My career path probably resembles that of other scientists in my generation interested in policy: it started conventionally and then veered “off course” in a series of improvised moves that eventually took me to a job that I never knew existed but that I love. In this talk, I will retrace my steps from traditional graduate student to impatient and eager science policy novice to career professional in science policy at the US Environmental Protection Agency. I will describe a day in my current working life synthesizing scientific information to inform environmental policy. And I will reflect on the opportunities available to young scientists, some that I took advantage of and some that I only wish I had, to chart a course to a successful science policy career.
Results/Conclusions
Opportunities for building a career in science policy now abound for young scientists. Inter-disciplinary academic programs that are designed to educate students in both science and decision-making are more common (for instance, the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at NC State). For students already in traditional graduate programs, finding a mentor who supports science policy as a career and/or who has experience in the field is key to both receiving encouragement and providing entree into networks of science policy career professionals. In school, make the time to practice science communication to diverse audiences and consider learning cutting-edge approaches for data synthesis and interpretation like systematic review, bibliometrics, meta-analysis, and data visualization (all daily parts of my working life). And finally, after graduation (yes, graduate, because degrees are still important credentials), fellowships, traineeships, and post-masters/post-doctoral positions with non-profits and government agencies are excellent chances for experiential learning. Don’t be afraid to stretch yourself and move outside of your specific ecological knowledge for these jobs.