Leland Cogliani, J.D.
Leland Cogliani has over 20 years of experience advancing science and technology priorities for research institutions. Leland works closely with congressional authorizing and appropriations committees and federal research agencies on behalf of academic institutions, scientific societies, facility management organizations, and energy startups to create new research initiatives and programs, advance science, and energy infrastructure projects, and increase federal research funding.
As the firm’s Energy Practice lead and Co-Chair of the Energy Sciences Coalition, Leland is a leading voice in the higher education and research advocacy community to advance basic and applied energy research and development programs, especially at the Department of Energy (DOE). Leland also uses his substantive subject matter expertise in nuclear security and nonproliferation science and technology issues to grow the participation of institutions of higher education in addressing national security challenges. Leland is currently a board member of the Arms Control Association and is a frequent speaker at science and technology forums.
Prior to joining Lewis-Burke, Leland was the lead Senate Appropriations Committee staff member, with budget and oversight responsibility for $17 billion in federal programs, including the DOE Office of Science, the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), DOE intelligence programs, and DOE national laboratories.
Issue Expertise: Appropriations and congressional budget process, basic and applied energy research (DOE Office of Science; ARPA-E; renewable, energy efficiency, fossil, carbon management, nuclear, and grid-related research); emerging technology areas, including artificial intelligence, quantum science and technology, microelectronics, advanced computing, and biotechnology; energy infrastructure investments; DOE national laboratories; nuclear security and nonproliferation (National Nuclear Security Administration)
Additional Experience: Prior to the Senate, Leland was a Senior Analyst in the Natural Resources and Environment Division at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) with oversight responsibilities over U.S. nuclear weapons and nuclear nonproliferation programs. He authored more than a dozen reports to Congress on science and national security issues, including life extension programs of nuclear warheads, the U.S. fusion program, and the International Atomic Energy Agency nuclear safeguards activities.
Vital Statistics: Leland earned his Bachelor of Arts in International Studies at Boston College and his Master of Arts in International Affairs at the George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs. He received a Juris Doctor from Catholic University Columbus School of Law. Leland is a proud father of two daughters and enjoys traveling with his family around the country and the world seeking new adventures. Leland is a fourth-degree black belt in taekwondo and continues to train twice a week. Born in Rome, Italy, Leland is a native Italian speaker.
Christina Laridaen
Christina Laridaen is a trusted advisor to clients and community leader in agriculture, environment, conservation, and resilience topics. She supports Lewis-Burke clients by providing in depth information about actions in Congress and at federal agencies and strategizing new initiatives and positioning for success. Christina is a key member of the firm’s agriculture practice and is intimately familiar with the ins and outs of research, education, and extension policy within USDA NIFA, ARS, and NRCS. Additionally, she has extensive experience assisting clients with strategies to support environmental and ecosystem sciences including through diversifying funding via lesser-known funding streams for this work across the federal agencies.
Issues: Agriculture, extension, environment and climate issues across agencies, resilience, oceanic and coastal research, environmental health and justice, geosciences
Before joining the Lewis-Burke team, Christina interned in the U.S. Senate, where she assisted on the research, commodity, and conservation titles in the 2018 Farm Bill in addition to covering regulation of bioengineered foods. Prior to moving to D.C., Christina worked as the Government and Legislative Affairs Coordinator for the Minnesota Student Association, where she managed advocacy efforts relevant to University of Minnesota students at all levels of government. At the State Capitol, she helped secure increases in biennium university funding by creating a statewide coalition of student advocates, regularly testifying at the legislature, and authoring letters on behalf of the student body to the Governor.
Christina is a graduate from the University of Minnesota, where she studied political science and applied economics. Her congressional experience traces all the way back to her high school days when she served as a United States Senate Page.
Victoria Haber
Victoria Haber is relied on by Lewis-Burke clients to advise on issues pertaining to tech-based and regional economic development, agricultural research, forestry, and environmental conservation. Victoria leverages her knowledge of relevant agencies like the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Economic Development Administration (EDA), and the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) to advance legislative priorities and agency engagement. Victoria is committed to helping clients identify unique funding streams beyond their existing funding portfolio. Victoria’s previous coursework and experience working on Capitol Hill has shaped her knowledge of the federal government as well as her economic and agricultural portfolio.
Issue Areas: Agriculture, specifically research, rural development, and the forest service; economic development; broadband and advanced wireless; and environment.
Additional Experience: Victoria’s love for DC’s energy began even before she joined the Lewis-Burke team, as an intern with a member of the Ohio delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives. Throughout her internship, she developed a knowledge of economic development and agricultural policy as well as a commitment to advocating for these issues. Prior to that, Victoria supported the Ohio Recreation and Parks Department with budget management and engaging with community stakeholders.
Vital Statistics: Victoria was born and raised in Ohio and completed her undergraduate degree at Ohio State University, where she studied economics and public affairs and graduated magna cum laude. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the Smithsonian museums and DC memorials, traveling to new places, and cheering on Cleveland sports teams (even when there is little to cheer for).
Eve Granatosky, Ph.D.
Dr. Eve Granatosky is an experienced science policy and advocacy professional who specializes in the interdisciplinary opportunities at the intersection of life sciences, physical sciences, and engineering. She leverages her scientific background and in-depth knowledge of federal agencies including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), and the National Science Foundation (NSF) to connect clients to key congressional and agency allies, as well as to advise on strategic planning, relationship building, competing for funding, and shaping new programs. As a trained biochemist and former Hill staffer, she has an appreciation for the nuances of research, policy, and politics, empowering her to effectively represent clients’ interests across the federal science landscape. In her work at Lewis-Burke, Eve has demonstrated success in providing unique insights into emerging opportunities that might otherwise be overlooked across a range of university, non-profit, and industry organizations.
Issue Expertise: Biomedical research, life sciences, biotechnology, biomanufacturing, environmental health, innovation and commercialization, graduate STEM education.
Additional Expertise: Prior to joining Lewis-Burke, Eve was selected for the Genetics and Public Policy Fellowship, during which she worked as a fellow in policy offices at the American Society of Human Genetics and the National Human Genome Research Institute at NIH. Eve also gained valuable experience as a Legislative Fellow for Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), covering health, education, and biomedical research issues. During her doctoral training, Eve led grassroots student efforts to promote science policy and advocacy on her university campus and co-founded the Science Policy Initiative at the University of Notre Dame.
Vital Statistics: Eve earned her Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame, where she studied pre-clinical drug development for neurodegenerative diseases and developed a deep appreciation for Fighting Irish sports. She also holds a B.S. from Stonehill College, where she majored in biochemistry and minored in dance. Outside of work, Eve enjoys yoga, crossword puzzles, and the New England Patriots.
Rebecca Adler Miserendino, Ph.D.
Dr. Rebecca Adler Miserendino is a public health and environmental scientist with over fifteen years of professional experience in academic research, the federal government, and government relations. She has worked across scientific disciplines and in the international arena to understand budget and policy trends, enhance institutional effectiveness, and to identify emerging opportunities relevant to the research and higher education communities. Dr. Adler Miserendino leads Lewis-Burkes environmental and international focused issue groups and drives advocacy and consulting strategies to enable clients to compete for federal funds, shape new programs, build international engagement, develop coalitions, and raise their profile with key policy stakeholders.
Issue Expertise: Environmental and life sciences, environmental health sciences, climate change, natural resource management, risk assessment, foreign affairs, multilateral negotiations, and international development.
Additional Experience: Prior to joining Lewis-Burke, Dr. Adler Miserendino was a Senior Adviser, Foreign Affairs Officer, and Physical Scientist at the U.S. Department of State (DOS) in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, serving in both the Office of Global Change (OES/EGC) and the Office of Environmental Quality and Transboundary Issues (OES/EQT). In this capacity, she negotiated on behalf of the United States and advised senior U.S. officials on a variety of crosscutting matters to advance U.S. global environment, climate, and health priorities; and to safeguard the role of science in policy decision-making. While at DOS, Dr. Adler Miserendino covered topics relating to international climate and environment finance, serving as the lead adviser on the Green Climate Fund, the Global Environment Facility, and on specific aspects under the Multilateral Development Banks. In these roles, she was invited to participate in and/or provide advice to several U.S. delegations including: the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change; UN Forum on Forests; Minamata Convention on Mercury, the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions; UN Convention on Biological Diversity; and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. Additionally, Dr. Adler Miserendino managed a portfolio of U.S. multilateral and bilateral investments and policy initiatives in clean energy, emerging markets, and climate resilience worth over $1.04 billion –to include helping to secure related budget requests.
Dr. Adler Miserendino was a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto, in the Department of Earth Sciences, and a Graduate Research Fellow at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, where she explored the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of artisanal and small-scale gold mining in Suriname, Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador. While at Johns Hopkins, Rebecca also earned a Certificate in Risk Sciences and Public Policy.
Vital Statistics: Rebecca was born in St. Louis, Missouri and holds a dual Bachelor of Science in Biology and the History and Philosophy of Science, from the California Institute of Technology. As a 2006-2007 T.J. Watson Fellow, Rebecca examined the respective roles of government, industry, academia, and civil society in addressing region-specific mine water issues in South Africa, Zambia, Australia, and India. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, volunteering, swimming, and spending time with her husband and two sons.