Biophysical Newsletter - June 2014

11

BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER

2014

JUNE

choose to devote a year or two of their career to the government through a rotation at a govern- ment agency, spending their sabbatical involved in policy activities, or participating in a science policy fellowship. The fellowships, while very competitive, are an excellent way to make that transition, and they come in many different forms: • The AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowships are salaried opportunities for PhD scientists (or Masters degrees in fields such as engineering) to get placed at federal agencies or in a Congressional office for one to two years. (The Biophysical Society will be sponsoring its inaugural Congressional fellowship in part- nership with the AAAS in 2015.) • The National Academies’ Christine Mirzayan policy fellowships are an opportunity for gradu- ate students and recent PhDs to spend twelve weeks supporting a board or committee at the National Academies. • The ORISE fellowship programs include op- portunities for scientists at all stages to work in or with federal agencies. • The Presidential Management Fellowships are an excellent option for recent graduates who are ready to fully transition to a position within the federal government. • Many states have science policy fellowships, including the Hellman fellowships at the Ameri- can Academy of Arts & Sciences in Boston and the California State Science and Technology Policy Fellowships. These are just some of the many opportunities that provide scientists a foray into science policy. There are others. It is important to note that your interest in a policy career is important—there are multiple facets of science policy that would benefit from the involvement of trained scientists. Many scientists choose to provide their knowledge in specific scientific disciplines to guide the devel-

opment and implementation of policies such as engineers and physicists who assist with the development of climate change policies. This is often termed “science for policy.” Other sci- entists recognize the need for policies that can foster a conducive research environment, essen- tially developing “policy for science.” Yet other scientists will choose to get become involved in the management of federal research programs. Haim’s best advice to scientists considering a policy career is to talk to as many scientists involved in science policy as possible. It will quickly become clear that each position is very different. Haim transitioned to a policy position with experience in both academia and industry and considers himself fortunate to have found an excellent fit as a NCI Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program director. In this capac- ity, he is involved in the selection and manage- ment of projects at cancer startups focused on the development of innovative cancer therapeu- tics. He also helps lead initiatives such as the NCI SBIR Investor Forum that are designed to facilitate partnerships between NCI funded awardees and the investors and strategic partners necessary to advance the technology further towards the clinic.

Need career advice? Submit your own career conundrum to mollycule@biophysics.org or visit the BPS Blog to view past Dear Molly Cule articles.