"PECASE recognizes scientists and engineers who show exceptional potential for leadership early in their research careers. The award recognizes innovative and far-reaching developments in science and technology, expands awareness of careers in science and engineering, recognizes the scientific missions of participating agencies, enhances connections between research and impacts on society, and highlights the importance of science and technology for our nation’s future" ("President Biden Honors Nearly 400 Federally Funded Early-Career Scientists").
Dr. Samantha Maragh of the NIST Material Measurement Laboratory is a preeminent expert on genome editing technologies and is recognized as the world’s leading expert on genome editing standards. Maragh established and leads the NIST Genome Editing Program which has been recognized and endorsed both nationally and internationally as an invaluable asset for the field. She also established the NIST Genome Editing Consortium to enable organizations, fiercely competing to commercialize genome editing products, to work together pre-competitively to pioneer ground-breaking industry standards, norms, and tools. To enable this innovative approach, Maragh developed a new NIST consortium model leveraging public and private funds as well as expert services provided by Consortium members. This model has since been replicated to launch other NIST-led consortia to meet National needs.