Dr. John-David (JD) Swanson

National Science Foundation

Since June 2024, Dr. Swanson has served as the inaugural Section Head for the Innovation Programs Section within the Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) Directorate at the National Science Foundation (NSF), where he leads efforts to foster regional and national innovation ecosystems through strategic collaborations and partnerships that advance research and workforce development. Previously, he served as a Program Director in NSF’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), developing initiatives to expand research capacity and build thriving ecosystems in underfunded U.S. states and territories. His efforts have significantly enhanced the nation's STEM enterprise by ensuring all Americans can participate and contribute to the U.S. research enterprise. Dr. Swanson also detailed in NSF’s Directorate for Biological Sciences, creating strategies to connect foundational biological research to use-inspired outcomes. Before joining the public sector, he spent 15 years as a professor, department chair, and class dean at universities in Pennsylvania, Arkansas, and Rhode Island, where he built research infrastructure, mentored students, and conducted research on cellular proliferation in plants and animals with implications for agriculture, cancer, and oceanic algal blooms. Additionally, he has collaborated across industry and government sectors globally. Dr. Swanson holds a Ph.D. in Integrative Biosciences from Penn State, along with advanced degrees in biology and management from the University of Waikato, New Zealand, and a Certificate in Public Leadership from American University.