The Science Policy & Advocacy for STEM Scientists Certificate Program, operated under the UC Irvine Graduate Professional Success for STEM PhDs & Postdocs (GPS-STEM) Program, equips graduate students and postdoctoral researchers from around the world with essential skills for transitioning into science policy and advocacy careers. The virtual program accepts early career trainees from any institution in the U.S. or abroad. Through an emphasis on practical skills, networking, and career development, participants gain a comprehensive understanding of, and engage in, science policy and advocacy.
Participants delve into carefully designed modules spanning a broad range of policy areas, including public health, environmental and STEM education policy, and more. The structured curriculum includes modules designed to train future policy leaders in key areas such as communication, policy writing, elevator pitching, and networking. It also includes interactive career development panels and professional discussions led by experts in the field, which are vital for success in policy and advocacy careers.
One notable feature of our program is its commitment to inclusivity. We strive to reduce barriers to participation by being inclusive of geographical regions, gender, race, and nationality. Our program is open to individuals beyond the U.S. and is not limited to U.S. citizens, recognizing the global need for well-trained science policy professionals. We also ensure that trainees, including those in U.S. regions with limited policy opportunities, have access to program resources and training.
As part of the Certificate Program, we have developed resources to help other U.S. universities establish similar programs, fostering nationwide adoption of science policy training. The program toolkit on Padlet, instructional YouTube Channel, and comprehensive publication detailing our curriculum and modules (Bankston et al., 2023) serve as valuable resources for institutions aiming to cultivate future policy leaders. Our goal is to see more universities adopt these models, fostering a generation of science policy professionals equipped to make significant contributions in their area of interest.
The overarching UC Irvine GPS-STEM initiative provides a robust suite of professional development opportunities designed to help STEM graduate students and postdocs excel across various career paths. Beyond the Science Policy & Advocacy Certificate Program, GPS-STEM offers tailored workshops, mentoring, and experiential learning that align with the evolving needs of the STEM workforce, including those interested in policy-related careers. By integrating career development into the academic journey, GPS-STEM fosters a holistic approach to professional growth, ensuring our trainees are well-prepared for impactful roles in science policy and beyond.
We invite you to explore the Science Policy & Advocacy for STEM Scientists Certificate Program, alongside the broader suite of professional development opportunities provided by GPS-STEM.
References
Bankston, A., Ralston, A., Ly, J., & Singh, H. (2023). Development and outcomes of an international certificate program in science policy and advocacy for STEM PhD students and postdocs (p. 2023.11.26.568726). bioRxiv. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.11.26.568726v1