Biography

Kirstin R.W. Matthews is a fellow in science and technology policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and a lecturer in the Department of BioSciences. She also is a track adviser for the Wiess School of Natural Sciences’ Professional Science Master in
Biosciences and Health Policy. Matthews direct the activities of the Baker Institute Science and Technology Policy Program and the Center for Health and Biosciences’ Biomedical Research Program. Her research focuses on ethical and policy issues at the intersection between traditional biomedical research and public policy. Specifically, she focuses on regulation and ethical issues associated with emerging biotechnology, including vaccines, stem cells and genomic medicine. Matthews also leads a project to review scientific advice in and to the federal government, including the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the President’s Council of Advisers for Science and Technology. Matthews has a B.A. in biochemistry from the University of Texas at Austin and a Ph.D. in molecular biology from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.