Dayadevi (Daya) Jirage
About Dayadevi (Daya) Jirage
Dayadevi (Daya) Jirage is a Scientific Review Officer at the National Institutes of Health, where she oversees review committee meetings and works to identify meritorious science for funding. She has extensive experience in vaccine research and development, having held various positions at notable institutions including Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and Leidos.
Current Role at National Institutes of Health
Dayadevi Jirage serves as a Scientific Review Officer at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the Center for Scientific Review since 2021. In this role, she oversees review committee meetings and generates summary statements that encapsulate the reviews provided by study section members. She is responsible for selecting scientists for scientific review group service and assigning applications to reviewers. Additionally, she collaborates with the scientific community to identify high-quality research for funding by NIH institutes and centers.
Previous Experience in Vaccine Research
Prior to her current position, Dayadevi Jirage worked in various roles related to vaccine research. She was a Portfolio Manager for Vaccines for Bacterial Diarrhea at Leidos from 2013 to 2016 and at General Dynamics Information Technology from 2016 to 2017. She also served as a Senior Scientist in the Department of Shigella subunit vaccines at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research from 2012 to 2013 and in the Division of Bacterial Diseases from 2010 to 2012. Her experience spans multiple organizations focused on vaccine development and research.
Educational Background and Qualifications
Dayadevi Jirage completed her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at the University of Madras from 1985 to 1988. She furthered her education with a Master of Science in Biochemistry at the same university from 1988 to 1990. Jirage earned her Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Maryland College Park, where she studied from 1994 to 1999. Her educational background provides a strong foundation for her work in scientific review and vaccine research.
Research Experience and Contributions
Dayadevi Jirage has extensive research experience, having worked as a Research Scientist at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in various capacities, including a National Research Council Fellow from 2005 to 2008 and as a Senior Scientist in the Division of Experimental Therapeutics from 2008 to 2009. She also served as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research from 2003 to 2005. Her contributions to the field include overseeing significant research projects related to immunological therapies and vaccine development.
Role in Scientific Review and Federal Oversight
In her capacity as a Scientific Review Officer, Dayadevi Jirage serves as the Designated Federal Official for the Small Business Applied Immunology and Vaccine Development study section. This section focuses on the evaluation of immunological therapies and diagnostics, ensuring that innovative scientific proposals receive appropriate review and consideration for funding. Her role is critical in maintaining the integrity and quality of the scientific review process at the NIH.