Dr. Tim Simpson: Dr. Simpson is a leading expert in engineering design involving 3D printing and additive manufacturing, product family and platform design, and multidisciplinary design optimization. During his career at Penn State, he received over $65M ($34M as PI/Co-PI) in support from the NSF, NIST, DARPA, ONR, DOE, DLA, FAA, and more than 30 companies. He has published over 450 peer-reviewed journal and conference papers (36,336 citations, h-index: 83), was lead editor of two books, and was awarded one patent and has a second pending. He advised 24 Ph.D. and 48 M.S. students, 5 post-doctoral scholars, and 72 undergraduate researchers and honors theses. He taught courses on additive manufacturing, design for additive manufacturing, product family design, and mechanical design. He co-founded and directed the world's first hybrid Additive Manufacturing & Design Graduate Program at Penn State, and he was co-founder and co-Director of CIMP-3D, which served as the additive manufacturing demonstration facility for the Department of Defense through the DARPA Open Manufacturing Program. He also ran Penn State's Learning Factory, growing it to become the largest industry-sponsored, college-wide capstone design program in the nation. He is a Fellow of ASME and an Associate Fellow of AIAA. George R. Thompson III, M.D., is a Professor of Medicine at the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine with a joint appointment in the Departments of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, and Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases. Dr. Thompson specializes in the care of patients with invasive fungal infections and his research interests are in fungal diagnostics, clinical trials, novel antifungal agents, and host immunogenetics. Dr. Thompson has served on the IDWeek Planning Committee, IDSA Journal Club, is a member of the Coccidioidomycosis Study Group Executive Committee, past chair of the Mycoses Study Group Education Committee and current president elect of the Mycoses Study Group. He has been active in the field of mycology for over 15 years and has published over 280 manuscripts to date.