Shane Reader, MA PhD

Policy Advisor · Health Care & Biosecurity

Promoting health through policy.

Science & Technology Policy Fellow United States Senate Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Biosecurity Health Policy
Recent Work Get in Touch

About

Bridging research and policy to protect public health

Dr. Shane Reader is an evidence-based policy scientist and legal epidemiologist with experience holding the pen to draft, revise, and implement public policy.

Informed by both peer-reviewed science and hands-on policymaking experience, Shane advances effective solutions in health care, biosecurity, and emerging technology.

With a record of cross-sector collaboration and coalition-building, he brings a practical, data-driven approach to shaping legislation, informing regulation, and driving policy change.

Through a combination of empirical research, coalition-building, and Texan ingenuity, Dr. Reader is promoting health and opportunity at the national level.

Current Role
Science & Technology Policy Fellow, U.S. Senate
Office of Senator Tim Kaine (VA)
Fellowship
American Association for the Advancement of Science
2024–2026
Doctorate
PhD, Healthcare Management & Policy
University of Texas Health Science Center · Biostatistics · Public Health Law Research & Policy Surveillance
Graduate Degree
MA, Experimental Psychology
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, 2017

Experience

Select Roles

9/2025 - Present
U.S. Senate, Office of Senator Tim Kaine
Legislative Fellow

Driving health care and biosecurity policy solutions in Congress and championing Virginia

  • Drafted and championed original legislation to solve policy problems in commercial health care, biotechnology, and biodefense
  • Built persuasive coalitions of advocates, experts, and policymakers to move the ball on reform
  • Advised on the full spectrum of health: prevention to recovery, access to quality, public to private
8/2024 - 8/2025
Dept. of Homeland Security · Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction
Secret Clearance
Policy Advisor

Strengthening biodefense and health security as lead on policy projects

  • Synthesized frontier science, intelligence assessments, and political developments to develop CWMD policy priorities
  • Aligned legislative authorities, executive direction, and technical capabilities in CWMD policy frameworks to scaffold mission capabilities
  • Advanced CWMD interests in interagency forums, including the National Security Council and Office of Science and Technology Policy, and interdepartmental workgroups
1/2024 - 8/2024
Freelance · Catalyst for Payment Reform
Health Policy Consultant

Advising on legislative strategy with qualitative and quantitative data analysis

  • Distilled actionable insights from complex datasets to deliver engaging executive-level briefings
  • Advised on coalition strategies to advance state-specific policy reforms reducing health care costs
  • Reinforced marketing communications with original data analysis and compelling data visualizations
1/2020 - 8/2023
University of Texas Health Science Center
Doctoral Researcher & Instructor

Producing the evidence basis for health policy and Instructor for Health Law & Policy

  • Performed 50-state legal analyses to create statistical evidence for policy reform
  • Earned $2,000+ in awards for science and policy presentations
  • Prepared 481 undergraduate-level students for careers in public health across 5 curricula
RESUME →

Work

Projects, Publications & Press

Skills

Tools & Capabilities

Policy

Policy

  • Policy development & analysis
  • Legislative strategy
  • 50-state policy surveillance
Science

Science

  • Statistical modeling & evaluation
  • Emerging technology analysis
  • Data visualization
Communication

Communication

  • Coalition-building
  • Mentorship
  • Science communication

Connect

Get in touch

Shane Reader is always glad to meet stakeholders, collaborators, and thinkers.

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