Alumni Encourage Future Science Policy Talents on Fellowship Celebration Day

Our annual CCST Science & Technology Weeks (S&T Week) are a celebration of science-informed policymaking in the great state of California — how scientific expertise can play an important role as we guide the future of California’s economy, society, and environment. So naturally, any #CCSTweek would have to give a big shoutout to our CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship Program!

Since 2009, our science policy fellowship has recruited PhD scientists and engineers from across the United States to bring their knowledge and passion to California’s capital city, where they embark on a year of public service and government leadership training within the State Legislature or Executive Branch offices. As staffers and aides, these PhD experts learn the ropes of California’s policy arena, while directly applying their unique experiences and analytical lens to bills, rules, and other decision proposals that face the Golden State.

So, for our 2022 CCST S&T Week, we invited our alumni to join in on a Fellowship Celebration Day to help reach prospective applicants far and wide, across scientific disciplines and lived experiences. Alumni like Dr. Nora Brackbill ’21 and Dr. Dan Brumbaugh ’16 took to LinkedIn while Dr. Malaika Katrina Singleton ’11 took to Facebook to spread the word. Many more posted on Twitter to share their memories and advice — and boosted our signal on the Mar. 7 Fellowship deadline extension!

Dr. Meron Tesfaye ’20:

It's #CCSTweek & yesterday was @CCSTFellows Day! My experience as a CCST fellow @CAlegislature has changed the trajectory of my career. It's also #BlackHistoryMonth   & I'm beyond grateful for all the Black fellows that came before me! #SciPol@BlackInSciPol @BlackInSciComm pic.twitter.com/qyAH5faplk

— Meron Tesfaye, PhD (@Fellow_Meron) February 11, 2022

Dr. Renita Polk ’16:

Today is Fellows' Celebration Day. Any PhD scientists interested in getting into policy should consider applying. It's how I started my career in policy. Applications are due March 7. https://t.co/yFTOwYPy0R

— Dr. Renita Polk (@RenitaPolk) February 11, 2022

Dr. Colin Murphy ’14:

It's @CCSTFellows Celebration Day today, part of @CCSTorg #CCSTweek! I transitioned from a life in academia to a life in #SciPol thanks to this fellowship. Happy to answer any Q's folks might have about this program. Application deadline extended to 3/7! https://t.co/ihspMzQDfT

— Colin Murphy (@scianalysis) February 10, 2022

Dr. Clio Korn ’21:

It’s Fellows Celebration Day @CCSTorg! Eternally grateful to @CCSTFellows for setting me on an incredible new career path and connecting me with so many wonderful friends & colleagues. Scientists looking to move into policy: apply today! #CCSTweek #scipol https://t.co/tP3uewog75

— Clio Korn (@ClioKorn) February 10, 2022

Dr. Sydney Chamberlin ’19:

Proud to join in on this @CCSTFellows Celebration Day! My experiences as a fellow were life-changing in all the best possible ways. If you're a scientist thinking about taking the leap into #SciPol, apply! https://t.co/3x7y72abky #CCSTweek

— Dr. Sydney Chamberlin (@gravitysydney) February 10, 2022

Dr. Pajau Vangay ’19:

It’s Fellows Celebration Day! While my current role is not in #scipol, I still use the skills I learned from the fellowship everyday. It opens doors to careers you’ve likely never heard of! Highly recommended! ⬇️ https://t.co/OXyWTSrDcW

— Pajau Vangay (@pvangay) February 10, 2022

Dr. Grant Hisao ’21:

It’s Fellows Celebration Day as part of @CCSTorg’s #CCSTWeek. Applications for this career and life transforming opportunity are due 03/07/2022. This fellowship was my best career move thus far. https://t.co/l7Nks7KbWy

— Grant S. Hisao (@HisaoGS) February 10, 2022

Dr. Christine Casey ’15:

It’s Fellows Celebration Day as part of CCST’s Science & Technology Week! @CCSTFellows is how I launched my career in public policy. If you are/know a PhD scientist ready to make the #SciPol leap out of academia, apply today. Deadline extended to 3/7! pic.twitter.com/Vxdu1ei24o

— Dr. Christine Casey (@cluBerry) February 10, 2022

Dr. Laura Feinstein ’13:

The CCST Science+Technology Fellowship in Sacramento was a great bridge from academia to policy. https://t.co/vsi0ST7DAw

— Laura Feinstein (@DrLFeinstein) February 10, 2022

Dr. Amber Hartman Scholz ’10 (the inaugural cohort):

Proud to join in on this @CCSTFellows Celebration Day today as part of @CCSTorg #CCSTweek! This #SciPol fellowship was my start in science policy. If you're a PhD scientist ready to make the leap, apply today. Deadline March 7th! https://t.co/tLNkOVHfxX

— Amber Hartman Scholz (@amberhscholz) February 10, 2022

We also took time during the Feb. 10 Fellowship Celebration Day for a rollcall of our amazing 2022 Fellowship cohort — 16 PhDs currently placed with Legislative Branch and Executive Branch offices in the State Capitol and around Sacramento. And a few host offices and mentors jumped into the fun as well!

What a rousing #CCSTweek Fellows Celebration Day it's been today! Loved hearing from our many alumni reflecting on how their year as @CCSTFellows launched their #SciPol career. But before the day ends, let's cheer on our 2022 Fellowship Class! Start the🧵: https://t.co/tpjeEeiz3n pic.twitter.com/yXO2EoAKzR

— CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows (@CCSTFellows) February 11, 2022

Longtime Fellowship mentor Assemblymember Dr. Bill Quirk:

Very excited to have him on the team! #SciPol https://t.co/rTUWDT1HM0

— Bill Quirk (@AsmBillQuirk) February 11, 2022

Current Fellowship host and alumni employer California DPR:

Great to have Natalie on the team! https://t.co/XcaGJpdMrN

— CA Dept. of Pesticide Regulation (@CA_Pesticides) February 11, 2022

Know a PhD scientist or engineer eager to explore a professional path in science policy? Encourage them to apply for our 2023 Fellowship cohort by Monday, Mar. 7! Visit our program website for FAQs, alumni advice videos, fellowship experience blogposts, and more: www.ccst.us/ccst-science-fellows-program

Held as Part of CCST Science & Technology Week 2022

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About the California Council on Science and Technology
The California Council on Science and Technology is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization established via the California State Legislature — making California’s policies stronger with science and technology since 1988. We engage leading experts in science and technology to advise State policymakers — ensuring that California policy is strengthened and informed by scientific knowledge, research, and innovation.