CCST S&T Policy Fellows

Top Five Lessons Learned: Delivering a Virtual Fellows Training Program During COVID-19
Title Card Top 5 Lessons Learned with photo of Jeffery Song
Jeffery Song is the CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows Program Manager. In this role, he provides end-to-end administration of all aspects of the Fellowship program, from recruitment and selection to training and coordinating placements. Jeffery worked most recently as a Transportation Policy Postdoctoral Researcher at University of California – Davis. Prior to that, he […]
Update: The 2022 Application Cycle is Now Closed
Fellows Application for 2022 Class Photo and banner
  SACRAMENTO, Calif. | CONTACT: Jeffery Song The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) is seeking PhD scientists and engineers for a year of public service and government leadership training in the California State Legislature and California state agencies.  Applications are Due March 1st. CCST is recruiting and accepting applications for the 2022 Class of CCST Science & […]
Introducing the 2021 class of CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows
2021 CCST S&T Policy Fellows group shot
  SACRAMENTO, CA—We are excited to introduce the 2021 Class of CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows. Now celebrating its 12th year, the program places PhD level scientists and engineers in Legislative and Executive Branch offices, training them for careers in public policy while helping to equip California’s decision makers with science-savvy staff. Applications are currently being […]
Update: The 2022 Application Cycle is Now Closed
Fellows Application for 2022 Class Photo and banner
SACRAMENTO, Calif. | CONTACT: Jeffery Song Start your application today. CCST is seeking PhD scientists and engineers for a year of public service and government leadership training in the California State Legislature and California state agencies.  Applications are Due March 1st. The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) is recruiting and accepting applications for the 2022 Class of CCST […]
Asking the Right Questions: Identifying Racial Disparities in Policy and Research
Asking the Right Questions, by Maria Montchal
Maria Montchal is a 2020 CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellow who was placed in the California State Senate Environmental Quality Committee. Maria received a PhD in Biological Sciences from UC Irvine. From New Jersey, Maria’s dissertation work focused on understanding how the brain allows us to remember when events occurred. She received a BA in […]
Confronting History: The Racist Myths Behind WWII-Era Chemical Experiments
Confronting History, by Grayson Doucette '20
Grayson Doucette is a 2020 CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellow who was placed in the California State Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water. Grayson received a PhD in Materials Science from Penn State University. His dissertation focused on controlling how molecules interact with one another to learn what makes a more efficient next […]
Update: Applications for 2022 Cycle Closed: CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship Program
Fellows Application for 2022 Class Photo and banner
CCST is seeking PhD scientists and engineers for a year of public service and government leadership training in the California State Legislature and California state agencies. SACRAMENTO, Calif. | CONTACT: Jeffery Song The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) is now recruiting and accepting applications for the 2022 Class of CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows. Completed applications are due […]
Watch: CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship Informational Webinar
Now available to watch. Join CCST, current Fellows, and Alumni for an informational webinar and Q&A session on the CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship. Applications for the 2022 class open Dec. 1st, 2020. Each year the CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows program recruits a cohort of fifteen PhD scientists and engineers for a […]
Register Now: CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship Informational Webinar
Graphic with details on the upcoming CCST Science Fellows webinar on 10/15
REGISTER NOW Each year the CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows program recruits a cohort of fifteen PhD scientists and engineers for a year of public service and leadership training within the California State Legislature and Executive Branch. In this webinar, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about the CCST Science Fellows program and how […]
An update on our organizational action plan to promote equity and counter racism
Message from Executive Director Header Banner
Ahmaud Arbery. Breonna Taylor. George Floyd. David McAtee. Rayshard Brooks. Their killings have brought viscerally to light again the continued racism and violence toward Black people. Over the past month, we have been reflecting as an organization and as members of our communities to identify what actions we can take to promote equity and counter racism. My CCST […]
Q&A: My Public Health Placement in the Time of COVID-19
Ken McCullough Blog Q&A
Ken McCullough is currently a 2020 CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellow, part of the first class to include Executive Branch placements. Ken received a PhD in Neuroscience from Emory University. Raised in Arizona, Ken studied the neurobiology of fear and PTSD for his dissertation, then chronic stress, depression and sleep at Harvard. He received […]
Measuring the Sierra Snowpack to Predict Water Availability for California
Rae Eaton Snow Survey Blog
Rae Eaton is currently a CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellow placed in the California Natural Resources Agency. She received a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Washington, where she researched and developed new tools for scientists studying human diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Rae also holds BAs in Chemistry and Biochemistry from Oberlin College. […]
CCST Science Fellows Alumni Publish Career Guide for Science Policy
Science Policy Career Guide
DOWNLOAD THE CAREER GUIDE A Career Guide for Science Policy was developed by CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows alumni, including Sydney Chamberlin, Julianne McCall, and John Thompson. The career guide can be downloaded here. CCST is attending the 2020 AAAS Annual Meeting in Seattle, where we organized two events for attendees in conjunction with […]
UPDATE: CCST at 2020 AAAS Annual Meeting in Seattle: Expert Wildfire Panel, Career Workshop with Career Guide
CCST at AAAS 2020
UPDATE 2/15: A Career Guide for Science Policy was developed by CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows alumni and can be downloaded here. CCST is attending the 2020 AAAS Annual Meeting in Seattle, where they are organizing two events for attendees in conjunction with our partners and the CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellow alumni. […]
MARCH 1st: Applications Due for CCST’s Science & Technology Policy Fellowship in Sacramento
CCST Science Fellows Less than One Month
CCST is seeking PhD scientists and engineers for a year of public service and government leadership training in the California State Legislature AND California State Executive Branch. SACRAMENTO, Calif. The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) is accepting applications for the 2021 Class of our CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows. Completed applications are due by 11:59 pm PST on March […]
CCST introduces expanded class of 2020 CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows, now placed in the Legislative and Executive Branch
Meet Our 2020 CCST Science Fellows
Interested in becoming a CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellow? CCST is currently accepting applications for the 2021 class year until March 1st. SACRAMENTO, CA—We are proud to introduce the 2020 Class of CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows — a program that trains scientists and engineers for careers in public policy, while helping to equip California’s decision […]
From Microbiome to Life in Sacramento: Q&A with Fellows Alumna Pajau Vangay, PhD
Q&A: From Microbiome to Life in Sacramento with Pajau Vangay, PhD (2019)
About Pajau: Originally from central California, Pajau received her PhD in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology from the University of Minnesota. Her research focused on the human gut microbiome with respect to chronic disease development and specifically in US refugees. Prior to graduate school, she worked as a software engineer in San Francisco and received degrees […]
Now Open: Applications for CCST’s Science & Technology Policy Fellowship in Sacramento
The CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship application is now open.
CCST is seeking PhD scientists and engineers for a year of public service and government leadership training in the California State Legislature AND California state agencies. SACRAMENTO, Calif. | CONTACT: Jeffery Song The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) is now accepting applications for the 2021 Class of our CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows. Completed applications are due by 11:59 […]
An Astrophysicist in the Legislature
Sydney Blog Social Image
About Sydney Sydney Chamberlin is a 2019 CCST Science Fellow. Sydney received a PhD in Physics from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In her research, she contributed to the first detections of gravitational waves, tiny cosmic ripples that carry vital information about the contents and evolution of the universe. She most recently served as a postdoctoral […]
VIDEO: CCST Science Fellows Program Webinar 2019
9.26.19 Fellows Webinar Cover slide
Have questions about the CCST Science and Technology Policy Fellowship? Watch the recent webinar with current CCST Science Fellows and Alumni, who discuss their fellowship year and their career experience after the Fellowship. The application portal opens on December 1st, 2019 and applications are due March 1, 2020. The fellowship begins in Sacramento in November […]
CCST to Host Webinar with Current Science Fellows & Alumni for Fellowship Discussion
2019 CCST Science Fellows
REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR Thursday 9/26 12pm – 1pm PDT Please join CCST for this informational webinar about the CCST Science and Technology Policy Fellowship. The webinar will provide an introduction to the CCST Science Fellows program and answer questions about the application process and requirements. Current CCST Science Fellows and Alumni will be on […]