Ph.D. in biomedical engineering, University of Southern Calif; M.S. in biomedical engineering, University of Southern Calif; B.S. in bioengineering, UC Berkeley
Samantha McBirney (she/her) is an engineer at RAND with a background in biomedical applications, emerging technologies, and laser physics and a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. At RAND, her work has focused on emerging technologies, industrial base operations and policy, and medical readiness and logistics, with interests reaching into national security, biotechnology, and public health.
McBirney received her M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Southern California and her B.S. in bioengineering from the University of California, Berkeley. She is currently working on her MSc in Global Health Policy from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. In addition to her role as an Engineer, she co-leads the Allyship Initiatives within the BELIEVE (Black Employees Leading in Inclusion, Equity, Vision, and Education) ERG and the LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, and others) ERG. She also serves on the Pardee RAND Graduate School Faculty Committee on Curriculum and Appointment (FCCA).
