Speaker Profiles

Dr. Bizu Gelaye is a senior investigator and epidemiology branch chief in the Division of Intramural Population Health Research. His research focuses on (1) understanding the role preconception and perinatal psychosocial exposures play in shaping maternal and offspring health outcomes; (2) integrating bio-psychosocial factors aimed at addressing prematurity among racial and ethnic groups; (3) identifying evidence-based solutions that promote health equity and improve outcomes in maternal and child health through prevention, early diagnostics, therapeutics, and/or policy change. Before joining NICHD, Gelaye was a faculty member in the departments of epidemiology and psychiatry at Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital.

Sam Jones, Ph.D., is a science journalist and podcast producer based in Washington, DC. After completing her graduate work in biomedical science at the University of California San Diego in 2018, she has worked in print/digital journalism, video and audio. She is the executive producer and co-host of the science podcast Tiny Matters, as well as a freelance journalist and fact-checker, writing for outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Geographic, Scientific American, New Scientist, and Nature.