Courtesy of Jenna DeLuca
Jenna DeLuca Will Support the Society’s Three World-Class STEM Research Competitions
The Society is thrilled to announce that Jenna DeLuca, Ph.D., will be the organization’s first Scientific Integrity Officer. DeLuca brings a wealth of experience in translational research and laboratory benchwork along with an ability to review and evaluate nonclinical data, underscoring the Society’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of scientific integrity and ethical research practices.
“I am excited about this new role at Society for Science,” said Maya Ajmera, President & CEO of Society for Science and Executive Publisher of Science News. “With advancements like AI, scientific research is exploding, and we need to keep pace as innovative research thrives while maintaining a strong commitment to research integrity.”
As the Scientific Integrity Officer, DeLuca will support the Society’s three core competitions: the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair; the Regeneron Science Talent Search and, the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge. Her core responsibilities will include evaluating and evolving policies, procedures and operations to proactively review applications for scientific integrity; mediating and investigating allegations of research misconduct and eligibility violations; developing training and professional development materials; and supporting the scientific review process.
DeLuca comes to the Society from the National Institutes of Health where she was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Translational Immunobiology Unit. As part of her work there, DeLuca conducted advanced research on antibody characterization, focusing on memory B cells from flavivirus-infected non-human primates and assessing antibodies for the prevention of Zika virus transmission. Her work included large-scale antibody production, pharmacokinetic analysis, and studies on B cell cross-reactivity, with significant contributions to HIV immunization research. She also has co-authored articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented her work at prominent scientific conferences, such as the American Association of Immunologists Annual Conference.
DeLuca received her Bachelor of Science degree from Saint Mary’s College in Indiana and earned her Ph.D. in microbiology from Miami University. She was a Lab Instructor at Miami University from 2016 through 2021 and an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant at Saint Mary’s College in 2015 and 2016.
“Scientific integrity is the foundation of effective scientific research,” said DeLuca. “I participated in science fairs in middle and high school, and those experiences fostered my passion for science. I know first-hand how important these opportunities are for providing the building blocks for a successful STEM profession, and I am thrilled to join Society for Science in this role.”