BGS Career Development
Making It Count!
In a recent piece for the Penn Science Policy and Diplomacy (PSPDG) blog, Mara Olenick, PhD (BMB) writes about her experiences applying for science policy fellowships. Anyone interested in pursuing science policy as a career will be interested to read Mara’s insights on using informational interviews to explore whether a fellowship is a good fit. Mara also shares strategies to manage the application timeline.
Read the full post here.
The Penn Science Policy and Diplomacy Group (PSPDG) will host a workshop with Hannah Silverfine from the Union of Concerned Scientists.
This workshop is aimed at anyone who is interested in being able to effectively lobby for their cause and meet with their representative in government (at the different levels), and make the whole process seem a lot less daunting.
Participants will learn the value of meeting decision makers and the necessary skills to craft a pitch.
When: Thursday, May 9, 2019, 12-1 PM
Where: BRB 251
Lunch provided!
RSVP: https://bit.ly/2VA5juY
This year’s BGS Professional Skills Series will conclude with, ‘Science & International Diplomacy’, presented by Dr. Mahlet Mesfin, Deputy Director of the Center for Science Diplomacy at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), on Thursday, May 16th, 4:00 – 5:30 PM in the Barchi Library (140 John Morgan). This event is co-sponsored by the Penn Science Policy and Diplomacy Group (PSPDG).
Dr. Mesfin will speak to the intersections of science, policy, and society. An alum of Penn (SEAS PhD ’11), Mesfin joined AAAS in May 2017. She also serves as executive editor of the open-access policy journal Science & Diplomacy. Read more on her background here.
Light refreshments will be served! Please register here: https://forms.gle/wkibmCk5XbQjvNQs6
If you have any questions, please contact Rebecca Lopez.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) held their Annual Meeting in Washington D.C. this past February 14-18, 2019.
Sam Effron (CAMB) attended, and he shares his personal reflections on some of the meeting’s main themes (such as, “the collectivity of science, the intersection of science and policy, and the complexity of science communication”) via a series of blog posts.
The latest installment in Effron’s 3-part series explores the question, “Where Does Science Fit on Capitol Hill?” Though scientists may understand the need to contribute their expertise within the political sphere, many may not know where to begin. Effron describes the important connections one must forge in order to navigate bureaucratic red tape, such as with staffers, and delves into concepts such as “activated science” that are key for prompting action.
Read the entire article as well as the rest of the series on the PSPDG blog.
If you are passionate about social policy, want to learn more about the field, or are looking to explore career options after graduation this seminar workshop is for you!
Three alumni and a recruiter from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) will be coming to Penn to talk to us about the AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow (STPF). This is a yearlong fellowship that provides the opportunity for scientists to learn first-hand about policymaking and contribute their knowledge and analytical skills in the policy realm. Fellows serve yearlong assignments in the federal government (any of the three branches). This workshop will touch on: application process, transition into the fellowship, how to become a competitive applicant, and testimonials from alumni regarding what their day-to-day looked like during the fellowship as well as how the fellowship influenced their career paths.
| Name | Branch | Placement | Current Work |
| Sutyajeet I. Soneja “Sut” | Executive Branch 2016-18 | US Agency for International Development (USAID) | Consultant, Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health, World Health Organization |
| Judith Weis | Legislative Branch 1983-84 | Senate Environment and Public Works Committee | Professor of Biological Sciences at Rutgers University, Newark |
| Peter DeCarlo “Pete” | Executive Branch 2010-11 | US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | Associate Professor in the Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, as well as the Department of Chemistry, Drexel |
The Society for Neuroscience has published a number of insights for students interested in a career in science policy. These include:
The author provides fuller detail on these and other recommendations. For even more information, they recommend reading the government program management and policy and advocacy career path guides.
Read more here.