<p class="MsoNormal">Laura Sheahan is Lead, Special Projects at the <a href="http://www.jcvi.org/" target="_blank">J. Craig Venter Institute</a>, a not-for-profit research organization in <st1:place><st1:city>Rockville</st1:city>, <st1:state>MD</st1:state></st1:place> dedicated to the advancement of genomics research.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Prior to joining JCVI in 2006, Sheahan was a program officer at the National Academy of Sciences in the Policy and Global Affairs Division where she managed several U.S. National Committees involved with international research collaboration. She was a AAAS Congressional Fellow from 2000-01, sponsored by the American Society for Microbiology, and worked on issues affecting science policy as a Health Legislative Assistant in Congresswoman Louise Slaughter&rsquo;s office.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sheahan received her bachelor&rsquo;s degree from <st1:place><st1:placename>Ohio</st1:placename> <st1:placename>Wesleyan</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>University</st1:placetype></st1:place> and Ph.D. in molecular biology and biochemistry from the <st1:place><st1:placetype>University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename>Pittsburgh</st1:placename></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">She grew up and now lives in <st1:place><st1:city>Arlington</st1:city>, <st1:state>Virginia</st1:state></st1:place> with her husband Rich, their two daughters, Alexandra and Norah, and dog Marino.</p>