CCST S&T Policy Fellows

Alumni Profile: Bish Paul (’17) Pays it Forward Through Science, Policy, and Advocacy
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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 […]
CCST Fills Key Director Roles with Three New Hires
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 […]
Charting My Policy Path: Connecting the Past to Drive a Sustainable Environmental Future
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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 […]
Trusting My Instincts: Taking the Leap from Postdoc to Policy
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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 […]
CCST’s Brie Lindsey, PhD, Hired as Deputy Director at California Ocean Science Trust
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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 […]
Alumni Profile: Tepring Piquado ’13 Leads National Science Policy Network as First Executive Director
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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 […]
Interim CEO Sarah Brady, PhD, Transitioning to Governor’s Appointment with California Energy Commission
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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 […]
How a Neuroscientist Approaches Housing Policy
A graphic featuring the headshot of Max in a suite and tie standing in front of the California State Capitol, smiling, with the title of the blog in gold and white font on a blue background, along with CCST's logo and a 15 year anniversary Fellows seal on a white background.
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 […]
Julianne McCall, PhD, Named Next CEO of CCST
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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. […]
CCST Annual Report 2023
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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 […]
Update: Applications for the CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship Have Closed
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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 […]
Toward Science (and Science Policy) without Walls
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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
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  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, […]
Introducing the 2024 CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows
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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, […]
Highlights from CCST’s 35th Year + 2024 Preview
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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 […]
How Extracurriculars Shaped my Policy Career – ’23 Fellow Stephanie Mitchell, PhD
Spending time doing any kind of outreach or advocacy is great practice in confronting cognitive biases, finding how to reframe issues, and getting comfortable meeting new people
  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 […]
The Room Where it Happens: Q&A with ‘23 Fellow Jeanmarie Gonzalez, PhD
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  Where are you placed? I’m working in the office of Senator Maria Elena Durazo, who represents neighborhoods in the City of Los Angeles for the 26th District. I staff her on policy issues that are addressed in the following Senate committees: Energy, Utilities, and Communications; Transportation; Agriculture; and Health. I’m also staffing several bills […]
Four Roles I Played in the Legislature: ’23 Fellow Theresa Keates, PhD
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Making a Big Career Change After years of crafting my skills as a scientific researcher — refining my techniques, feeling confident in my workflow from reading papers to collecting data in the field, and completing my PhD — I was excited (and a little nervous!) to embark on this new science policy journey. I think I can […]
Embracing a Sense of Community: ’23 Fellow Ope Oyewole on Path from PhD to Policy
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  Reflecting on my life’s journey so far, I realize there is a common thread throughout that has guided and supported me along the way—a sense of community. I’ve been lucky to have and develop supportive communities around me at every stage of my academic and policy career. My close-knit friendships during college in Oklahoma, […]
Q&A: From Polymers to Policy with 2023 Fellow Sophia Chan, PhD
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  What did you study in grad school and why did you decide to go into policy? I earned my PhD in Chemical Engineering at Columbia University, where I studied nanotechnology and polymers to make carbon capture more efficient. But I remember the moment when I realized I needed to go into environmental and climate […]
CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship Meets $30 Million Endowment Goal, Thanks to $10 Million from State Budget
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  CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship Meets $30 Million Endowment Goal, Thanks to $10 Million from State Budget Historic State investment affirms value and impact of the CCST Fellowship, as the program enters its 15th year of delivering scientific expertise to policymakers   California just made a historic move to help ensure that science […]