Yvette Pittman, Ph.D.

Yvette R. Pittman, Ph.D., was appointed DiPHR deputy director in December 2022. She provides oversight and leadership to a multidisciplinary research program in population-based science. She also assists the director in all budgetary, research, and personnel matters related to the three DiPHR branches (Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Epidemiology, and Social and Behavioral Sciences) and the Contraception Development Program.

Dr. Pittman began her NICHD career as a postdoctoral fellow. She moved to a science administration role within the NIH Intramural Research Program at the end of her fellowship, to pursue her strong commitment to training the next generation of scientists as the associate director of the Office of Education. She became the director of the office, the intramural training director, and a senior advisory to the NICHD scientific director in 2017. In 2020, Dr. Pittman moved to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), where she served as director for the Office of Research Training and Career Development in the Division of Intramural Research. She was also the intramural training director and a senior advisor to the NINDS scientific director.

In her work for both NINDS and NICHD, Dr. Pittman has overseen all the operations and budget for intramural training and has developed various policies and programs focused on mentoring while providing career advice for many trainees to support their professional development. She has also led many of the outreach and diversity initiatives at both institutes, with the goal to train and support a diverse cohort of individuals traditionally underrepresented in science.

Dr. Pittman earned her B.S. in biology from Delaware State University in 2002. After graduating, she went on to receive her Ph.D. in molecular genetics, microbiology, and immunology at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and Rutgers University.