To be eligible for the Fellowship, candidates must possess the following minimum qualifications:
- A PhD or equivalent level degree OR
- An MS degree in an engineering discipline, plus at least three years post-degree experience; and
- U.S. citizenship OR
- Suitable immigration status for non-residents (click here for details).
The following are
not eligible to compete:
- Individuals who will not have their doctoral degree by September 1, 2013
- Individuals who have registered as lobbyists in the State of California or under the federal Lobbying Disclosure Act within 6 months of the application deadline
- Active state employees
Examples of PhD equivalent degrees include, but are not limited to: ScD, MD, DVM, DO, DDS, EdD
Examples of acceptable disciplines include, but are not limited to:
| Agricultural Sciences | Anthropology | Computational
Sciences |
| Biological Sciences | Economics | Health Sciences/Medicine |
| Chemistry | Geography | Mathematics/Statistics |
| Earth and Ocean Sciences | Political Sciences | Systems
Sciences |
| Environmental Sciences | Psychology | Space Sciences |
Physics &
Physical Sciences | Sociology | Education |
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Yes. There is a need for scientists and engineers from all sectors to participate in this program.
With a broad range of backgrounds, the fellows will offer a wide array of technical expertise to
legislative offices. Scientists and engineers from industry can benefit from the professional
development aspects of the program as much as those from academia or other sectors. As with all
other fellows, there will be a requirement to abide by the conflict of interest guidelines and
disclosure requirements of the Legislature.
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The California Science and Technology Policy Fellowship program is modeled on a federally focused fellowship
program operated by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for more than three decades.
AAAS has done extensive research into the effect its fellowships have had on participants. In brief, nearly 100% of
fellows reported that the fellowship had a major positive effect on their careers, regardless of the professional path
they took after completing the fellowship. Fellows are nearly unanimous in citing the fellowship as one of the best and
most important experiences in their professional lives. For more information about the AAAS fellowships,
click here.
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This fellowship places you in an environment unlike the academic one from which you may be coming.
The Fellowship work environment is in a public setting where the pace is fast and driven by
legislative deadlines. "Science and technology policy" refers to the laws and regulations that are
put into place by lawmakers and the executive branch of government with a scientific or
technological impact or component in their subject matter. Examples of science policy topics
include incentives for the development and application of new technologies such as genomics, nanotech
or artificial photosynthesis, the use and conservation of natural resources, protection of public
health, and development and regulation of energy sources. The range of issues Fellows have worked include
renewable energy, genetic testing, air quality, toxic materials, transportation, fracking, water supply
and quality, regulatory boards, governance issues and health care. The work of a Fellow may often reach
beyond science and technology issues to regulatory, social and economic concerns of the state.
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The first day of the fellowship is November 1, 2013, and the last
day is October 31, 2014.
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Yes, under certain circumstances. You may apply if you expect the degree to be awarded by September
1, 2013. CCST reserves the right to demand proof of degree as a condition of the fellowship.
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No. We expect some successful applicants to be at the beginning of their careers. Experience is only one of several key
evaluation criteria. What helps distinguish a successful candidate at this early stage in their career is a demonstrated
commitment to communicating their scientific work to a broader audience and tackling research topics that impact public health,
safety, and welfare.
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No. CCST is recruiting nationally and encourages applications from individuals across the country.
Fellows should be interested in California policy issues and its legislative process. In addition, training will be provided
at the start of the fellowship program
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Fellows are expected to provide unbiased advice to legislators and may not advocate for particular points of view.
Registered lobbyists or persons who have been registered within 6 months of the application deadline may not apply
for the current fellowship year.
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State employees cannot apply if they retain ties to their agency and continue to draw a salary.
They may apply if they are on leave without pay for the duration of the fellowship and if they have
no independent interaction with their home agency during the period of the fellowship.
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See
"How do I apply" for information on application timelines and deadlines.
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Yes. You will be required to complete your application online. When you go to the application you will first be
required to establish an account at which time you will be provided a unique account number. This account number
will be required on all for all supporting documents (e.g. letters of recommendation). See directions on the
applications page .
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Yes, they do. Applicants should provide their references with all the necessary information
pertaining to reference letters, including the applicant's unique identifier number,
submission guidelines and submission deadline. Applications with fewer than
three references by the submission deadline will not be reviewed. Recommendation letters must be
submitted on line and must reference your application account number. Under special circumstances,
recommendation letters may be submitted via U.S. mail (see below). See directions on
the
applications page .
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You should ask your references to include the following information in their letters:
- How long the individual has known you and in what context
- How this fellowship would benefit you and what skills, training and personal attributes you
would bring to the fellowship program
- What your particular strengths are and what challenges you
might face in this setting
Your references need to submit their letters directly to CCST by e-mail (preferably from their professional account) by no
later than 5:00 pm PST, on February 28, 2013. (
**Please note deadline has been extended to March 4, 2013**) Their letters must include your application account number in the subject line.
They will receive confirmation that CCST has received their letter once it has been reviewed and accepted as valid. You may
wish to provide them with the
"What are you looking for in a fellow?" (below),
which contains more details about how to submit recommendations. Reference letters should be emailed as Word or PDF attachments
to
onlineapply@fellows.ccst.us
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Once a reference has been reviewed and accepted as valid by the CCST staff, you will receive an email from the application
system that a recommendation letter has been received. In addition, you may log on to your application account and check
the status of your reference letters on the dashboard tab. We also recommend that you check with your references to see if
they received a confirmation of receipt from CCST
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You may, if you wish, request more than three of your references
to submit letters of recommendation, but the Selection Committee will only look at the first three received by CCST.
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Yes, but CCST will only confirm receipt of recommendations submitted via e-mail. Letters need to be received at the
Sacramento CCST office by February 28, 2013 in order to be accepted as part of your application. (
**Please note deadline has been extended to March 4, 2013**)
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We are looking for candidates who are open to
learning and who will be effective at engaging in the policy making process with impartial
scientific and technological contributions to the legislative process. While there is no ideal
candidate, there are certain traits that predict success. Among these are:
- A sincere interest in California current events and state legislative and political processes
- A capacity to be flexible, adaptable, and fully engaged
- A willingness to work in a fast paced, high profile work environment
- A strong desire to learn how policy decisions are made and to understand and appreciate the
needs of decision makers
- Powerful written and oral communication skills
- An ability to translate often complex scientific data into non-technical prose
- A strong desire to inform public policy decisions using sound and unbiased scientific and technical data
- An ability to deal comfortably with technical information outside one's own specialty
- An appreciation for the talents and abilities of individuals with differing backgrounds and credentials
- An affinity for interdisciplinary collaboration
- Personal initiative and self-motivation
- An ability to work on diverse teams and to take direction from non-scientific personnel
- Leadership potential
- Strong analytical and problem solving capabilities
- Personal and professional versatility and adaptability
- Personal integrity
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No. It is impossible to predict what specific technical issues and questions will come up during the
course of your fellowship year. Although you may be asked to weigh in on questions that are in your
area of expertise, it is far more likely that you will research other scientific issues and interact
with experts from other disciplines. Your training in the scientific method (inquiry, analytical skills, etc.)
will serve you as much, or more, than your specific training.
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No. Fellows are not expected to know how the policy world works prior to beginning the fellowship, but they
are expected to be interested in learning about the process. The selection committee will take into account the
level of policy expertise a candidate could reasonably be expected to have based on their training. An astronomer
would not be expected to have any formal training in policy, whereas an economist or a political scientist might.
Neither candidate would have an inherent advantage. However, the selection committee will be looking for candidates
who demonstrate an understanding of the potential societal value of their work and of science in general and how technical
expertise can be useful to those who make decisions on behalf of the public.
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No. We encourage applications from professionals at all stages of their careers. Experienced
technical personnel will have much to contribute to the legislative process. What will mark success
in candidates at this career stage will be an ability to thrive in an environment vastly different
from what you may be used to and an understanding and acceptance of the fact that in the legislative
arena you will be the student and that your "teachers" may be much younger than you.
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Absolutely. The Selection Committee will be looking for candidates with broad experience. Previous
employment or volunteer work that has no relationship to science or your academic career will be
considered relevant as a demonstration of your overall experience, interests, and abilities. Also
include any previous fellowships you have received, even though they may have been outside your
current field.
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CCST employs a multi-tiered approach to the review process, to ensure candidates have an opportunity to present themselves in the most
favorable light and to allow the selection committee to fairly gauge the potential of success for each candidate. Following an
administrative review to confirm the eligibility of a candidate's application packet, the committee evaluates the written material
submitted and selects finalists, who will be brought to Sacramento for interviews. After the interviews are completed, the committee will
select up to ten individuals (and several alternates) who will be offered fellowships.
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The selection committee will complete its evaluations of the application material and select finalists for interviews approximately 2
months after the close of the application period. Finalists will be notified immediately, at which time they will receive a briefing paper
assignment and information about when and where to report for an interview. Interviews will take place over a three-day period approximately
a month after being notified of finalist status. All applicants must be able to attend their interview in person. No teleconference or
videoconference interviews will be permitted. Reasonable domestic travel costs for the interviews will be reimbursed. Placement offers
will follow soon after the interviews. This timing provides ample opportunity for fellows to complete current assignments, secure housing
in Sacramento, and be ready to begin the fellowship on November 1st of the selection year. For a more detailed look at the selection calendar
please
click here.
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The interview process provides a valuable opportunity for selection committee members to assess each candidate to determine if
they would thrive in the fellowship environment and would be effective at contributing a sound scientific perspective
to the legislative process. It enables the committee to see the candidates in action - to witness their ability to think on
their feet, to solve problems and analyze options, and to effectively communicate technical information to a non-technical
audience in a time frame relevant to the policymaking arena. It also allows members of the selection committee to follow up
on any specific questions they may have from a candidate's application. Because an effective fellow will be evaluated on more
than education, research experience and journal articles, the interview provides the candidates with an opportunity to present
to the selection committee those attributes of their character and style that they think will be most effective in the
legislative environment.
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Yes. Physical location in the state capital is a key feature of the fellowship. To be effective, it is
essential that the fellows interact with legislators and legislative staff on a daily basis. The environment
of the legislative process is fast paced and relies on relationship and trust as much as it does data.
Fellows will also be expected to attend regularly scheduled seminars and other activities in Sacramento
which will provide ongoing training and technical background for the fellows. The valuable social network
that will develop amongst the fellows and with their colleagues in the Legislature can only be achieved by
consistent interactions in a close working environment.
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Fellows will be responsible for locating their own
housing. CCST will make every effort to point fellows to the most popular and effective sources of
information about housing in the Sacramento region. This information will be included in the offer
letter to fellows.
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Compared to some other state capitals, such as Springfield, Illinois, Austin, Texas, or Richmond,
Virginia, Sacramento is between about 8-12% more expensive. However, compared to most major U.S.
cities, it is quite reasonable. For example, living in Sacramento is 50% less expensive than it is
in San Francisco, 35% less than it is in Los Angeles, 29% less than Boston and 60% less
than New York City. Living in Washington, D.C. is about 47% more costly than living in Sacramento.
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Fellows are placed in legislative offices of the California State Assembly and California State Senate. Assignments
will be in both policy committees and in the personal offices of legislators.
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Yes, there is help to transition to this new environment. One extremely valuable aspect of this fellowship
is a three week training period that occurs before placement begins. During this time, fellows will benefit
from an intensive, interactive (and fun) introduction to the fellowship, to the legislative process, and to
Sacramento. In addition to lectures, panel discussions, and seminars on various relevant topics, there will
be numerous opportunities for experiential learning, including role playing, mock legislative sessions, group
assignments, and more. Fellows will also meet legislators and legislative staff, tour the Capitol, and enjoy
an in-depth introduction to Sacramento. There will be time built into the schedule for fellows to tour the
area and to seek their placements in legislative offices. The training curriculum will include topics such
as an overview of California politics and the legislative process, science and policymaking, effective
writing and presentation styles for the legislative arena and more. Once your placement has officially
begun, you will be under the supervision of your sponsoring office; CCST will, however, monitor your
progress, provide ongoing professional development training, provide you with technical contacts, mentoring,
and other support throughout the fellowship year.
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The culture and protocols for working in the State capitol do require dressing more formally than
you may be used to if you are coming from an academic environment. In general, business attire is
expected most weekdays, with occasionally more casual attire suitable on days designated by your
assigned office. For men, a suit or slacks and sport jacket with a shirt and tie is appropriate;
women should wear business dresses, suits, or skirts.
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Fellows must commit to serving the full 12-month fellowship year. Once making that commitment, if a fellow
withdraws for any reason except verifiable medical emergency, it may be considered a breach of contract
and CCST may be able to recoup eligible costs from the Fellow. At the present time, there is no provision
for extending or renewing the fellowship.
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The base stipend is $45,000, which is comparable to the stipends provided to experienced Post Docs at the University of California.
In addition, CCST will reimburse up to $4,000 in actual relocation costs (for moves over 50 miles) and will provide
additional allowances for health insurance, travel and professional development activities that support your fellowship
experience.
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Yes. Although most fellows will be paid the base stipend, we have limited flexibility to provide a
larger stipend for fellows who meet certain criteria of experience and current salary. At the time
you are selected as one of the 10 finalists, if you feel you need to seek a higher stipend, you will
be asked to complete a stipend increase request. Your request will be reviewed and you will be notified
immediately of the level of stipend available to you. You will then have one week to determine your interest
and ability to accept the offer as proffered. If you decline, an offer will be made to an alternate
from the finalist list.
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In addition to your base stipend, up to $1,200 per month will be reimbursed by CCST for the cost of
your health and medical insurance coverage. In addition to health and medical coverage, this
reimbursement allowance can also cover other health and medical costs and expenses such as
copayments, prescriptions or coverage for your immediate family (spouse, domestic partner, and/or
dependents). Other than this reimbursement, neither CCST or the Legislature will provide you with
insurance benefits.
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Fellows will be paid a monthly stipend which will be taxable as income. Federal or state taxes will not be
withheld; fellows will be responsible for paying their own estimated taxes. You will receive a federal 1099-MISC
form at the end of the calendar year to report the income. It is recommended that you contact a licensed tax
preparer in advance of your fellowship year to answer questions relating to your specific situation.
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No. You will not be an employee of the State nor will you be an employee of CCST. You will be
paid by CCST as an independent consultant. The fellowship provides a unique professional development
opportunity to science and technology professionals. You will be fully immersed in the legislative
arena. Your daily activities will complement activities of employees in the same office. And, as all
other individuals in the legislative environment, you will be bound by the same codes of conduct,
financial disclosure requirements, and ethics guidelines.
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Because fellows will be housed in legislative offices, they occupy positions of public trust. Anyone
privileged to work in such an environment is held to high standards of personal and professional
behavior. All designated employees of the state legislature are required to submit annual financial
disclosure forms that elucidate any financial relationships that might cause a conflict of interest.
Given the nature of the fellowship, participants will be required to sign standard forms certifying
that they will abide by rules of ethical conduct established by the state legislature. Fellows will
also be required to attend ethics training courses. These provisions are guided by the California
Political Reform Act, the State Constitution and other government codes that regulate the conduct of
legislative members and staff. You will be provided more detailed information regarding these
requirements if you are selected to be a fellow.
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You may publish while on the fellowship under certain conditions. Submission of papers is subject
to review by CCST and the legislative Host Office to avoid conflicts of interest, and to ensure that
there is no breach of confidentiality The complete rules pertaining to publishing are contained in
the fellowship policies and procedures handbook, which will be provided to fellows during the
three-week training.
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