Meet the 2025-2026 IEEE-USA Government Fellows
Christine T. Chang obtained her Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Colorado Boulder. Her dissertation explored human-robot teams and how to identify and overcome people’s often incorrect assumptions and biases about how AI and autonomous systems work. Christine earned her B.S. in mechanical engineering at Cornell University, an M.S. in STEM education at Boise State University, and an M.S. in computer science at CU Boulder. She has worked as an engineer at NASA Johnson Space Center and Boeing Commercial Airplanes, taught grades from Kindergarten through college, and founded a gender-inclusive high school robotics team. She has also been a volunteer firefighter and has her Private Pilot Certificate. Her hobbies include training for marathons, mountain biking, and traveling.
Dr. Trevor Odelberg, (PhD, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Certificate in Science, Technology, and Public Policy) Trevor’s research focused on designing low-power integrated circuits (chips). During his education he has worked with Apple, NASA, and the MIT Lincoln Lab. Trevor has also published work on AI Guidelines for Local Government, Municipal Fiber Networks, and Climate Action Plans in collaboration with the Ford School of Public Policy.
Dr. Liz Sefton (PhD, Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University) has a multidisciplinary background in genetics, project management, and innovative research positions. She has conducted biotech research in both the academic and private sector. Liz’s research received awards from the Gates Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Liz has a deep understanding of developmental biology and pediatric disease, having developed mouse models to investigate congenital conditions. Her transition into the private sector enabled her to apply her scientific expertise to discovering new medicines by ensuring genetically diverse datasets are included in machine learning systems, leading to significant advancements in the platform.
Meet the 2023-2024 IEEE-USA Government Fellows
Lindsay DeMarchi earned her Ph.D. in Astronomy from Northwestern University. She is an interdisciplinary space environmentalist and stellar mortician. Her dissertation regarding dead stars is a multitool among gravitational waves and radiative processes at all electromagnetic wavelengths. She has written software to join theory and observation at radio wavelengths.
Lindsay authored numerous scientific articles bringing awareness to outer-space sustainability and light pollution. As an IEEE Congressional Fellow, she is most passionate about empowering the cultural and personal connections each individual has to the night sky and their role in environmental stewardship.
Adam Navara earned his Ph.D. in Bioengineering from Rice University, where he studied materials and methods for 3D printing cartilage tissue. While at Rice, Adam was named a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow as well as a Texas Science Policy Fellow. Adam has advocated for science-backed vaccine legislation in the Texas Legislature and has published and publicly presented on equity and data collection during the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. In
partnership with the Baker Institute for Public Policy and peers from the Rice Science Policy Network, Adam has also written about the ethics surrounding human genome editing as well as how whole genome sequencing can be incorporated into pediatric healthcare. Prior to joining Rice, he received his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Texas A&M University. Adam is passionate about healthcare and equity, and looks forward to bringing this enthusiasm to his work on Capitol
Hill.