CCST S&T Policy Fellows

With September’s arrival, schools are back in session, and so is the U.S. Congress. And with that, we have many updates with Washington DC connections to share from our CCST Science Fellows alumni! Let’s take a look at this roundup of Capitol-to-Capitol news. We first want to extend our congratulations and farewells to Erin Arms ’16 and Estevan […]

If you’re a scientist or engineer who is exploring career training in the public policy realm, then please join us for our upcoming webinar to learn about our CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship: CCST Science Fellows Program Info Session Wednesday, September 14, 2016 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Pacific Registration Link: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/111ihxcbha91&eom Share on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/306298773074808/ We’ll provide […]

Sarah Carvill, PhD, is a member of the 2016 Class of CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows. She received a BA and PhD in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Cruz, where her dissertation focused on timber policy and water quality on California’s North Coast. In addition, Carvill holds an MS from University of Montana, where […]

Dan Brumbaugh, PhD, is a member of the 2016 Class of CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows. He received his PhD in Zoology from the University of Washington, where his research focused on how marine organisms adapt to their environments. Immediately before coming to Sacramento, Brumbaugh was a researcher at the University of California, Santa […]

Neela Babu, PhD, was a CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellow in 2013 and spent her CCST year placed with the Office of Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley, 2008-2014). She came to the Legislature with her PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Cornell University, where she designed environmental water resource systems. Babu is based in […]

Dear Friends and Colleagues — The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST), in partnership with the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and the Simons Foundation, is now providing multiple grants for institutions to explore the creation of science and technology policy fellowship programs in their state legislature. We invite you to submit a letter of […]

Mark Elsesser, PhD, was a CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellow in 2013 and spent his CCST year placed with the Office of Assemblymember Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova). He came to the Legislature with a PhD in Chemical Engineering from University of California, Santa Barbara, where he developed methods to synthesize, assemble, and observe a […]

Water in California is a regular highlight in national news — and recently, CCST Science Fellows were right in the mix. Dan Brumbaugh ’16, John Thompson ’16, and Sarah Carvill ’16 were on hand for the March 30th snow survey conducted by the California Department of Water Resources. They joined Frank Gehrke, the DWR Chief of […]

John Thompson, PhD, is a member of the 2016 Class of CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows. Thompson received his PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from Northwestern University, where his research focused on the design of metal alloys in coordination with the International Space Station. Thompson received a BS in Physics with a Minor […]

Sarah Brady, PhD, was a CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellow in 2014. She came to Sacramento with a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Oregon, where her research focused on how sunlight and heat decomposes plastics. Brady spent her CCST year placed with the Office of Assemblymember Susan Bonilla (D-Concord), where she continues to […]

Congratulations to An-Chi Tsou ’13 (photo above) on her appointment as Senior Policy Advisor in the Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation at the California Department of Consumer Affairs. Tsou came to the CCST Science Fellows program with a PhD in Bioengineering from the UC Berkeley-UCSF Bioengineering Graduate Program and a BS in Engineering Science from Smith College. Her placement was with the Office […]

Renita Polk, PhD, is a member of the 2016 Class of CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows. She received her PhD in Human Genetics and Molecular Biology from Johns Hopkins University, where her research sought to reveal the genetics behind congenital heart defects in people with Down syndrome. Polk completed her undergraduate studies in Genetic […]

You’ve been getting to know our CCST Science Fellows on our blog. With the release of our 2015 Annual Report this month, I invite you to learn a bit about our organization — the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST). CCST is a nonpartisan, impartial, not-for-profit organization established via an Assembly Concurrent Resolution in 1988. We are modeled after the National […]

A seasoned professional in the development and nonprofit community, Pat Callahan has joined the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) as its Major Gifts Officer. Callahan has more than 25 years of experience in fundraising, specializing in major gifts and establishing funding partnerships. She was most recently the Executive Director of the Healthcare Foundation […]

Christine Hochmuth Casey, PhD, was a CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellow in 2015. Casey was placed in the California State Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing. Casey received her PhD in Biology from the University of Rochester and conducted postdoctoral research at UC San Diego. She is currently a Finance Budget Analyst with the […]

A new year means new beginnings. And for ten highly accomplished scientists and engineers, 2016 will mean a year of public service and leadership training in the California State Legislature. I am thrilled to introduce to everyone the 2016 Class of our CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship! Our latest Fellowship cohort hail from as far away as Chicago […]

If you’re a scientist or engineer who is exploring opportunities in the public policy realm, join us for our upcoming information session at Stanford University to learn about the CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship: CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship Brown Bag Info Session Friday, January 29, 2016 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Pacific Medical School Office Building (MSOB), […]

Amber Mace, PhD, is the Deputy Director of the California Council on Science and Technology and a Policy Fellow at the UC Davis Policy Institute. Mace formerly served as the Executive Director of California Ocean Protection Council and Assistant Secretary for Coastal Matters at the California Natural Resources Agency, after serving as a Sea Grant […]

Esha Mathew, PhD, is a member of the 2016 Class of CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows. She received her PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Michigan, where she studied pancreatic cancer and also earned a graduate certificate in Science, Technology, and Public Policy. Mathew’s Fellowship placement is with Assemblymember Jose […]

At the heart of policymaking is effective communication, and enabling scientists and engineers to concisely communicate complex issues is a key component of our CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship experience. This is why once again, CCST is teaming up with the Capital Science Communicators (CapSciComm) for a professional networking social: CCST & CapSciComm Networking Social Wednesday, January 20, 2016 6:00 p.m. […]

It’s the start of a new year, and time to make new plans. If you’re a scientist or engineer who is exploring opportunities in the public policy realm, join us for our upcoming webinar to learn about the CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship: CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship Informational Session Wednesday, January 13, 2016 12:00 p.m. […]