Five Questions for Kelsey Hopland, Ph.D ’24 Postdoctoral fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Neuroscience WCGS graduate, former science policy intern

1. You spent four months as a science policy intern at Research!America, a nonprofit medical and health research advocacy alliance based in Arlington, Va. What did your role entail? 

I kept leadership apprised of pressing issues in science and technology, contributed to public resources on the website, drafted questions and scripts for discussions with alliance member organizations and external collaborators, and attended Congressional briefings, meetings and hearings to track progress on the annual appropriations process. 

2. What did a typical day look like for you? 

My internship was fully remote, so a typical day included virtual meetings interspersed with individual and collaborative research and writing. Each morning, we had a brief all-hands meeting to get up to speed on the various organization activities and goals for the day and identify areas for cross-departmental collaboration. After the morning round-up, I set off to work individually on my assigned tasks or collaboratively with my policy and advocacy colleagues. It was very common for the team to work together virtually on the same document, particularly for public-facing documents like witness testimonies for appropriations subcommittee hearings. 

Generally, each day was a mixture of self-directed work, internal organization meetings, external meetings with alliance member organizations and Hill staffers, and Congressional hearings or press briefings related to appropriations.  

 3. How did Weill Cornell Graduate School prepare you for this position? 

I became interested in science policy, and R!A in particular, following a WCGS Science & Society seminar in 2018 with RiA president and CEO Mary Woolley. After her talk, I had the opportunity to attend dinner with her and was inspired by the commitment of R!A to empower political engagement by scientists. Those early conversations sparked my interest in science policy.  

 To learn more, I joined the Tri-I Science Policy and Education Association (SEPA) and attended the National Science Policy Network (NSPN) Symposium at The Rockefeller University. Further inspired by conversations with passionate colleagues in SEPA and galvanizing presentations at NSPN, I took an active role in policy and advocacy through WCGS opportunities and programs. I successfully ran for the WCGS Graduate Student Executive Council twice and was nominated as the student representative for the Trainer-Learner Committee. These positions honed my skills as a leader and established my reputation as a strong advocate for students.  

 Additionally, through the Division of Government & Community Affairs, I had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. to participate in the annual Rally for Medical Research days. Through these experiences, I learned how to communicate with non-scientific audiences, and how to advocate for science in a non-partisan manner. Weill Cornell Medicine seminars, clubs, councils and opportunities contributed to my development as a leader, communicator and advocate – qualities that created a strong application and served me well in the role.  

 4. What advice would you give to students interested in pursuing a career in science policy? 

Science policy is an interdisciplinary field that requires a strong foundation in critical thinking and communication skills. In addition to developing your scientific acumen through rigorous thesis work, invest in extracurriculars that cultivate expertise in leadership, policy and communication.  

 Seek out leadership roles in your lab, department or program, student government, clubs and external organizations. Strengthen your understanding of policy processes by applying for policy internships or fellowships, participating in policy-oriented clubs and organizations (like SEPA), taking policy courses (Rockefeller offers a science diplomacy course), or attending conferences hosted by policy-minded organizations like the National Science Policy Network or the American Association for the Advancement of Science.  

 Refine your communication skills, particularly with non-scientific audiences, by presenting at conferences and competitions (like “Three Minute Thesis”), authoring policy memos or blog posts (SciTech Forefront is a good starting place), and engaging with the public through mentorship or teaching programs (Tri-I Outreach Club, the New York Academy of Sciences Afterschool STEM Mentoring Program, or the 1000 Girls, 1000 Futures program).  

 Keep apprised of current goings-on in science, technology and policy by following the news and subscribing to relevant newsletters and podcasts. I personally enjoy Punchbowl News and KFF Health News email digests, as well as The New York Times’ “The Daily” and NPR’s “Up First” podcasts. Finally, build relationships and connect with professionals in the field. Consider all interactions as networking opportunities – you never know who might open doors for you in the future. 

 5. What is your current role? 

 I am currently a postdoctoral fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in the lab of Dr. Viviane Tabar. I conduct translational research at the intersection of neuroscience, immunology and cancer biology. I study the immune microenvironment of glioblastoma using human stem cell and patient-derived in vitro models and CRISPR-screening platforms.  

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