Dr. Nataliya Shok is an accomplished academic with over 10 years of transdisciplinary experience in health and science policy research. Holding dual PhDs in political science and the history of science and technology, Dr. Shok brings a deep understanding of the complex intersections between these fields. As a seasoned program manager, she possesses strong analytical skills and a wealth of experience in policy development, strategic planning, and communications. She has effectively blended administrative leadership and teaching at prestigious medical schools in Russia and Kazakhstan. In 2019, she enriched her expertise as a visiting scholar at Wake Forest University. Throughout her career, she has contributed to and led multiple research projects across academia, government, and civil society organizations, demonstrating her commitment to advancing impactful policy solutions.
Currently, Dr. Nataliya Shok serves as an adjunct associate professor at Georgetown School of Medicine and as a Public Policy Fellow at the Wilson Center. Her work centers on vaccine diplomacy, biosecurity, public health, and science policies related to pandemic preparedness, climate change, and geopolitics.
Dr. Shok firmly believes that the most significant research breakthroughs occur at the intersection of disciplines. By embracing an interdisciplinary approach, she skillfully integrates insights from comparative policy analysis, history, bioethics, international relations, and strategic studies. This holistic perspective fosters innovative solutions that transcend traditional boundaries and address today’s most pressing global challenges.
At Georgetown, Dr. Nataliya Shok teaches in the Graduate Program in Biohazardous Threat Agents & Emerging Infectious Diseases, as well as in the Graduate Program in Biomedical Science Policy and Advocacy. In addition, she leads a Russia-focused team within a project on COVID-19 public health management in Asia, Russia, and Oceania, initiated by Dr. Tomoko Steen. Nataliya's team investigates Russian approaches to global health and their implications for health security and future pandemic preparedness amid strategic competition.
Dr. Shok also conducts research on Arctic science diplomacy and global health risks associated with climate change, collaborating with the Center for Transformational Health Law at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law.
At the Wilson Center, she is developing a research project on Russian foreign policy, analyzing and mapping Russia's global strategies, including private sector engagements, in regions like Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia with an emphasis on global health, climate change and digital technologies. Through her multifaceted work, she is committed to advancing understanding and solutions to critical global challenges.
Her articles and op-eds have appeared in wilsonquarterly.com ; thehill.com ; Kennan Cable series, and other publications. She guest edited series for the Council on Foreign Relations and special issue for Monash Bioethics Review . She was invited to speak on podcasts KennanX (hosted by CNN journalist Jill Dougerty) and Russian file (hosted by Kennan Institute).
Her research findings became a subject of visiting lectures and talks across America and Europe – Cornell University, Wake Forest University, University of Notre Dame, Arizona State University, Ohio State University, Brussels School of Governance, Ulm University, Asfendiyarov Medical University, etc.