Dr. Brooke Grindlinger,
Chief Scientific Officer,
Honored by Crain’s New York Business 2021

The New York Academy of Sciences prides itself on our team members who are not only committed to fulfilling the Academy’s mission of advancing science, but extend that commitment to supporting the scientific community.

Brooke Grindlinger, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, Scientific Programs and Awards, is one such individual, so it is not surprising that she has been named as one of Crain’s New York: “Most Notable in Nonprofits and Philanthropy”.

As a scientist and experienced communicator, Brooke uses her voice and platform to engage and educate audiences about the positive impact of science.  A year ago when the pandemic struck, Brooke and her team worked tirelessly to develop the programming needed to address the growing fear and confusion about the new coronavirus. Within days, the Academy’s first free webinar about COVID-19 cut through the fiction with accessible, science-based facts and attracted almost 10,000 viewers.  In the year that followed, she helped to galvanize a global network of 110 volunteer virologists, epidemiologists, drug developers, and policy makers to create a series of programs that served as a crucial clearinghouse of accurate, verified data and analysis about the coronavirus.

Brooke is also a role model and passionate advocate for attracting and retaining more women in STEM. She frequently lectures to undergraduate and graduate students about career opportunities in science—firmly believing the adage “If you can see her, you can be her.” Through her stewardship of the prestigious Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists—the largest unrestricted prize ever created for early-career scientists— she has overseen the awarding of more than $10MM to outstanding postdoctoral and faculty scientists in the U.S. and overseas.

A philanthropist herself, Brooke and her husband established the Glenn and Brooke Grindlinger International Experience Award in 2013, which provides scholarships for students at New York’s Cornell University to study abroad in her native Australia. She is an active member of New York-based "Chief", a private women's network connecting and supporting female C-suite executives and rising VPs.

Congratulations to Dr. Brooke Grindlinger on a well-deserved honor!

Nicholas B. Dirks

President and CEO
New York Academy of Sciences

Consider a gift to honor Dr. Grindlinger for helping to lead the way in science!