Nucleus Awards
2026 Convener Award
Rebecca L. Grant, DVM
Senior Director of Life Sciences and Innovation, City of Philadelphia’s Department of Commerce
Dr. Rebecca L. Grant is the Senior Director of Life Sciences and Innovation for the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Commerce, where she leads initiatives that strengthen the region’s life sciences ecosystem and drive innovation, collaboration, and economic growth.
She earned both her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from Tuskegee University before beginning her career as a small animal physician in Knoxville, Tennessee. She later completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Laboratory Animal Medicine at the R W Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute (Johnson & Johnson) and went on to spend nearly 14 years at the University of Pennsylvania as Director of the Nonhuman Primate Research Program in Dr Jim Wilson’s Gene Therapy Program.
After a brief transition to elementary education, Dr Grant returned to research, managing Dr Susan Margulies’ bioengineering laboratories at Emory University and Georgia Tech. There, she helped establish laboratory operations and advance research on mild traumatic brain injury in youth. She later held leadership positions with Charles River Laboratories and Philly’s Cambridge Innovation Center before joining the City of Philadelphia, where she continues to champion the growth and impact of the region’s thriving life sciences community.
A passionate advocate for Philadelphia’s innovation economy, Dr Grant encourages organizations, entrepreneurs, and researchers to "Catch Up to the Future in Philadelphia," reflecting her commitment to positioning the city as a global leader in life sciences and biotechnology.
Convener Award
Recognizes an individual or organization that has generated new ideas or solutions through collaboration, placemaking or unique introductions. The awardee has removed barriers to connect assets, resources and strengths of diverse people and organizations to advance civic interests and improve lives.
2026 Convener Award sponsor
The Nucleus Awards
Join us September 29, 2026 to celebrate leaders in our region who convene the community, commercialize promising technology and cultivate the future of STEM, during our biggest night of the year.
