CCST S&T Policy Fellows

By Fernando Romero Galvan, CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellow, California Department of Water Resources. California’s Central Valley was once a shifting mosaic of wetlands and floodplains, where rivers spread across the land each winter and drew back each summer. That rhythm fed young salmon and sustained a way of life for the Native American […]

Originally published in “Inside Cal OES.” Written by Isabella Sardo, Analyst II, Organizational Performance Management, Cal OES About Cara Cara is a Bay Area native, born and raised in Oakland, California. Her parents are immigrants from China, and she is a first-generation college student. Cara attended the University of California, Berkeley for both undergraduate and […]

CCST’s 9th annual Science & Technology Week (March 2-6, 2026) 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. The week began with our first-ever Partnership Forum for California leaders and ended with a panel discussion on […]

Overview Start your science and technology policy career today, applications for the CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship are now open, due March 2nd. As Fellows, scientists, engineers, and social scientists spend one year in Sacramento, California, working as staff in the State Assembly, State Senate, a State Agency, or Offices of the Governor. Fellows […]

Message from CCST’s CEO On September 29, we hosted our 3rd annual Science Day with the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA). On behalf of CCST and CNRA, sincere thanks to the 400+ participants who joined us for Science Day 2025! This event is a shining example of what drives us, connecting state-level science and policy […]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — CCST’s 2024/25 Annual Report highlights a year of progress in bridging science and policy to help strengthen California’s future. The past year underscored the importance of our mission. As California faced evolving challenges—from year-round wildfire threats to the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence—CCST provided trusted, nonpartisan scientific guidance to inform policy decisions. […]

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 […]