Originally from South Africa, Dr. Catharine Young holds a doctoral degree in biomedical sciences and completed her postdoctoral fellowship in biomedical engineering. Currently she works to advance the Cancer Moonshot—the President and First Lady’s mission to decrease the number of cancer deaths by 50% over the next 25 years. Besides Young’s federal government experience, her career has spanned a variety of sectors including academia, nonprofit, biotech, and foreign government, all with a focus on advancing science. Awards include being selected as a TED Fellow, a New Voices Fellow of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, and a Presidential Leadership Scholar. Young is an advocate for women in STEM and has been a contributor to major social and media networks including TED-Ed, the Guardian and the UK Science and Innovation Network.

Assistant Director for Cancer Moonshot Policy and International Engagement, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy