Meshing science and policy

Graduate School
1

<p>I've posted on here a few times before, but it's been awhile, so I figured I'd stick my neck back out here with some questions.</p>

<p>First, the stats. I'm a rising junior at Indiana, 3.31 GPA (curse you, organic chemistry) with a major in biology and a minor in poli sci. I wanted to double major, but unless I want to take a fifth year, it just isn't happening. No research experience as of yet, but I'm going to be an undergraduate teaching instructor. I've already taken molecular biology, immunology, organic chem I and II, and organic chem lab. </p>

<p>Now that the boring part is over...my struggles with chem as well as my insecurities about my undergrad GPA compared to a lot of people in my department (most are premeds, pre-dents, pre-op, etc) have caused me to not necessarily rethink grad school, but rethink what I'm going into. I have a passion for both science and politics, and I've been looking into ways that would let me both do research and have a policy impact. A professor turned my attention to the CIA, which has interested me, and I saw a PhD program at Georgetown in Global Infectious Diseases, but that seems like a fancy name for public health. I in no way want to get a PhD in political science, however.</p>

<p>I was wondering if anyone knew of any other programs or have any advice for me as to what I should do to help decide? Thanks!</p>

2

<p>When people are interested in working in science policy, they will often do a postdoc fellowship in it.
[Paths</a> to Science Policy - Science Careers - Biotech, Pharmaceutical, Faculty, Postdoc jobs on Science Careers](<a href=“http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2003_02_28/noDOI.3128987010116336648]Paths”>http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2003_02_28/noDOI.3128987010116336648)</p>

3

<p>How closely did you actually look at the Georgetown program site? It looks to me like a nice blend of basic science, epidemiology/public health, and policy, with a lot of flexibility built in. I suggest a second look.</p>

4

<p>Carnegie Mellon has a pretty large Engineering and Public Policy program, I know. It might be worth looking into.</p>

5

<p>MIT has a PhD program in History, Anthropology, Science, Technology, and Society (HASTS). It also has an MS program in Technology and Policy, and the PhD program in Engineering Systems Design has a track in Technology, Management, and Policy.</p>

<p>[MIT</a> Doctoral Program in History | Anthropology | Science, Technology, and Society](<a href=“http://web.mit.edu/hasts/]MIT”>http://web.mit.edu/hasts/)
[Technology</a> and Policy Program | Master’s Program](<a href=“http://tppserver.mit.edu/index.php?id=54]Technology”>http://tppserver.mit.edu/index.php?id=54)
[Technology</a> and Policy Program | Doctoral Program](<a href=“Technology and Policy Program - MIT's graduate program for scientists and engineers interested in policy work”>Technology and Policy Program - MIT's graduate program for scientists and engineers interested in policy work)</p>

6

<p>Thanks guys for all the programs…I havdn’t seen most of these!</p>

<p>Oh, and I did look at the Georgetown program pretty closely, it’s shot up to #2 on my prospective programs list, I was just afraid that because there’s no major emphasis on either basic science or public health, both scientists and policymakers wouldn’t respect it.</p>

7

<p>^ Policy makers don’t care about your major, or really even your school for that matter. They care about your preparation and expertise in the field.</p>

8

<p>There’s also a master’s program at GW in international science & technology policy - not sure if that’s your thing, but it may be worth looking into :)</p>

9

<p>check this site out:
[Guide</a> to Graduate Education in Science, Engineering and Public Policy](<a href=“http://www.aaas.org/spp/sepp/sepslpc.htm]Guide”>http://www.aaas.org/spp/sepp/sepslpc.htm)</p>

<p>under engineering/public policy, there are four colleges including mit, carnegie mellon, and maryland</p>