J. Aura Gimm is an Army program manager for the Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (at MIT), and the Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies (at UCSB with Caltech/MIT) focused on nanoscience and nanomaterials basic research for soldier protection, and on bio-inspired materials and engineered biology basic research for future Army capabilities, respectively. Previously, she was an AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the Basic Research Office in the Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.
She received her doctorate in bioengineering from UCB and bachelors in chemical engineering and biology from MIT. Before coming to DoD, she was a Professor of Practice and the Associate Director for Undergraduate Studies in Biomedical Engineering at Duke University. Her expertise include biomaterials, nanobiotechnology, engineering design and engineering education.