Dr. Anastasia Bodnar is a Senior Policy Advisor for the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, where she shapes the future of biotechnology regulation. Anastasia is a seasoned government leader with over two decades of experience in science policy. Before her current role, she served as the Biotechnology Coordinator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, leading biotechnology and bioeconomy policy initiatives for the department and the interagency. During her time at USDA, she worked across biotechnology regulation, environmental safety, and agricultural trade policy. Anastasia’s career began in the U.S. Army, tackling public health and integrated pest management, and she entered civilian service as a Presidential Management Fellow at the National Institutes of Health. With a PhD in plant genetics and a minor in sustainable agriculture from Iowa State University, as well as a BS in biology from the University of Maryland, her expertise is both broad and deep, positioning her as a leading voice in biotechnology policy.