Jennifer Wagner

Jennifer Wagner is an Assistant Professor of Law, Policy, and Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania, affiliated with the Perelman School of Medicine's Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics. She also serves as a Research Associate at Penn CIGHT (Center for the Integration of Genetic Healthcare Technologies). Her research focuses on the intersections of genomics, ethics, AI governance, and public health policy. She holds a K99/R00 NIH award for her work on race, ancestry, and discrimination. Previously, she held a visiting assistant professorship at Duke University’s Department of Cultural Anthropology and conducted postdoctoral research at Duke’s Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy.

Her research explores topics such as AI ethics in healthcare, genetic privacy, and the societal impacts of DNA technology. She also maintains a private law practice in State College, PA, emphasizing regulatory and policy-related legal work. Key contributions include developing ethical guidelines for genetic ancestry testing and advocating for equitable data practices in precision medicine.

Wagner’s articles address cutting-edge issues like synthetic data governance, facial recognition technology ethics, and the legal implications of CRISPR therapies. Her work frequently bridges academic disciplines, aiming to shape policies that balance innovation with societal responsibility.