Dr. Kavita Berger is the Board Director of the Board on Life Sciences and co-Director of the Board on Animal Health Sciences, Conservation, and Research of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineeering, and Medicine. She is a life scientist with extensive experience in the addressing a diversity of technical, policy, national security, and societal issues associated with the life sciences and biotechnology. Dr. Berger leads and oversees the Board’s work across a variety of life science areas, including basic, applied, and emerging life sciences research; biotechnology research and convergence; bioeconomy-related research and development; biosecurity and biodefense; ecology and biodiversity; and integrated human, animal, plant, and ecological health. Prior to joining the National Academies, Dr. Berger was a principal scientist at Gryphon Scientific. There, she led numerous projects involving biotechnology landscape analyses, biosecurity and biodefense policy, risk and benefits of life science research and technologies, and international bioengagement. Dr. Berger was responsible for several biosecurity and biodefense initiatives at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, including a meeting series on topics ranging from health security to preventing biological weapons. Dr. Berger has served on two National Research Council committees related to cooperative biological engagement, the board of directors for the nongovernmental Global Health Security Agenda Consortium, and as a subject matter expert for various government and nongovernmental organizations. Dr. Berger has a Ph.D. in genetics and molecular biology from Emory University and conducted pre-clinical research on HIV vaccines.