CCST S&T Policy Fellows

Reflecting on 15 Years Now in its 16th year, the CCST Science and Technology Policy Fellowship has shaped the careers of 186 scientists—and counting—while strengthening California’s policies and serving as a model for other states. Now, as states are increasingly becoming laboratories for science policy, co-authors Bruce Alberts, Sarah Brady, Keleigh Friedrich, Amber Mace, and […]

Day One After a much-anticipated wait, our cohort of 14 PhD graduates came together at the California Council of Science and Technology headquarters in Sacramento in November 2024. During the month-long training, we learned the basics of how our state government operates within the legislative and executive branches. This was incredibly eye opening, coming from […]

CCST’s 8th annual Science & Technology Week (February 3-7, 2025) brought together policy leaders, science and technology experts, CCST champions, and our incredible network of partner institutions to discuss some of the state’s biggest challenges and opportunities. We partnered with the University of California, Office of the President (UCOP) Research & Innovation team for two panel […]

MEET THE NEW FELLOWS Introducing the 2025 CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows See where these talented PhD scientists will be spending their Fellowship year in California State Government. SACRAMENTO, CA—We are excited to introduce the 2025 Class of CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows. Now in its 16th year, the program places PhD level scientists, engineers, […]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Start your science policy career today, applications for the CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship are now open, due March 3rd. As Fellows, scientists, engineers, and social scientists spend one year in Sacramento working as staff in the State Assembly, State Senate, a State Agency, or Offices of the Governor. Fellows get […]

Profile by CCST Program Officer for Alumni Engagement Perry Gee, originally featured in the September 2024 CCST S&T Policy Fellows Alumni Newsletter and modified for publication here. Biswajit (“Bish”) Paul, PhD, is a 2017 CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellow alum who was placed with the California State Legislature, working with Assemblymember Evan Low and […]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Council on Science and Technology announced three additions to its senior staff today. Jason John, PhD, joins CCST as Deputy Director. He will oversee the expansion and coordination of CCST’s science services, communications and outreach, and the CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship program. John brings to CCST a wealth […]

There is one piece of career advice that has stuck with me over the years: you can only connect the dots looking backwards. As a perennial planner, I was initially resistant to this advice. How could I know what direction to head if I didn’t know where I was going? But looking backwards on my […]

Making a career transition is a journey filled with excitement and uncertainty. For me, the shift from academic research to the Senate Transportation Committee has been a transformative experience, opening new avenues for impact and professional growth. Reflecting on my time in the Legislature, I’ve captured insights from my year as a fellow, the challenges […]

SACRAMENTO, CA – After a decade of dedicated service and significant contributions at the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST), Brie Lindsey, Ph.D., will be departing her position as Interim Co-CEO and Director of Science Services in August. Lindsey has accepted a new role as Deputy Director of the California Ocean Science Trust, effective […]

Profile by CCST Program Officer for Alumni Engagement Perry Gee, originally featured in the Summer 2024 CCST S&T Policy Fellows Alumni Newsletter and modified for publication here with additional images. Dr. Tepring Piquado (’13) joined the National Science Policy Network (NSPN) in March 2024 as its first Executive Director. NSPN provides policy training, resources, and platforms […]

SACRAMENTO, CA – After nearly eight years of dedicated service and strategic leadership at the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST), Sarah Brady, Ph.D., will be departing her position as Interim CEO in early July. She has accepted a Governor’s Appointment to lead the Office of Governmental and International Affairs at the California Energy […]

So, what does neuroscience have to do with housing policy? For anyone trying to get to know me during my fellowship year, there’s been one constant, recurring question. Whether I’m talking to a Lyft driver and constituent, a potential policy mentor, or even if I’m having my teeth examined at the dentist, as soon as […]

SACRAMENTO, CA – The Board of Directors of the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) announced the selection of Julianne McCall, PhD, as CCST’s next chief executive officer. McCall, currently the Director of Precision Medicine in the California Governor’s Office of Planning & Research (OPR), will assume her new role on September 1, 2024. […]

Read Online (Interactive)  |  Download (PDF)   Vision from the Board Chair   As we look back on 35 years of making California’s policies stronger with science and technology, it’s clear that CCST has thrived because of the far-reaching support of our partners and their researchers. Through relationships with world-class experts, policymakers, philanthropic partners, and […]

CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship Placing PhD Scientists into Policy Careers Update (3/12/2024): The application for the CCST Science and Technology Policy Fellowship has closed. Applications will reopen on December 1st for the next class year. SACRAMENTO, Calif.—The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) is accepting applications for the CCST Science & Technology […]

It’s the Journey, Not the Destination It’s time for the walls that separate scientists from each other and the outside world to come down. This sentiment echoed throughout AAAS 2024 and served as the theme for the conference, “Toward science without walls.” Chosen by AAAS President Keith Yamamoto, he emphasized his careful choice of words, […]

  WATCH All About the CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship Informational Webinar and Live Q&A with Alumni Are you exploring career options where you can use your PhD to have a real world policy impact? Watch this webinar to learn more about the CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship, where PhD scientists, social scientists, […]

MEET THE NEW FELLOWS Introducing the 2024 CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows See where these talented PhD scientists will be spending their Fellowship year in California State Government. SACRAMENTO, CA—We are excited to introduce the 2024 Class of CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows. Now celebrating 15 years of Fellows, the program places PhD level scientists, […]

In 2023, CCST celebrated 35 years of strengthening California policy with science. Along the way, we significantly grew our impact, achieved milestones years in the making, and embraced some big changes. This fall, after bidding farewell to our CEO and long-time champion Amber Mace, I stepped in as Interim CEO, and I’m more inspired than […]

  There are many ways that being a scientist can help prepare someone to work in a policy role, and I’ve come to see that my work both inside and outside of the lab helped set me up for success. Subject matter experts play an important role in state agencies and legislative policy committees. Having […]