In an era of global turbulence and uncertainty, professionals need access to multidisciplinary intelligence and expertise that helps them navigate significant technological, economic, political, and societal change. 

The Data Catalyst Institute (DCI) analyses complex battles at the intersection of innovation, business, the law, and public opinion by synthesizing insights from original research and our unique community of academics, analysts, and practitioners. 

Leaders use DCI’s intelligence and experts to “see around corners” when they need novel solutions and strategies for complex situations, enabling them to minimize risk and maximize their opportunities. 

DCI is part of the RXN Group.

Staff

Dr. Mark Drapeau serves as Editor In Chief of the Data Catalyst Institute, a research organization working to inform and shape policies that provide meaningful business and consumer protection while promoting economic and social good. He is also Partner and Chief Research Officer at the RXN Group. He and his team provide insights at the intersection of innovation, business, government, and public opinion to help leaders navigate an increasingly complex and uncertain world.

Dr. Drapeau is a science and technology leader with over 20 years’ experience working across the academic, government, and private sectors. Much of his career has focused on connecting technology trends, innovative thinking, and foresight research with senior decision makers inside the government, major corporations, and nonprofit organizations. He previously held senior research and strategy positions with Atlantic Media and New York-based agency Sub Rosa, and served as an advisor to POLITICO. Prior to that, he worked at Microsoft in Washington, DC on a national portfolio of innovative projects. Before that, he held AAAS and NIH postdoctoral fellowships at the U.S. Defense Department’s Center for Technology and National Security Policy at National Defense University and the New York University Center for Developmental Genetics, respectively. He has a BS in Biology from the University of Rochester and a PhD in Biology from the University of California – Irvine.

Dr. Drapeau’s biological research with a focus on genetics, evolution, and behavior has been published in peer-reviewed journals including Nature, Genetics, Evolution, Evolutionary Ecology Research, Genome Research, Journal of Neurobiology, Journal of Biological Rhythms, and Experimental Gerontology. In the area of national security and military strategy, his research has been published by Defense Horizons and Defense & Technology Papers, and he is the co-editor of the book Bio-Inspired Innovation and National Security (2010). More recently, his research on the economics of small businesses was published in the journal Entrepreneurship & Regional Development.

More broadly, Dr. Drapeau’s opinion writing has been published by Science, The New York Times, The Washington Times, The Fletcher Forum of World Affairs, RealClearMarkets, PBS MediaShift, Washington Life Magazine, DC Journal, American Scientist, The Scientist, BioScience, HuffPost, Mashable, O’Reilly Radar, and other publications.

Staff

Lilly Gillespie is a Senior Research Analyst at RXN Group. She previously worked at a polling firm as an analyst for electoral and private sector research projects. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude from Washington and Lee University with a BA in Politics and Romance languages.

Staff

Emma O’Rourke is a Senior Research Analyst at RXN Group. She previously held positions at The Cadmus Group, Nathan Associates, and S&P Global. O’Rourke has a Master’s Degree in Development Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a Bachelor’s in Political Science and Government  from Monmouth University.

Senior Research Fellow

Ezra Butler was a Senior Research Fellow at the Data Catalyst Institute (2024) with a focus on technology, media, and popular culture. He has spent his career as an independent consultant focused on designing innovative technology. He also writes a weekly newsletter, Colorphilia, where he researches color-related topics like the history of  “red tape”, the origin of “blue laws”, and the color of wine in antiquity. He had previously been the U.S. Editor for The Kernel. Ezra received his B.A. in Computer Science from Yeshiva University in New York, and studied for an M.A. in History of Comparative Religion at Bar-Ilan University in Israel.

Graduate Research Fellow

Shanthi Ramakrishna was a Graduate Research Fellow at the Data Catalyst Institute (2023-2024) and an MA student at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies with a concentration in Development, Climate, and Sustainability. At DCI, her work focused on analyses of small business retail and U.S. political donations. Ramakrishna holds a BA in Political Science with a minor in Economics from Johns Hopkins University.

Senior Research Fellow

Hitha Herzog was a Senior Research Fellow at the Data Catalyst Institute (2022-2024) with a focus on retail. She also serves as the Chief Research Officer of H Squared Research LLC in New York, a boutique market research firm that provides timely, relevant, and actionable consumer and retail research to clients. Herzog is also an Adjunct Professor at Parsons School of Design, where she teaches courses on social commerce and communication/social media. She was previously a business journalist with stints at Fox Business, Bloomberg, Time Inc., CNBC, and Forbes. Herzog is the author of Black Market Billions: How Organized Retail Crime Funds Terrorists (2011). She has a B.A. in Philosophy and Economics from Smith College (including a year stint at the London School of Economics) and an M.A. from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Graduate Research Fellow

Serena Ruedas was a Graduate Research Fellow at the Data Catalyst Institute (2023) and a JD student at the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, where her studies focused on gaming law, corporate governance, and securities law. Her work at DCI focused on trends in sports wagering and gaming markets within the United States, specifically emerging gaming and payment technologies, advertising, and legislative and regulatory oversight in the field. Serena has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management with a minor in Philosophy from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

Senior Research Fellow

Dr. Liad Wagman was a Senior Research Fellow at the Data Catalyst Institute (2022), where he was a frequent contributor of both research reports and short pieces with a focus on competition and antitrust. He currently serves as the John and Mae Calamos Dean Endowed Chair and professor of economics at the Stuart School of Business at Illinois Tech in Chicago. He also previously served as Senior Economic and Technology Advisor of the Federal Trade Commission’s Office of Policy Planning. Dr. Wagman works on topics in the areas of information economics, industrial organization, law and economics, and entrepreneurship, studying issues concerning market competition and antitrust, data utilization and privacy, innovation, and new venture financing. He has an M.A. and Ph.D. in Economics from Duke, an M.S. in Computer Science from Stanford, and a B.S. / B.A. in Computer Science and Mathematics from the University of North Carolina.

Senior Research Fellow

Jonathan Askin was a Senior Research Fellow at the Data Catalyst Institute (2022), with a focus on internet law. He currently serves as Professor of Clinical Law at Brooklyn Law School in New York, teaching technology, telecommunications, and entrepreneurial law and policy. He is also the Founder/Director of the Brooklyn Law Incubator & Policy Clinic (BLIP) and the Innovation Catalyst for the Center for Urban Business Entrepreneurship (CUBE). Professor Askin was previously Fulbright Scholar at the University of Amsterdam, Visiting Professor at MIT Media Lab, and Visiting Professorial Fellow at Queen Mary University of London. He has an A.B. from Harvard and a J.D. from Rutgers Law School.

Graduate Research Fellow

Ben Kent was a Graduate Research Fellow at the Data Catalyst Institute (2022) while an MBA student at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business in Washington, DC. He also serves as a Marine reserve officer, currently assigned to the Marine Innovation Unit (MIU). His work at DCI focused on the intersection of the defense industry and digital innovation. Kent has a B.A. in Public Policy from Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy.

Graduate Research Fellow

Parker Bovée was a Graduate Research Fellow at the Data Catalyst Institute (2022) while an MPP student at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy. His work at DCI focused on the growth of the gaming and sports gambling industry via digital platforms and apps. Bovée has B.A. in History from UC-Berkeley.

Graduate Research Fellow

R.T. Rogers was a Graduate Research Fellow at the Data Catalyst Institute (2022) while an MPA student at Cornell’s Brooks School with a focus on Science, Technology, and Infrastructure Policy. His work at DCI focused on tech policy in Washington, DC – specifically antitrust, data privacy, and content moderation. Rogers has B.A. in Philosophy with a minor in Economics from Rollins College in Winter Park, FL.

To get in touch:

Journalist inquiries: media at datacatalyst dot org

All others: contact at datacatalyst dot org