Science Policy

Introduction

CASE Workshop: Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering

Each spring, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) hosts its Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering (CASE) workshop. The University of Virginia regularly participates as an institutional sponsor, with the goal of enabling a small cohort of graduate students to attend this entry-level workshop every year. Selected students participate in the 3.5-day program in Washington, DC, and learn about the structure and organization of Congress, the federal budget and appropriations processes, and tools for effective science communication and civic engagement. In addition, students will participate in interactive seminars about policy making and communication.

The registration fees and travel expenses will be covered through the PhD Plus program. An internal review process will select the University’s participants. Learn more about the eligibility requirements and submission guidelines.

Application materials must be submitted no later than Friday, February 7, 2025.

Learn more about the Spring 2025 program by clicking here.

Science Policy Bootcamp

This multi-day event will take place from January 8-10, 2025 (J-Term) and includes a Policy 101 overview, an introduction to how your science gets funded, a discussion centered on transitions in government, conversations about hot-button topics such as AI, a science policy-focused workshop, and more. Participants will also have the opportunity to learn from professionals who have a wide range of experience in science-, health-, and technology-policy.

This program is open and free for UVA graduate students and postdocs, and will be held in person in the New Cabell Hall Language Common (Suite 298) and virtually on Zoom. Participants who attend all 3 days of this event and submit a final version of their workshop activity will receive a digital badge. The badge will be issued by PhD Plus through Credly, a badging platform.

Learn more about the January 2025 event by clicking here.

PhD Plus & SPI - Careers in Health Policy Panel Discussion

The Science Policy Initiative (SPI) and PhD Plus program will be hosting a virtual panel discussion with three UVA-grads-turned federal agency leaders at the FDA and NIH, with backgrounds in biomedical engineering, immunology, and biochemistry. The panel will span perspectives from people who are working across the health policy spectrum, from “in-the-weeds” policy analysts at the NIH to people who are working more closely in the medical products/device regulatory side of an agency to ensure the safety of the public’s health through federal review and guidelines at the FDA. The discussion will begin with a few questions centered on the panelists’ paths in health or biomedical policy, followed by an audience Q&A session.

Learn more about the December 2024 event by clicking here.

Science Policy Fellowship Workshop

Each summer, PhD Plus and the Science Policy Initiative at UVA co-host a half-day workshop that is specifically designed for graduate students and postdocs who are interested in pursuing science policy fellowship and internship opportunities. The event will include an overview of different types of science policy opportunities (summer internships to postgraduate fellowship programs), a panel discussion featuring national program officers, tips on how to get started, and more.