{"id":12106,"date":"2020-01-10T14:29:30","date_gmt":"2020-01-10T19:29:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/news\/?p=12106"},"modified":"2020-01-10T14:29:30","modified_gmt":"2020-01-10T19:29:30","slug":"sea-grant-accepting-applications-for-nc-stem-policy-fellows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/sea-grant-accepting-applications-for-nc-stem-policy-fellows\/","title":{"rendered":"NC Sea Grant Accepting Applications for NC STEM Policy Fellows"},"content":{"rendered":"

For Immediate Release<\/strong><\/p>\n

Contact: <\/em>
\nSara Mirabilio, semirabi@ncsu.edu<\/a><\/em>, <\/em>252-475-5488<\/em>
\nKatie Mosher, kmosher@ncsu.edu<\/a>, 919-515-9069<\/em><\/p>\n

North Carolina Sea Grant<\/a> is accepting applications for a new fellowship that will place graduate students, who have been trained at North Carolina institutions of higher education, into state government offices as science and technology fellows.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis new NC STEM Policy Fellowship<\/a> \u2014 focusing on science, technology, engineering and mathematics \u2014 provides a unique, in-state, non-academic career opportunity that may lead to greater retention of these highly trained individuals in state,\u201d notes Susan White, North Carolina Sea Grant executive director.<\/p>\n

Sea Grant will administer the pilot program in 2020-21. Funds provided through Sea Grant and a generous matching grant from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund allow for two fellowships to begin Aug. 1, 2020. The fellowships are full-time positions at 40 hours per week working with the host offices.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

One fellow will be placed at the N.C. Department of Commerce\u2019s Office of Science, Technology & Innovation<\/a>. Areas of work may include (but are not limited to): assistance with policies to support offshore wind energy; implementing recommendations provided in the \u201cNorth Carolina\u2019s Opportunities in the Data Economy\u201d report; drafting work plans and\/or policy recommendations crafted by the North Carolina Board of Science, Technology & Innovation; and engaging with board members and other key stakeholders to address statewide income and innovation inequality.<\/p>\n

One fellow will be placed at the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality\u2019s State Energy Office<\/a>. Areas of work may include (but not be limited to) items related to the state\u2019s Climate Risk Assessment and Resiliency Plan. Executive Order 80 requires that the plan be submitted to Gov. Roy Cooper in March 2020. The fellow may help explore policy options\/solutions for prioritized recommended actions. The fellow also may work on items related to the N.C. Clean Energy Plan, such as evaluating policy designs for carbon reduction strategies, like offshore wind energy.<\/p>\n

Applications are due March 2. <\/strong><\/p>\n

The 12-month fellowship also includes a competitive stipend, health care costs, and associated travel and training opportunities during the year. Total value of the fellowship is $54,500. For details, go online to: ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/fellowships<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n

North Carolina\u2019s program is modeled after successful national-level fellowships \u2014 the National Sea Grant Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship and the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences (AAAS) Science and Technology Policy Fellowship \u2014 as well as the California Council on Science and Technology\u2019s Science Fellows Program.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe North Carolina fellows will gain valuable real-world experience, and professional development opportunities, working directly with host offices engaged in STEM policy and policymaking processes,\u201d explains Sara Mirabilio, Sea Grant\u2019s coordinator for the new fellowship.<\/p>\n

\u201cHost offices also benefit from access to impartial, science-savvy fellows to help them make critical decisions,\u201d adds Mirabilio, who was a Knauss fellow earlier in her career.<\/p>\n

In addition, professional and network development opportunities for fellows are expanding in partnership with Sigma Xi, the international honor society of science and engineering. Some opportunities may be provided in Summer 2020.<\/p>\n

Eligibility for the 2020-21 NC STEM Policy Fellowship:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n