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Kirstin R.W. Matthews

Fellow in Science and Technology Policy

Biography

Kirstin R.W. Matthews, Ph.D., is a fellow in science and technology policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and a lecturer in the Department of BioSciences at Rice University. She is also a track advisor for the Wiess School of Natural Sciences’ Professional Science Master in Biosciences and Health Policy, a core member of the Rice Synthetic Biology Institute, and a steering committee member for Rice’s Medical Humanities Research Institute.

Matthews is the director of the Baker Institute Science and Technology Policy Program and the Center for Health and Biosciences’ Biomedical Research Program. Her research focuses on ethical and policy issues at the intersection between traditional biomedical research and public policy. Specifically, she focuses on regulation and ethical issues associated with emerging biotechnology, including vaccines, stem cells, synthetic biology, and genomic medicine. Matthews also collaborates with Kenneth Evans and Neal Lane to understand how scientific advice is used in and provided for the federal government, including the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST).

Matthews has a B.A. in biochemistry from The University of Texas at Austin and a Ph.D. in molecular biology from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

Contact at [email protected] or 713-348-4784. 

Explore More

White House at night.
Health Policy in the First Year of Trump’s Second Administration
In its first year, the second Trump administration has enacted substantial shifts in U.S. health policy, affecting insurance access, care costs, and guidance on nutrition and vaccines. This brief from the Center for Health Policy examines how these changes, particularly federal budget cuts, are expected to reduce insurance coverage and increase costs.
Elena M. Marks, Vivian Ho, Charles W. Mathias, Kirstin R.W. Matthews, Katharine Harris, Heidi Russell May 19, 2026
Caucasian woman holding pen and clipboard conducting interview with prisoned adult wearing orange uniform, hands visible in foreground, focus on assessment process.
Why Texas Needs Stronger Hepatitis C Policies in State Prisons
Hepatitis C (HepC) is the second most common infectious disease in Texas prisons, yet the state lacks consistent testing and treatment guidelines. This report from the Science and Technology Policy Program outlines strategies to reduce HepC transmission, improve outcomes for incarcerated individuals, and lower public health risks inside and outside of prisons.
Sarah Yang, Avani Shah, Adam Oliver, Sophia Wang, Alicia L. Johnson, Kirstin R.W. Matthews November 13, 2025