Dominique Carter

Dominique Carter

VP of Food & Nutrition Affairs
Food Minds

Dr. Dominique Carter is an experienced interdisciplinary scientist who has worked in agriculture, the environment, the economy, and policy. She is regarded as a cross-functional thought leader, innovator, and science communicator, with leadership experiences at organizations including the Council on Foreign Relations, the Atlantic Council, the US Department of State, and the US Department of Agriculture. Dr. Carter is the Vice President of Food & Nutrition Affairs, a Food Leader Fellow at The Aspen Institute, and a Team Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, highlighting her expertise and cross-cutting knowledge. Dr. Carter was recently recognized with the 2024 Black Women in Food Trailblazer Award for her dedication to the field.

Selected Publications: 

Armstrong, R., Carter, D., Atkinson, S. N., et al., 2018. Association of Mycobacterium proteins to lipid droplets, Journal of Bacteriology, 200(16). https://doi.org/10.1128/JB.00240-18

Greseth, M. D., Carter, D., Terhune, S., & Traktman, R., 2017. Proteomic Screen for Cellular Targets of the Vaccinia Virus F10 Protein Kinase Reveals that Phosphorylation of mDia Regulates Stress Fiber Formation, Molecular & Cellular Protemics, 16(4). https://doi.org/10.1074/mcp.M116.065003

Carter, D., Westdorp, K., Noon, K. R., & Terhune, S., 2015. Proteomic Identification of Nuclear Processes Manipulated by Cytomegalovirus Early during Infection, Proteomics, 15(12). https://doi.org/10.1002/pmic.201400599

Carter, D., 2011. Race and Anomie: A Comparison of Crime Among Rural Whites and Urban Blacks Based on Social Structural Conditions, Sociology. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1305

Early Life and Education: 

Dr. Dominique Carter is a Chicago native and attended St. Norbert College for her BS in Chemistry and Biochemistry. She holds a PhD in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics from the Medical College of Wisconsin and a certificate in Women’s Leadership from the Yale School of Management. She became interested in agriculture at the end of her graduate studies, where she realized her combined passions in scientific discovery and innovation and science policy.

Career: 

During her graduate studies, Dr. Carter worked as a Graduate Research Assistant at the Medical College of Wisconsin (2012-2016), studying proteomics using multidisciplinary approaches. This involved designing and conducting experiments and developing a standard operating procedure (SOP) document for all protein mass spectrometry analyses in the lab. Upon earning her PhD, she joined Exact Sciences as a Medical Affairs Research Fellow (2016). In the role, she authored a manuscript on patient compliance and adherence to help the National Colorectal Screening Roundtable achieve its goal of reaching 80% screening participation among US adults. Her work included a multi-target stool DNA screening test in the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS).stoolDNA screening test in the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS). In 2017, Dr. Carter joined Pharmaceutical Product Development, LLC as a Senior Scientist, where she analyzed pharmaceutical products and ensured adherence to regulations. Dr. Carter was selected to work for Fed Tech as an Entrepreneur 2018. As part of Fed Tech, a private venture program founded by federal agencies, she was paired with a federal agency to work on business models, product development, and research and development.

Dr. Carter was selected as an inaugural Global Innovation Fellow for the US-China Youth Forum on Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Economic Opportunities as part of the US Department of State (2017-2018). She engaged with other entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders worldwide as part of the program. During this time, she also served as an AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow at the National Science Foundation, where she supported the Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE) within the Office of the Director (OD) (2017-2019). As a Fellow, she identified areas for collaboration within the international science community and drafted recommendations for partnership by defining countries' scientific and technological landscapes. Such work highlighted her interdisciplinary expertise in science policy, entrepreneurialism, research, and collaboration. Dr. Carter joined the USDA within the Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) as an Agricultural Science Advisor in 2019. As an Agricultural Science Advisor, she drew on her previous experiences and scientific training to develop policy and guide agricultural research. She served in the role for two years until 2021, when she was selected as a Millennium Leadership Fellow by the Atlantic Council, regarded as one of the most competitive programs in the world for young leaders in international affairs. In the fellowship program, she learned additional methods for fostering community and making a meaningful impact alongside other global leaders. During the fellowship (2021-2022), she also worked as the Assistant Director of Agricultural Sciences, Innovation, and Workforce at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (2021-2023). In the role, she advised the director and senior staff on policy related to agriculture and science. Dr. Carter also worked to advance DEI in the agricultural, technical, and scientific workforces.

Dr. Carter currently serves on the Council of Foreign Relations (2020-present), as a Food Leader Fellow at The Aspen Institue (2023-present), and the Vice President of Food & Nutrition Affairs at FoodMind (2023-present). Dr. Carter interacts with foreign policy experts at the Council on Foreign Relations and participates in cohort events to advance international affairs. As a fellow at The Aspen Institute, she joins other food leaders across disciplines in promoting collaboration and scalable change. Furthermore, as Vice President of Food & Nutrition Affairs, she collaborates with food and beverage companies to guide food and nutrition policy. In the role, she also secures new clients and oversees several FoodMinds accounts. Dr. Carter also serves on the Strategic Advisory Board of Sustainable Initiatives and Alliances for Africa (SIA-Africa), the Harvard Business Review, and the NSBE DC Professionals as the Professional Development Chair.

Throughout her career, she has encountered challenges, including needing to be more recognized and utilized despite having impressive skills and knowledge. However, these experiences have taught her to speak up, demonstrate her skillsets, and seek professional mentorship to help further her development.

Advice to Young Professionals: 

Dr. Carter advises young professionals, especially women wanting to enter agriculture, to advocate for themselves and develop skills through various opportunities. She also highlights the importance of mentorship and networking in identifying opportunities. Most importantly, she reminds young professionals to take up space and "do not minimize yourself for the convenience of others" (Wright, 2020).

Sources: 

About Me. (n.d.). Dominique Carter, PhD. Retrieved April 25, 2024 from https://about.me/drdomcarter

Dominique Carter, PhD. (n.d.). LinkedIn. Retrieved April 25, 2024 from https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdomcarter/

Wright, J., 2020. In Conversation with #WomeninAg: Dr. Dominique Carter. USDA. Retrieved April 25, 2024 from https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2020/03/27/conversation-womeninag-dr-dom...

Wright, J., 2020. In Conversation with #WomeninAg: Dr. Dominique Carter [Photo]. USDA. Retrieved April 25, 2024 from https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2020/03/27/conversation-womeninag-dr-dom...

Photo Credit: 

Wright, J., 2020. In Conversation with #WomeninAg: Dr. Dominique Carter [Photo]. USDA. Retrieved April 25, 2024 from https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2020/03/27/conversation-womeninag-dr-dom... 

Last Updated: 
7/2/2024