New Science and Technology Policy Fellowship Program Launches

March 25, 2009 | CCST Newsroom, CCST S&T Policy Fellows, Press Releases | Contact: M. Daniel DeCillis

The California S&T Policy Fellowship is open to professional scientists and engineers interested in learning about the legislative process and contributing their expertise and advice to legislators and staff.

CCST is pleased to announce the launch of a new fellowship opportunity for professional scientists and engineers to spend a year working in Sacramento with the California State Legislature.

The California Science and Technology (S&T) Policy Fellowships provide a professional development opportunity that will enable members of the scientific community to contribute to scientific and technical issues facing California through their interaction with the legislative process. Fellows will learn about the legislative process while sharing their own expertise and experience with legislators and their staffs.

The California S&T Policy Fellowship is adapted for California from a similar fellowship offered by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in the federal policy arena. The AAAS Fellowships have been successfully offered for 35 years, and AAAS Fellows have become sought-after resources in the federal policy community (click here for an overview of the AAAS Fellowship).

To be eligible for the California S&T Policy Fellowship, candidates should have a PhD or equivalent level degree in a physical, biological, or social science, or an MS in an engineering discipline with at least three years post-degree experience.

“With increasingly complex science and technological issues facing society today, the effective interface of science and public policy is becoming ever more important,” notes the Fellowship description. “Fellows will learn the intricacies of the California legislative process and will provide legislators and their staffs with clear and unbiased advice, answers to technical questions, and clarification of policy options for issues with science and technology related attributes.”

Up to 10 Fellowships will be awarded each year; placement into legislative offices will be consistent with and subject to passage of enabling legislation. Funding is being provided by a coalition of nonprofit foundations, including the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and the Stephen Bechtel Fund.

The deadline for applications is May 29. For more information, visit this link.