CCST Science Fellows
CCST Science Fellows Blog
California has one of the largest economies in the world, and so many critical issues facing our state today — water, energy, and public health, just to name a few — require a deep understanding of science.
Few California state decision makers have backgrounds in science, engineering, or technology. Yet, they are asked to make decisions on issues with significant science and technology aspects. To help the California State Legislature and Executive Branch make the most informed decisions for the state’s citizens and resources, the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) established the CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows program.
Now in its eleventh year, the CCST Science Fellows program helps the California State Legislature and Executive Branch access some of the talent and staff they need to make informed decisions. Whether you’re a prospective applicant, an interested funder, a staff member, decision maker, or an advocate, we hope this blog offers you a glimpse into our Fellowship experience, and a deeper appreciation for the valuable resources and programs that CCST strives to provide to California’s policymakers and citizens.
If our Fellowship mission has sparked new ideas and new possibilities in your own vision and mission, we would love to hear from you. Thank you for following us, and we’ll see you here and on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn!
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An update on our organizational action plan to promote equity and counter racism
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 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 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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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 […]
California Wildfires: Lessons from Field Work in Baja California, Mexico
The 2017 and 2018 wildfire seasons in California were the most destructive on record raising a number of complex policy issues across a wide range of topics. I recently had the opportunity to learn about one of these major areas—forest management practices—firsthand by spending a week in Baja California, Mexico with UC Berkeley’s Dr. Scott […]
Update: Deadline Extended – CCST Seeks Outside Expertise to Evaluate Fellowship Program
California Council on Science & Technology looking for outside expertise to evaluate the impact of the CCST Science Fellows Program SACRAMENTO, Calif. | February 15, 2019 | CONTACT: Teresa Feo, Program Associate, [email protected]
, (916) 492-0996 An initiative of the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) since 2009, the CCST Science and Technology Policy Fellowship program (CCST […]
CCST Welcomes the 2019 Science Fellows
Ten PhD scientists have taken the leap from the lab bench, field station, and computer desk to explore a year of public service and government leadership training in Sacramento, working as legislative staff in the California State Legislature in 2019. We are proud to introduce to you the 2019 Class of our CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship — a program […]
Farewell to the 2018 CCST Science Fellows
A common question posed to CCST Science Fellows outside of the Legislature is “What do Science Fellows Do?” For the 2018 Class of CCST Science Fellows, the answer to this question was just about everything! CCST Science Fellows participate in key policy and budget negotiations. Chris Francis, placed in the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, […]
Now Open: Applications for CCST’s Science & Technology Policy Fellowship in Sacramento
CCST is seeking PhD scientists and engineers for a year of public service and government leadership training in the California State Legislature. SACRAMENTO, Calif. | CONTACT: Annie Morgan, [email protected] The California Council on Science and Technology is now accepting applications for the 2020 Class of our CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship. Completed applications are due by February 28th, 2019. […]
Interested in #SciPol? Attend Our Webinar for Prospective CCST Science Fellows, Oct. 22nd
Update: Audio of webinar now available here. Are you a scientist or engineer seeking career training in the public policy realm? Want to gain real-world experience working with leaders in the California state government? Then join us on October 22nd to learn about our CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship: CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship Virtual Info Session […]
CCST Science Fellows in Training: Making the Transition from Science to Policy
Teresa Feo, PhD,is a member of the 2018 Class of CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows. Feo received a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Yale University, a BA in Integrative Biology at UC Berkeley, and she most recently completed a research fellowship at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. Feo’s fellowship placement […]
From Ecology to Science Policy: Learn About the CCST Science Fellows Program at #ESA2018 This August
With the fifth largest economy in the world and nearly 40 million residents, California’s policies often have rippling effects far beyond its state borders, especially in the realms of environment, energy, and technology. So what’s it like being an ecologist-turned-policy staffer wading into the dynamic ecosystem that is the California state government? If you’re a […]
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To engage leading experts in science and technology to advise State decision makers - ensuring that California policy is strengthened and informed by scientific knowledge, research, and innovation.
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