Science
Policy Fellows share their experiences and their reasons for applying
It wasn’t the most auspicious start.
In August 2013, Sam Bockenhauer received his doctorate in
chemistry from Stanford University. He applied for an American Chemical Society
congressional fellowship and got it—starting his tenure one month after
graduation.
Bockenhauer’s experience has been good. He’s a science
policy fellow, a participant in a program that places chemists and other
scientists in roles within the federal government. He works in the office of
Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), and conducts meetings with interest groups and constituents,
writes memos on policy topics, and drafts letters on behalf of Sen. Franken.
Tackling Big Problems
with Broad Impact
“My chief reason for applying for the fellowship was that
I wanted to work on complex problems,” Sam explains.
Tasks can be as straightforward as working on a brief
about nuclear energy, or as unexpected as exploring forensic science. The
rules—both rigid and amorphous—set the boundaries for existence in our culture.
Attracting Scientists
from All Career Stages
Fellowships in this area abound, with the lion’s share
specifically connected to the American
Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The AAAS works with more
than 30 scientific and engineering professional organizations—including the American Chemical Society— to administer a large number of
science policy fellowships.
Laura Pence belongs in the middle group. Pence, a faculty
member, decided to do a congressional fellowship mid-career. In 2012–2013, she
worked in the office of Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Col.). After a few months of cutting
her teeth on the job, she narrowed her focus and became responsible for any
issues pertaining to water.
“I had no documentable expertise in it, but some of the
things that a chemist brings to Congress is knowing how to research something,”
Perspective Change
“I did a fellowship straight out of grad school, and at
first, it was definitely a big cultural jump from a lab in Chapel Hill, North
Carolina, to a professional office in Washington, D.C.,” Westlake says.
Advice for New Candidates
There are a few more things would-be fellows can do to
prepare themselves—and make themselves good candidates.
“Think about what you want to do with your Ph.D., and
think about where it’s going to take you,” offers Kate Stoll, a 2013–2014 ACS
Congressional Fellow. “If you decide that you don’t want to stay in academia
and follow the tenure track, then you might want to consider getting some of
these transferable skills early in your career.”
Bockenhauer adds, “I’d recommend looking for
opportunities to broaden your experience outside of science. I participated in
conferences, graduate student organizations, and took courses in areas ranging
from patent law to biosecurity.”
[Author Bio] Wendy
Hankle is a writer living in Ithaca, New York.