Trusting My Instincts: Taking the Leap from Postdoc to Policy

Making a career transition is a journey filled with excitement and uncertainty. For me, the shift from academic research to the Senate Transportation Committee has been a transformative experience, opening new avenues for impact and professional growth. Reflecting on my time in the Legislature, I’ve captured insights from my year as a fellow, the challenges I faced, and a few valuable lessons I’ve learned along the way.

Trusting my Instinct to Pursue a New Passion

As a research scientist, my days were often consumed by lab work, data analysis, and communicating my findings through writing or presentations. The thrill of discovery and contributing to the scientific community was exhilarating and rewarding. However, as my career progressed, I began to feel a growing desire to influence how scientific research is applied in real-world settings.

This desire led me to explore opportunities beyond the lab, where I found the Society for Neuroscience’s Early Career Policy Ambassadors program. This program opened my eyes to opportunities for scientists to advocate for science, speaking to the importance of research and funding and applying our critical thinking and analytical skills to the policymaking process. This experience connected me with other organizations like the National Science Policy Network, and opportunities to further my training like the CCST Science and Technology Policy Fellowship.

When I completed my PhD program, I transitioned to a postdoctoral research position, but I felt at a crossroads. I was still interested in science policy, but the idea of transitioning from my relatively safe and secure postdoc position in Wisconsin to pursue a policy fellowship in California (over 2,000 miles away) was daunting. As I felt the weight of this decision, I also felt stress and exhaustion from continuing my lab work. That’s when I knew I needed to make a choice.

Too often in the early part of my career, I focused on what I thought other people wanted me to do or which decision would lead to the most secure and lucrative position, even if I had no interest in it. Through experience and self-reflection, I realized I needed to follow my instinct and pursue the career that I wanted. Working in the California State Senate as a Fellow has validated that instinct: The experience proved to be everything I had hoped for and reinforced that the value of scientific training isn’t confined to the lab, but can be applied in many different settings.

Making The Transition: Four Key Skills for Working in Policy

Shifting from a research scientist to my role as a committee consultant required a significant shift in skill set and mindset. There are four key skills I had to embrace:

1. Understanding Policy Frameworks: Unlike research where the focus is primarily on experimental outcomes and data, policy work involves understanding and navigating complex legislative and regulatory frameworks. Through training, mentorship, and practice, I learned how policies are formulated, debated, and implemented.
2. Communication: In research, I communicated with my peers through robust publications and detailed presentations. As a committee consultant, I honed my ability to convey complex and nuanced issues in a clear and concise manner.
3. Active Listening: In academia, I learned from experience and reading the literature. As a committee consultant I learn through meeting with stakeholders and experts. As a result, I improved active listening skills and learned how to ask the right questions.
4. Networking: Building and maintaining professional relationships is central to my role. I engage with a variety of stakeholders, including government officials, industry leaders, and community representatives, to ensure that my bill analyses were thorough and accurately reflected the concerns and realities of various policy issues. These relationships also help me explore career opportunities.

Challenges and Rewards

The transition was not without its challenges. One of the initial hurdles was overcoming the learning curve associated with policy analysis and advocacy. Adapting to a new role also meant navigating unfamiliar political landscapes and understanding the intricacies of policy negotiations. Also, there were the logistical challenges of moving across the country, finding a place to live, and feeling comfortable in a new city.

Despite these challenges, the rewards have been substantial. One of the most fulfilling aspects of my new role has been witnessing how scientific evidence can shape and inform policy decisions that have a tangible impact on public health, the environment, and other critical areas. The ability to contribute to policy development and see the real-world implications of my work has been incredibly rewarding.

Navigating Next Steps

It is remarkable how quickly a year can pass. I entered this fellowship—changing career paths—knowing that nothing beyond it is guaranteed. While this is technically true, I have found that opportunities are plentiful, and I have felt fully supported by the vast CCST alumni network, weekly training seminars, and one-on-one career counseling and resume review. Thinking about my career beyond the fellowship, being able to read my own signs and practice self-reflection have helped the most in guiding my path.

Speaking honestly, as a scientist who likes to control for as many things as possible, navigating the job market in the legislature—which is fast-moving and can rely more heavily on networking—can be difficult. But there are so many jobs available to former fellows: state agencies, non-profits, advocacy organizations, and universities are all great options that offer stable and timely positions following the fellowship year. Learning about the variety of jobs and having the broad support of the alumni network helped me feel much more comfortable about my prospects of developing a career in Sacramento. By and large, I have experienced people in Sacramento as genuine in their networking and desire to support each other’s career development.

As I continue my career journey, I am excited about the opportunities to continue to connect science and policy. The fellowship broadened my perspective on possible career paths and reinforced my commitment to leveraging scientific knowledge for successful policy.

For anyone considering a similar transition, I encourage you to embrace the challenge with an open mind and a willingness to learn. It’s been inspiring to find so many positive, supporting people working in this space. The path is not always linear, but if you have a passion and desire to develop a career in science policy, it is achievable and rewarding.

Key Takeaways

Reflecting on my transition, here are four valuable lessons that I’ve learned:

1. Embrace Opportunities for Learning and Growth: Transitioning to a new field requires continuous learning and adaptability. Staying curious and open to new experiences is essential for personal and professional growth.
2. Leverage Your Expertise: Your background in research provides a strong foundation for understanding complex issues and contributing valuable insights. Don’t underestimate the unique perspective you bring to the table. There is a reason why CCST fellows are in demand.
3. Build Genuine Relationships: Effective policy work often hinges on building strong relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders. Networking and collaboration are crucial, but for me can often seem forced. I tried to find the happy medium of pushing myself to develop relationships while coming from a place of genuine curiosity without expectations or pandering.
4. Stay Resilient and Self Reflective: The path of transitioning into a new role may have its ups and downs. Specifically I struggled with feeling a lack of expertise after leaving a field where I was an expert. Resilience and perseverance are key to navigating these and other challenges and achieving your goals. Additionally, do your best to continually reflect on the experiences you are having throughout the fellowship; this really helped me decide on next career steps.

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 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.