Adeline Williams

Adeline Williams serves as an associate biological scientist at RAND and adjunct faculty in the Biology Department at Montgomery College, where she teaches Introduction to Microbiology. Her work focuses on strengthening biosecurity and public health preparedness through the intersection of molecular biology, emerging biotechnologies, and infectious disease epidemiology, primarily via RAND's Meselson Center dedicated to mitigating biological threats.

Her educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Microbiology from Colorado State University
• MPH in Infectious Disease Epidemiology from Yale University
• BS/BA in Public Health and English from Tulane University

Williams' research centers on biosurveillance systems, AI-enabled biology applications, dual-use research concerns, and outbreak response strategies. Her prior NIH work investigated molecular mechanisms of vector-borne diseases (Zika, malaria) to develop transmission-blocking tools, while current projects address AI-pathogen design risks, federal biosecurity program gaps, and wastewater surveillance sustainability.

Her 2024-2025 publications reveal a critical focus on proactive biosecurity policy, examining AI limitations in pathogen design, regulatory frameworks for dual-use research, and infrastructure resilience for pandemic threats. This body of work consistently emphasizes evidence-based interventions for emerging biological risks.

At Montgomery College, Williams delivers lecture and laboratory instruction in microbiology. Her RAND affiliation with the Meselson Center positions her at the forefront of biological threat reduction, analyzing early detection systems and response protocols for outbreaks while navigating the complex landscape of AI-enabled biology and dual-use research governance.