Interested in the ethical, legal, and social policy implications of scientific research, especially in neuroscience, Dr. Stephanie J. Bird has dedicated her career to advancing the field. She initially pursued her passions at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1971. She continued her education at Yale University, where she earned a Master of Science, a Master of Philosophy, and a PhD.
Dr. Bird began her distinguished career as a staff scientist at the Neuroscience Research Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and served in that capacity for three years. Over the following 10 years, she held numerous prestigious positions at the school, including special assistant to the provost and vice president, visiting scholar, research affiliate, and lecturer. Dr. Bird has contributed numerous articles to professional journals on issues in the responsible conduct of research, on mentoring and other responsibilities of service professionals, and on various aspects of neuroethics. Other research interests include aspects of professional standards and ethical values in science. She is currently using her extensive background as an independent consultant in Wrentham, Mass., an internationally-known speaker, and the founding co-editor-in-chief of the journal “Science & Engineering Ethics,” in Dordrecht, Netherlands. The publication explores ethical issues of direct concern to scientists and engineers.
Enhancing her experiences, Dr. Bird has joined a number of prominent professional organizations. She is a fellow of the Association for Women in Science, a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a research fellow of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation at MIT. Dr. Bird also holds fellowships from Johns Hopkins University and Case Western Reserve University. She is a member of the International Neuroethics Society, the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics, the Society for Neuroscience, and Sigma Xi.
In recognition of her achievements and accomplishments in her field, Dr. Bird received the Professional Development Award from the National Science Foundation and has been featured in numerous editions of Who’s Who in America.