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 legislators 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 make the most informed decisions for the state’s citizens and resources, the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) has created the CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows program.
Now in its tenth year, the CCST Science Fellows program helps the California State Legislature 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, legislator, 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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Fellows Profile: Sarah Brady, PhD
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 […]
CCST Science Fellows in the News: An-Chi Tsou Appointed to DCA
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 […]
Fellows in Training: Movin’ to California
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 […]
What Is the California Council on Science and Technology?
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 […]
Pat Callahan Joins CCST as Major Gifts Officer
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 […]
Fellows Profile: Christine Hochmuth Casey, PhD
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 […]
Enter the California State Legislature: Introducing Our 2016 CCST Science Fellows
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 […]
Stanford University Info Session for CCST Fellowship Applicants, Jan. 29th
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), […]
Enter the California State Legislature: Introducing Our 2016 CCST Science Fellows
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 […]
Fellows in Training: A Night of Improv
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 […]
Networking Social with CCST Science Fellows and Capital Science Communicators, Jan. 20th
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. […]
Webinar: Informational Session for CCST Fellowship Applicants, Jan. 13th
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. […]
Fellows in the Field: Farewell, 2015 Science Fellows!
Shannon Muir, PhD, is a member of the 2015 Class of CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows. She received her PhD in Biomedical Sciences from University of California, San Diego, where she studied the genetic mechanism behind a rare form of pediatric cancer, and served as the Graduate Student Representative for the University of California […]
California Program Sends Scientists to Sacramento, Training PhD’s as Capitol Staffers
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California’s State Legislature is looking for a few good scientists to trade their lab coats for business suits, and swap molecules and equations for committee hearings and bill analyses. That’s the opportunity being offered by the CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship, led by the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST). […]
Help CCST Make California Stronger with Science on #GivingTuesday
Do you donate to your favorite causes and organizations on #GivingTuesday? “Giving Tuesday” is a global day of giving created in 2012 that seeks to harness the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy. It has become a rallying point for nonprofits and charities for annual giving. As part of #GivingTuesday and […]
Fellows Profile: Debra Cooper, PhD
Debra Cooper, PhD, was a CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellow in 2015. Cooper was placed in the California State Senate Office of Research (SOR), where she was hired as a Policy Consultant halfway through her Fellowship. Cooper received her PhD in Neuroscience from Emory University, where she studied medications to help reduce relapse to […]
Fellows Profile: Nathan Phillips, PhD
Nathan Phillips, PhD, was a CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellow in 2014, and his placement was in the California State Senate Transportation and Housing Committee with then-Chair Mark DeSaulnier. He is currently a Professor of Earth and Environment at Boston University, and had applied to the Fellowship on sabbatical from his post. Phillips received […]
Fellows in Training: National Conference on State Legislatures
Vivian Ericson, PhD, was a CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellow in 2015. She received her Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Physiology from Stanford University, and her placement was in the Office of Assemblymember Cristina Garcia. Since the Fellowship, she has continued to work as a Legislative Aide with the Office of Assemblymember Garcia. [February […]
Stronger with Science
Amber Mace, PhD, is the Deputy Director of the California Council on Science and Technology, and she oversees the CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows program. Mace formerly served as the Executive Director of California Ocean Protection Council and as Assistant Secretary for Coastal Matters at the California Natural Resources Agency, after serving as a Sea Grant […]
2013-14 CCST Science and Technology Policy Fellows Praised by Legislature
The fifth cohort of CCST Science and Technology Policy Fellows has received formal recognition for their service by the leadership of both the California State Assembly and the Senate, with the Fellows earning praise for their contributions and dedication. “This is a terrific program,” said Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, in acknowledging the Fellows […]
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To 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.
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