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January 14, 2025 | CCST Newsroom, CCST S&T Policy Fellows, Press Releases
MEET THE NEW FELLOWS
Introducing the 2025 CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows
See where these talented PhD scientists will be spending their Fellowship year in California State Government.
SACRAMENTO, CA—We are excited to introduce the 2025 Class of CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows. Now in its 16th year, the program places PhD level scientists, engineers, and social scientists 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.
These fourteen PhD scientists arrived in Sacramento in November, where they participated in our annual policy training program — a crash course on the process, history, and landscape of California policymaking, as well as skills development and communications workshops to prepare them for the intense, dynamic pace of the Capitol policy world.
Fellows placed in the California State Legislature work on policy committees and in member offices in the California State Senate and Assembly. Fellows placed in the Executive Branch work in California State Agencies and in Offices of the Governor. The program is made possible by the State of California as well as continued philanthropic support.
The 2025 Fellows bring a wide range of technical expertise across fields:
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Are you looking to apply your PhD research skills to an exciting and impactful career in policy?
The CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows program is open to those holding a PhD or equivalent degree in science, engineering, or social science fields such as economics, sociology, or psychology. Eligibility information, program timeline, the application link, and our annual webinar with alumni can be found at ccst.us/ccst-science-fellows-program
Meet the 2025 CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows
California State Assembly:
John Bennett, PhD
Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee
Originally from Southern California, John undertook studies in identifying novel drug targets in the parasite that causes malaria.
PhD: Chemistry, Stanford University
BA: Biochemistry, Classical Studies, Colgate University
Kristen Koenig, PhD
Assembly Utilities & Energy Committee
Born and raised in Sacramento, Kristen has researched and led a lab studying the evolution and development of visual systems across animals.
PhD: Cell & Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin
BA: Molecular and Cell Biology; History, UC Berkeley
Aron Judd “AJ” Mendiola, PhD
Assembly Transportation Committee
Born and raised in the Philippines before immigrating to Los Angeles county. AJ moved to Davis to study epigenetics in neurodevelopment.
PhD: Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology, UC Davis
MS: Chemistry, Biochemistry Option, Cal State LA
BS: Biochemistry, Cal State LA
Julia Mouat, PhD
Assembly Local Government Committee
Born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Julia moved to northern CA to study multigenerational genetic and environmental risk factors for autism.
PhD: Integrative Genetics and Genomics, UC Davis
BS: Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh
California State Senate:
Adam Cooper, PhD
Senator Ben Allen
After moving from the Florida coast to San Diego, Adam studied how pollution in the ocean becomes airborne and which chemicals people are inhaling.
PhD: Atmospheric Chemistry, UC San Diego
BS: Chemistry, Stetson University
Benjamin Lu, PhD
Senator Catherine Blakespear
A self-effacing East Coast transplant, Ben studied how cognitive and biological constraints shape the human decision-making process.
PhD: Neuroscience, New York University
BS: Psychology, Princeton University
Taylor McKie, PhD
Senate Environmental Quality Committee
With a love for the environment and people, Taylor’s pursuing a career in climate policy to serve communities disproportionately impacted by climate change.
PhD: Oceanography, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego
BS: Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
Jenna Roper, PhD
Senator Henry Stern
Arizona native and long-time Californian, Jenna developed low-cost diagnostic technologies to increase equitable access to healthcare.
PhD: Bioengineering, UC Riverside
BS: Bioengineering, UC Riverside
California State Agencies and Offices of the Governor:
Jessica Bolivar, PhD
California Natural Resources Agency
Inspired by a professor who recognized her potential, Jessica embraced the opportunity to delve into the world of Cell and Molecular Biology, studying the molecular mechanisms that cells use to deal with stress.
PhD: Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, UC Davis
BS: Biology with a concentration in Botany, SF State University
Hannah Griggs, PhD
California Energy Commission, Office of Chair Hochschild
An astrophysicist turned energy scientist, Hannah studied the cascading effects of outages on energy infrastructure.
PhD: Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology
BA: Physics & Mathematics, Bryn Mawr College
Ayana Henderson, PhD
California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Office of Legislation and Regulatory Review, California Environmental Protection Agency
Originally from the D.C./Maryland area, Ayana moved to Boston to explore the reproductive health effects of chemicals found in consumer products.
PhD: Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard University
BS: Biological Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
J Humphreys, PhD
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency
Originally from Texas, they moved to California to study volcanic systems and pivoted to studying lithium in the Salton Sea Geothermal Field.
PhD: Geological Sciences, UC Riverside
BS: Geoscience, UT Dallas BA: Visual & Dramatic Arts, Rice University
Raisa Rahim, PhD
California Department of Food and Agriculture
Given her lived experience, Raisa wants to expand beyond her research in child ADHD interventions into the environmental justice sphere.
PhD: Neuroscience, UC Davis
BS: Psychology, with an Emphasis in Biology, UC Davis
Haynes Stephens, PhD
California Air Resources Board, Office of the Chair, California Environmental Protection Agency
A Bay Area native, Haynes studied climate change impacts on agriculture as well as transmission infrastructure for energy planning.
PhD: Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago
BA: Astronomy & Astrophysics, UC Berkeley
About the CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship
The CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows program places PhD-level scientists, engineers, and social scientists in the California State Legislature, State Agencies, and Offices of the Governor for a year of public policy, leadership training, and public service—training scientific thinkers to be policy-savvy, while helping equip California’s policymakers with science-savvy staff. Discover how our CCST S&T Policy Fellows make a difference in California’s policy arena and learn how to apply at CCST.us/CCST-Science-Fellows-Program.