SPG Hosts Science Policy Nonprofit Career Panel!
On October 26th, SPG’s Science Communication & Professional Development Committee teamed up with UCLA Graduate Career Services to host three researchers and policy professionals at various think tanks and NGOs:
Dr. Nipher Malika is a social epidemiologist and a policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. Her research centers on closing the gap in health inequities through 1) understanding how various social determinants affect the health of individuals and communities; and 2) identifying solutions, in partnership with communities, to address a range of health inequities. Her current work is primarily in the United States and East Africa but has also done work in Asia and South America.
Bryan Lee is a Lead Project Manager at CALSTART, a nonprofit organization advancing the clean transportation industry. He works on projects related to zero-emission transportation with a focus on microgrids, zero-emission buses, and zero-emission harbor craft.
Emily Parker is a Coastal and Marine Scientist at Heal the Bay. Emily works to keep oceans and marine ecosystems healthy and clean by advocating for strong legislation and enforcement both locally and statewide. She focuses on plastic pollution, marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, and climate change related issues.
Moderated by SPG’s Erin Morrow and GCS’s Elyse Gueidon, the panelists answered questions about their research, policy, and science communication careers in the nonprofit and think tank space. A common thread amongst the panelists was an appreciation of the mission-driven (rather than profit-driven) environment of their organization, where everyone has the same overarching goal. The panelists felt that their work was highly rewarding: Nipher mentioned valuing the ample opportunities for peer collaboration at RAND, and Bryan found a lot of satisfaction in seeing the real-world impact of his work (in his case, a fleet of electric buses!). However, because their careers are driven by personal interest and dedication to a mission, the panelists mentioned having to be intentional with work-life balance because they can easily overwork. Indeed, we learned that RAND employees tend to be so passionate about their projects that they have to be financially incentivized to take PTO!
Audience members also learned how careers at nonprofit organizations differ from for-profit, academic, and government settings. A particularly interesting question from an audience member asked how nonprofits maintain their integrity and manage potential conflicts of interest from funding sources. In response, we learned that smaller organizations like Heal the Bay will draw strict boundaries when accepting donations to maintain public trust (no money from oil and gas companies, for example), while larger organizations like RAND have funding departments to decide who sponsors their work.
The panelists also had practical advice for how to become a competitive applicant for similar positions. The panelists emphasized networking to find ‘connections of connections’ in your field of interest with whom you can start building relationships. In terms of application materials, panelists suggested writing a cover letter that tells a story demonstrating your passion and alignment with the organization’s mission. The CV is often simply used for screening applicants because they get so many qualified applications, but can be used wisely to show your subject matter expertise and note your strengths. If applying for non-entry level positions, it is critical to explicitly highlight project management skills. In the science policy space, panelists noted that applicants must be able to communicate their passions and goals outside of specific policy targets in order to communicate what motivates you if a specific policy goal falls through. Demonstrating creativity, resilience, and adaptability is important, because as one panelist stated, “Fighting for better shorelines, electric buses, and cures for diseases is hard and you’re going to lose. Learning from those losses and fueling your own fire is key.” Lastly, for grad students interested in marine ecology, Emily brought up some fellowships that could help students gain experience, linked here.
A delicious Mediterranean meal and a chance to connect with the panelists wrapped up the event! SPG hopes to keep in touch with the panelists and their organizations and host similar events in the future. Thanks to the event organizers, the Union for Concerned Scientists for funding, and everyone who attended for their great questions and for helping make it a success!
