Training Reflections: Three Essential Lessons for Making the Switch from Science to Policy

Day One

After a much-anticipated wait, our cohort of 14 PhD graduates came together at the California Council of Science and Technology headquarters in Sacramento in November 2024. During the month-long training, we learned the basics of how our state government operates within the legislative and executive branches. This was incredibly eye opening, coming from the academic space, to understand how science can be applied to benefit Californians in the real-world.

Top Three Reflections

Reflecting on the month, three overlapping themes arose from both of our individual experiences that helped prepare us for the year ahead.

1. Let go of perfectionism. 

AH: As a past mentor once said, “Strive not for perfection, but excellence.” Despite his advice, I found my graduate school journey filled with bouts of imposter syndrome and the need to perform highly in order to feel worthy of taking up space. CCST has continued to reiterate that as we embark on this new journey, perfection is not expected. We, in fact, will make mistakes, but how we handle those mistakes is more important than the mistakes themselves.

During our bootcamp, we were given a variety of assignments with quick turnaround times. These exercises not only simulated the type of work we would do in our placement offices but forced us to get it done and to let it go. I look forward to dismantling the bad habits I built in graduate school, building healthier ones, and normalizing the fact that I am simply human.

RR: Coming out of graduate school, it was so powerful to collectively unlearn a lot of the bad habits that we adopted during our advanced degrees (lack of work-life balance, low self-esteem, etc). CCST’s commitment to fostering a team dynamic and providing programming to combat these vices has already done so much to promote my well-being, to see myself as a whole human beyond just my productivity in my career.

Over the course of the month, we dabbled in subjects ranging from equity in sewer system maintenance, food distribution systems, emergency management, and countless other topics. After five and a half years delving into one subject area, it was so refreshing to dive into a topic, learn as much about it as time permitted, produce a deliverable that summarized what we found, and propose science policy implications from it. I’ve always wondered what makes our complex, multi-faceted society tick, so it’s wonderful to be in a place that rewards broad intellectual curiosity. It really felt like being a kid in a candy store!

2. Build genuine relationships.

AH: Though we were constantly encouraged to schedule coffee chats with former CCST fellows and people within the Capitol space, I was honestly intimidated to do so. However, once I solidified my first few meetings, I realized that people are genuinely willing and excited to meet with you. In just a short amount of time, people have offered wisdom and advice that can’t be found online or in a book. It was from these intentional, yet genuine interactions that made me realize just how invaluable relationships are to navigating this space.

In addition to learning from those who have gone before me, it has been a pleasure cultivating relationships with the fellows in my cohort. We have such a diverse set of experiences and skills yet are tethered by a common thread of wanting to be at the heart of service. I am both inspired and grateful that I get to go through this journey with them and cannot wait to witness the collective growth that is bound to happen within this next year.

RR: Knowing that work environments can still be bluntly ableist in this day and age unfortunately, I was elated to find that everyone (from our CEO, staff, alumni, and my cohort) are some of the most warm, open and accepting people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting*! From day one (and even before, when I reached out for guidance from alumni and staff), I was struck with how people wanted to connect on a generously supportive and collaborative level that centered inclusion across differences.

Even before I was accepted, the program coordinators made a real effort to work with me to accommodate my needs; this treatment continued throughout the training and I am confident that it will carry on for the rest of my fellowship year (and even beyond). Society has told me that perhaps my acceptance into the program had been performative, but this could not be further from the truth. The support that I have been given has been a genuine effort to adapt the program where I need assistance, while allowing me to dictate my terms; this has allowed me to fully participate in the way that best suited my needs.

3. Trust the process.

AH: While surrendering is not the easiest or most comfortable thing to do, hearing the testimonials of alumni allowed me to better exercise my trust in the placement process. I was comforted by the fact that our program coordinators made the time to hear our reflections and take into consideration our goals for the next year in order to truly tailor the best possible experience for us. Though I am unaware of the many intricacies that take place behind the scenes to match each one of us with a placement office, I know with all certainty that I am in good hands.

RR: The CCST fellowship’s motto rings true. The program coordinators work with each of us individually to learn about our wants for the fellowship year and beyond. Using years of institutional knowledge, they have an impressive track record of placing fellows in host offices that foster experiences that sometimes work even better than fellows originally envisioned. I could not be happier with my placement and I am incredibly excited for the year ahead and the next chapter that the fellowship will provide a jumping off point for.

Now more than three months in, we have wholly enjoyed our time as 2024-25 CCST fellows. The first two months of training were intense, but the program has been incredibly intellectually gratifying, deeply collaborative, and ultimately feels like CCST has our best interest in mind.

Applications for the 2025-26 cohort are open until March. Training begins November 3, 2025. We encourage interested PhD students and graduates to apply! Feel free to reach out to any of the alumni or current fellows to learn more about the program. You can reach us at [email protected] and [email protected].

About the authors:

Ayana Henderson earned a PhD in Biological and Biomedical Sciences at Harvard University and a BS in Biological Sciences from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Raisa Rahim earned a PhD in Neuroscience from UC Davis and a BS in Psychology, with an Emphasis in Biology, from UC Davis.

Note: Fellows’ blog posts express their own views, not those of their placement offices or CCST.

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 decision makers with science-savvy staff. Discover how 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.