Rebecca Voglewede, PhD

Named as Treasury’s International Affairs 2025 Team of the Year

Together with a few friends across the NatSec space, I run a National Security Affinity Group for the AAAS S&T Policy Fellows and alumni network of PhD scientists and engineers across several federal agencies and all three (executive, judicial, and legislative) branches of the USG.

This fellowship involves a dual appointment as both fellow and fed, serving as a Science and Technology National Security Policy Advisor within the Offices of International Affairs and Investment Security within the Department of the Treasury.

The AI Rapid Response Cohort was comprised of six scientists selected from across the U.S. for their expertise and proficiency on the complexities of developing and deploying a multitude of AI technologies. This inaugural AI Cohort (part of AAAS’ 51-year history of bringing science and technology experts to the Hill) was specially designed to help policymakers and their staff understand conceptually how AI works, along with the technical, economic and social issues that may arise from its widespread deployment.

Served on the Asia/Indo-Pacific, Emerging Technologies, and Economic Statecraft team Advised on foreign policy surrounding AI, quantum information science, semiconductor and critical mineral supply chains, increasing energy demands, aerospace, biosecurity, and foreign investments in emerging tech

Served as key staff supporting the Senator as Co-Lead within the Senate AI Working Group, Co-Chair of Senate Artificial Intelligence Caucus, Ranking Member of Senate Armed Services Cybersecurity Subcommittee, and Member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Organized the series of nine Senate AI Insight Forums during Fall 2023 covering the intersection of AI and national security, high risk applications, workforce, transparency & explainability, privacy & liability, copyright & IP, and doomsday scenarios

Key areas: Olivocochlear feedback circuits, Surgical access to the cochlea, Optical electrophysiology, Viral gene delivery My project here examined the auditory circuits that connect the brain with the cochlea and provide auditory feedback information to our ears. These circuits are thought not only to be important for protecting us from damage (such as in cases of loud sounds) but also for helping us detect signal within noise (such as paying attention to a particular speaker in a noisy environment). This work employed a combination of cochlear surgery, viral gene delivery, and imaging technique development for an in vivo surgical window to monitor electrical activity, optical sensors of calcium and voltage activity, two photon guided patch clamp electrophysiology, and biophysical modeling of neurons using Python and the NEURON simulation environment. For this work, I was awarded the NIH Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD).

Key areas: Coincidence detection; Dendritic integration, Binaural processing, Sound localization, Developmental neurobiology My project here examined how the morphology and biophysical profile of axons and dendrites within neurons of the medial superior olive influence the microsecond time frame (!) integration of auditory cues we use for horizontal sound localization. This research employed two photon excitation laser scanning microscopy, axosomatic/somatodendritic patch clamp electrophysiology recordings, gene delivery using viral vectors, immunohistochemistry, and computational modeling of neurons using Python and the NEURON simulation environment. For this work, I was awarded the NIH National Research Service Award, the NIH Pediatric Loan Repayment Award, and the Association for Research in Otolaryngology Poster Blitz Award.

Key areas: Seed Funding, Orphan Drug Development, Pre-IND FDA Meeting Preparation, Non-dilutive Funding, Pre-clinical Development, Toxicology Studies, Pharmacodynamics & Pharmacokinetics In this role, I consulted with neonatal research startup co-founders on commercialization of a breast milk-derived orphan drug designed to treat brain injuries in preterm infants. I researched non-dilutive funding opportunities to secure additional capital during their Seed to Series A ($35M) funding stage, resulting in a $182K NIH Phase I Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Supplement Grant. Tellus Therapeutics is a spin-out of Dr. Eric Benner’s laboratory at Duke University.

Key areas: Hippocampal physiology, Neuromodulation, Multisensory integration, Neuroplasticity My project here at Janelia Research Campus examined neuromodulatory (noradrenergic) boosting of conjunctive input processing (plateau potential generation, burst firing) from projections onto the proximal and distal dendrites of hippocampal area CA1. This research employed two photon excitation laser scanning microscopy, patch clamp electrophysiology in acute slices, and dual electrical stimulation of two input pathways with a stereotrode.

Key areas: Cortical plasticity, Somatosensory processing, Synaptic dynamics, Aging My project here examined how new sensory experience produces divergent effects on the turnover of distal synapses of pyramidal neurons within the somatosensory cortex of young adult and aged animals: for young adults, turnover is boosted but for aged animals, the same stimulus causes the synapses to become more static. This suggests a structural correlate may exist of the brain’s “resistance” to incorporate new information successfully as we reach the geriatric stages of life. This research employed chronic in vivo two photon excitation laser scanning microscopy and intrinsic optical signal imaging to measure structural changes of neurons and blood flow activity in the cortex, both through an implanted cranial window. For this work, I was awarded the Louisiana Board of Regents Graduate Research Fellowship, given each year to the top incoming candidate of the graduate cohort.

Key areas: Acute and chronic effects of stress, Transcriptional regulation by glucocorticoids, Rapid intracellular signaling cascades, Nuclear vs. membrane-bound receptors My project here examined a rapid, protein kinase mediated intracellular signaling cascade associated with a membrane-bound, stimulatory G-protein coupled glucocorticoid receptor. This project employed adrenalectomies, chronic variable stress paradigms, and immunocytochemistry using an immortalized hypothalamic cell line. For this work, I was awarded the Tulane Newcomb Grant for Research Assistance.