Dr. Margaret Mellon, J.D., Ph.D. Director, Food and Environment Program, Union of Concerned Scientists A lawyer and biologist, Dr. Mellon is one of the nation's most respected independent experts on agricultural biotechnology. In addition to her role directing UCS's Food and Environment Program, Dr. Mellon is a visiting professor at the Vermont Law School. Prior to joining UCS in 1993, she was a program director for two national non-profit groups and a research fellow in molecular virology at Purdue University. In 1994, she was honored as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Since 2000, she has been appointed to two United States Department of Agriculture advisory committees on agricultural biotechnology. She has published widely on the potential environmental impacts of biotechnology applications.