Jessica Taaffe

Global Health and Science Consultant and Writer, World Bank

Washington, D.C.

Jessica Taaffe, PhD, is a biomedical scientist and global health expert. Dr. Taaffe has 10+ years of biomedical research experience in HIV, malaria, and influenza, and is a monkey immunology expert. She has worked in government and academia alike, and with large national and international scientific and public health organizations, including the US National Institutes of Health and World Bank.  Dr. Taaffe has extensively written and published her laboratory research in academic journals and presented at international scientific meetings.  She has also conducted research and written technical reports and presentations on leading topics in global HIV epidemiology, implementation science, and Hepatitis C. 

Not content to strictly do science and/or public health, Dr. Taaffe aims to use her scientific expertise to directly impact global health and international development through policy, advocacy, and communication activities. She does this personally and professionally, through her various social media activities on Twitter (@JessicaTaaffe) and a live weekly global health news YouTube broadcast (This Week in Global Health, twigh.org). Dr. Taaffe’s views on scientific and global health advocacy have been featured in interviews and guest blogs by the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases, and PLoS Blogs.

Jessica received her PhD in Microbiology from the University of Pennsylvania and double-majored in Biology and Medieval and Renaissance Studies at Duke University. Jessica is passionate about using a multi-disciplinary approach to solve global health problems, and is increasingly fascinated how all forms of technology can improve health.