Matt Nicotra is a senior physical scientist at RAND. His research focuses on biosecurity, emerging biotechnology risks, and the intersection of the life sciences with national security. A major objective of his current work is understanding and mitigating the risks posed by mirror life. His areas of expertise include molecular biology, genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, evolutionary biology, ecology, and immunology.
Before coming to RAND, Nicotra worked as a biosecurity consultant. Prior to that, Nicotra was an assistant professor in the departments of Surgery and Immunology at the University of Pittsburgh, where he led an internationally recognized research program in comparative immunology supported by grants from the National Science Foundation. Nicotra received his Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology from Yale University and completed his post-doctoral training at Harvard University in cellular and molecular biology.
Bachelor of Science in ecology & evolutionary biology, Yale University; Doctor of Philosophy in ecology & evolutionary biology, Yale University
