QUALIFICATIONS TO ENTER THE FIELD OFFICE OF CAREER SERVICES

+ Analytical skills, both Career Opportunities in qualitative and quantitative , , + Knowledge of the AND environment and the significant issues affecting Description of the Field

Science, technology, and public policy is a maturing field focused on the + Information management interactions among scientific developments, , social skills values, and governmental activities at both international and domestic

levels. It is concerned with the ways in which citizens and professionals in + Effective reporting and industry, government, labor, academia, and non-profit organizations skills, both understand these interactions and apply their understanding to solve verbal and written social, environmental, human health, and economic problems, as well as

promote and manage scientific and technological systems that serve as + Strong background in potential solutions.

Career Paths + Political and persuasive Recent graduates with science policy degrees work in , analysis, skills, especially diplomacy or management with such positions as Research Analyst, Program or when working with diverse Policy Analyst, Legislative Analyst, or the more specific Environmental groups Protection Specialist. Salaries may be higher for candidates with technical or scientific undergraduate or graduate degrees or significant + Good teamwork and work experience in the field, on Capitol Hill, or in federal agencies, networking skills nonprofit think tanks, or industry. + Substantive knowledge of a Career paths in policy making, , and policy research require specialized area such as different kinds of skills and capabilities as well as different types of biotechnology, defense, training and work styles. In addition, career paths leading to similar space, or the environment positions may differ. For example, senior executive-level policy making positions in federal agencies often require scientific or technical + A technical degree (e.g. credentials, whereas senior congressional committee policy making PhD, MS, or BS in or positions are less demanding of technical qualifications and more ) is required for demanding of political skills. The same may be said of policy positions in some science and management careers. A person entering the field as a Research or Policy technology organizations Assistant might expect to progress to Analyst or Technical Consultant, later becoming Project Director or senior professional staff, and ultimately advancing to policy making positions such as Assistant Secretary, Executive Director, or Vice President. With some exceptions, a PhD is usually required for movement to senior levels, and generally the closer the position is to academia or high-level think tanks, the more a PhD is needed.

Updated 6/18

Demand FUTURE CHALLENGES Public sector employers have traditionally hired more science and graduates than any other employer. Federal agency OF THE PROFESSION demands have increased since September 11, 2001 because of the need for science and technology experts working in national security policy, + There is an increasing computer and telecommunications issues, as well as public health and awareness of the economic, environmental hazards. Continuing growth in demand at the state level – political, and social where there is also a need for scientific and technical policy expertise — is consequences of decisions in contingent on the ability of states to overcome present fiscal cutbacks. In the science, technology, and the international arena, there is a need for science and technology policy policy field in areas such as specialists to assist with bilateral negotiations, agreements, research, and computers and grants management, especially around issues such as genetic telecommunication engineering and its effect on international trade and health policies. , genetic

Private sector employers have tended to hire science and technology engineering, cloning, graduates with engineering or technical backgrounds and excellent biological weapons analytical skills. Openings also occur in regulatory, strategic planning, or development, and global external relations departments for candidates with extensive climate change, as well as congressional or federal experience. In research and consulting other technological areas. organizations that serve the federal government, there is a growing There is an increasing need to demand for science and technology specialists. This is especially true for build bridges and integrate those with expertise in the environment, telecommunications, the diverse national and conversion of defense industries, public health issues, and technology international institutions transfer. linking governments and

universities with the private Sample Group of Employers sector and with newly o US Agency for International Development - usaid.gov emerging businesses and o American Association for the Advancement of Science - aaas.org research organizations. In o American Physical Society - aps.org addition, enhancing the o ANSER Corporation - anser.org of the public o Battelle Memorial Institute - battelle.org o Center for Strategic and International Studies - csis.org is paramount to making o Central Intelligence Agency - cia.gov better political and societal o Congressional Research Service - loc.gov/crsinfo decisions about science and o US Department of Agriculture - usda.gov technology. Expertise in o US Department of Commerce - doc.gov science, technology, and o US Department of Defense - dod.gov public policy will be essential o US Department of Energy - doe.gov to help nations, citizens, and o US Department of Interior - doi.gov industry recognize their o US Department of State - state.gov common interdependence, o Environmental Defense Fund - edf.org their common problems, and o US Environmental Protection Agency – epa.gov to agree on solutions and o Federal Bureau of Investigation - fbi.gov ways to pay for them. o General Accountability Office - gao.gov o Global Biotech - glo-bio.com o House Committee on Science - science.house.gov o Lockheed Martin - lockheedmartin.com

o NASA - nasa.gov o National Academy of - nas.edu o National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency - nga.mil/Careers/Pages/default.aspx o National Institutes of Health - nih.gov o National Science Foundation - nsf.gov o Northrop Grumman Corporation - northropgrumman.com o Pew Initiatives - pewtrusts.org o RAND Corporation - rand.org o Raytheon Company - raytheon.com o Rockwell International - rockwell.com o Science Applications International Corporation, Inc. (SAIC) - saic.com o SRI International - sri.com o Stockholm Environment Institute - sei.se o Tellus Institute - tellus.org o Union of Concerned - ucsusa.org o Winrock International – winrock.org o World Bank - worldbank.org

Resources for Additional Information

Associations o American Association for the Advancement of Science - aaas.org o American Chemical Society - acs.org o American Physical Society - aps.org o Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology - faseb.org o National Academy of Sciences - nas.edu o International Association of Science and Technology for Development - iasted.org o Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management - appam.org

Office of Career Services | 420 West 118 Street, Room 420, New York, NY 10027 212-854-4613 | Fax 212-854-6190 | [email protected] | sipa.columbia.edu/ocs