Alyssa Picchini Schaffer, PhD, is a vice president and senior scientist at the Simons Foundation, where she directs the Neuroscience Collaborations and the Pivot Fellowship. Picchini Schaffer has a diverse background and expertise in neural stem cell biology, pharmacology, policy and media across business, government and academic sectors. She is passionate about fostering collaboration among multidisciplinary teams to address significant questions in neuroscience and effective science communication. Before joining the Simons Foundation, Picchini Schaffer was the scientific director of TEDMED, a division of TED focused on science, health and medicine. She earned her Ph.D. from Columbia University and is an alumna of the AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship. Outside of her work in science, Picchini Schaffer is a board member for The IDEAL School of Manhattan, an inclusive independent school in NYC, and board treasurer for the Heartbeat Music Project, an organization that offers music education for Navajo (Diné) K-12 students living on the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico.