Shanni Silberberg

Dr. Shanni Silberberg serves as a Principal at Lewis-Burke Associates, providing strategic expertise to the firm’s defense portfolio. With a unique background spanning neuroscience research and federal science policy, she brings a deep understanding of the intersection between scientific advancement and national security priorities. Dr. Silberberg is an expert in navigating federal regulatory environments, developing legislative strategies, and building coalitions to advance science and innovation.  Dr. Silberberg spent five years advising the Director of Basic Research at the Department of Defense, where she shaped policy on research protection, international talent retention, STEM education, and scientific integrity initiatives. She was instrumental in developing DoD’s research protection policy for fundamental research, working across federal agencies, Congress, and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Issue Expertise: Defense science and technology, research security, basic research policy, STEM immigration, international scientific collaboration, research protection, scientific integrity, and federal R&D funding mechanisms, neuroscience, and genetics.

Additional Experience: Prior to her work advising DOD, she worked in the Engineering Division at the National Science Foundation, identifying research gaps and creating scientific funding programs to address critical challenges in biological and chemical engineering. Her experience also includes monitoring and evaluation of development programs at the United States Agency for International Development. Throughout her career, she has successfully secured federal grants for research, created grant programs within the federal government, and reviewed federal grant proposals from universities.

Vital Statistics: Dr. Silberberg holds a B.S. in Neurobiology and Physiology from the University of Maryland College Park and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of California San Francisco. She was a AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the United States Agency for International Development and the National Science Foundation. When not advocating for science policy, she spends time in nature, makes wearable art, and travels (aiming to visit all 50 states with her kids by 2050).