Science policy

ISTP fellows are required to participate in monthly professional development seminars. Most professional development seminars are open to broader audiences. Seminar topics have included benefit-cost analysis, science policy communication and post-fellowship career trajectories. For questions, please email istpf@uidaho.edu. 

Idaho Science & Technology Policy Fellowship (ISTPF) orientation is held the week before Labor Day. Orientation brings together local and national experts in science policy, government, law and more. It is an opportunity to learn about science policy, the history of science and technology policy in the U.S., how science policy works in federal and state government, public policy analysis, the three branches of government in Idaho, science policy communications and more. Elements of the five-day orientation are often offered online.   

Aug. 25 - Aug. 29, 2025, orientation week schedule 

1:30-4 p.m. MDT
Science and Technology Policy - History and Organization

Dr. Anna Quider, Principal, The Quider Group

Overview of the history, organization, and uses of science and technology policy in the United States, including the role of the White House, Congress, and federal agencies, as well as connection to Idaho.

Registration required: https://uidaho.zoom.us/meeting/register/f77UCk7VQ96LGKWHWF8Zog  

8:30-10 a.m. MDT     
Idaho’s Political History

Dr. Sarah Robey, Associate Professor of History, Idaho State University and Dr. Stephanie Witt, Professor, Public Policy & Administration and Professor, Political Science, School of Public Service, Boise State University

Introduction to Idaho’s geography and development, connecting to politics in Idaho from the historical perspective, touching on the three branches of government, important influencers, pivotal moments, local-state/state-federal dynamics, and more.

Registration required: https://uidaho.zoom.us/meeting/register/jkGrJhOOTTKn7Qf2n4X1_A 

10:30-11:45 a.m. MDT
Panel—Political Savviness

Current and alumni state and federal science and technology policy fellows

Transitioning from your lab or office to an agency office may be a culture shift. Hear insights in how to navigate agency and government hierarchies, understand quickly the policy process, ask for help in your new environment, and office and agency life.    

Registration required:
https://uidaho.zoom.us/meeting/register/PoyCYJN0S52PHrkopdzugg

3-4:15 p.m. MDT 
Panel—Technology Policy  

Panelists in the field of technology policy

Presentations and discussion on pressing and emerging topics in technology policy.  

Registration required:  
https://uidaho.zoom.us/meeting/register/sAYPGWmeR6OjbgZduJ-LrA  

10:30-11:45 a.m. MDT     
Panel – How to Successfully Brief

Current and alumni state and federal science and technology policy fellows

How do you successfully write talking points for yourself and others? What does it mean to brief your boss? How does an oral briefing connect to a written brief? Learn insights and best practices.

Registration required: 
https://uidaho.zoom.us/meeting/register/r-nr4MGkTsi7mh6qrFCl-A 

Austin Shannon, Ph.D.

2025-26 Fellow

Austin Shannon is a microbiologist with experience in science policy and science communication. Shannon will be spending his fellowship year at the Legislative Services Office. He earned a doctorate in microbiology and immunology at the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor’s in biomedical science and minors in chemistry and philosophy from Northern Arizona University.

Ryan Tarver, Ph.D.

2025-26 Fellow

Ryan Tarver is a socio-ecological systems scientist who focuses on social aspects of natural resource management. He will be spending his fellowship year in the Legislative Services Office. Tarver recently completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at Boise State University. He earned a doctorate in environment and society at Utah State University and holds a master’s in cultural and environmental resource management and a bachelor’s in recreation and tourism management from Central Washington University. 

Cailin Casey, Ph.D.

2024-25 Fellow  

Cailin Casey is an interdisciplinary researcher who specializes in bioinspired mechanical engineering. She is excited to address the complex issues facing Idahoans as a fellow in the Legislative Services Office. Casey earned her doctorate in mechanical engineering at Montana State University, where she was a U.S. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow and holds bachelor’s degrees in biology and Spanish from Gettysburg College.

Ellen Upton, Ph.D.

2024-25 Fellow

Ellen Upton specializes in immunology within the field of biomedical science research. She is spending her fellowship year in the Legislative Services Office. Upton earned a doctorate in immunology from the University of Iowa and a bachelor's in biochemistry and molecular biology from Grove City College in Pennsylvania.

Kimberly Gardner, Ph.D.

2023-25 Fellow

Kimberly Gardner specializes in the field of science and technology studies, exploring questions related to ethical use of data and emerging technologies. She is spending her fellowship in a joint appointment with the Idaho Department of Labor and Idaho Workforce Development Council. Gardner’s portfolio will include a number of initiatives, such as developing performance metrics for Idaho’s Launch program and assisting agency stakeholders in creating guidelines for responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. She earned a doctorate in public policy and administration from Boise State University, a master’s in public policy and administration from Baylor University and a bachelor’s in political science from Boise State University.

Sarah Maher, Ph.D.

2022-24 Fellow

Sarah Maher is an interdisciplinary researcher with expertise in magnetic studies and data analysis. She spent her fellowship with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) and focused on the Greater Sage-Grouse and the connections between state and federal government. Maher holds a doctorate in Earth sciences from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, a master’s in geology and geophysics from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and a bachelor’s in physics and astronomy from the University of Victoria.

Anna Briggs, Ph.D.

2022-23 Fellow

Anna Briggs is an expert in diseases transmitted by insects, with an emphasis on biological factors that affect malaria parasite transmission. She was the ISTPF’s first legislative branch fellow and spent her fellowship year with the Legislative Services Office (LSO). In LSO, she contributed to a number of initiatives, including preparing a brief on Idaho’s Digital Learning Academy and presenting the brief to the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee (JFAC). Briggs earned a doctorate in entomology, a master’s in animal science and a bachelor’s in animal and veterinary science with minors in microbiology and Spanish from the University of Idaho.

Jared Talley, Ph.D.

2021-22 Fellow

Jared Talley specializes in environmental governance, philosophy and policy. He spent his fellowship year in the Governor’s Office of Species Conservation (OSC) and the Idaho STEM Action Center. His work at STEM AC focused on rural STEM education, centering around the organization of a statewide rural education collaborative. His work at OSC focused on organizing and strategizing internal collaborative efforts, as well as designing and implementing a statewide salmon recovery policy survey. Talley is Idaho state policy advisor for The Nature Conservancy in Idaho. He earned a doctorate in philosophy from Michigan State University, a master’s of public administration from Boise State University, a bachelor’s in philosophy from Boise State University and an associate degree in liberal arts from the College of Western Idaho.

Samantha Werth, Ph.D.

2021-22 Fellow

Samantha Werth is an expert in environmental and economic impacts of cattle production and food supply chains. She was the ISTPF’s second ISTP Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES) fellow and spent her fellowship supporting energy topics broadly in the Governor’s Office of Energy and Mineral Resources (OEMR) and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Werth is currently executive director for the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef and the senior director of sustainability for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. She earned a doctorate and master’s in animal biology and a bachelor’s in animal science, all from the University of California, Davis.

Sarah Hendricks, Ph.D.

2020-21 Fellow

Sarah Hendricks specializes in bioinformatics. She spent her fellowship year at the Governor’s Office of Species Conservation (OSC), leading a variety of activities, including reporting on state conservation assessments and strategies for the preservation of Idaho’s rare and declining species. Following her fellowship year, Hendricks worked for OSC before returning to the University of Idaho as a bioinformatics data scientist. She earned a doctorate in bioinformatics and computation biology at the University of Idaho, a master’s in ecology and systematic biology from San Francisco State University and bachelor’s in biological sciences and women’s and gender studies from DePaul University.

Veronika Vazhnik, Ph.D.

2020-21 Fellow

Veronika Vazhnik is an expert in energy and sustainability research. She was the inaugural ISTP Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES) fellow. In this capacity, Vazhnik spent her fellowship in the Governor’s Office of Energy and Mineral Resources (OEMR), leading an update to Idaho’s Energy Assurance Plan, a blueprint to help Idaho prepare for and prevent crises related to energy system disruptions. Following her fellowship year, she joined a consulting firm and specializes in sustainability. Vazhnik holds a doctorate in biorenewable systems, with a minor in operations research from Pennsylvania State University, and a bachelor’s in earth and environmental sciences from University College Freiburg at the Albert Ludwig University in Germany. 

• Application opens: Tuesday, Jan. 21
• Application closes: Sunday, March 30
• Application review: Through early April
• Semifinalist video interviews: Mid-April
• Fellow notification: Late April
• ISTPF placement interviews: Week of Aug. 18
• ISTPF orientation: Week of Aug. 25
• Fellows in host office: Sept. 2 

Fellowships are highly competitive, involving a merit review and selection process. Members of the selection committee represent a broad range of backgrounds including academia, private and non-profit sectors, state agencies and ISTPF advisory board members.

Candidates are evaluated and scored based on the five categories outlined below.* The ISTPF seeks individuals who have a combination of leadership attributes, analytical and problem-solving abilities, and communication skills and demonstrate commitment to this professional development opportunity and its objectives. A perfect score is 100 points. 

Scientific/technical background and professional accomplishment (1-20 points)

• Solid science/social science/technical education and experience in area of expertise, appropriate to career stage.
• Employment in relevant academic, applied science/social science/technical, research, administration, outreach or policy positions appropriate to career stage and field.
• Record of publications and/or presentations appropriate to career stage, field and institutional setting.
• Record of grants and/or participation in research projects or other science/social science/technical initiatives appropriate to career stage, field and institutional setting. 

Leadership and potential (1-20 points)

• Prior leadership roles relevant to career stage (e.g., graduate student governance or faculty committees; advisory or editorial committees; active in professional societies, nonprofit or community initiatives).
• Skill/potential to organize, build consensus, lead projects and people toward positive outcomes.
• Confidence, maturity and self-direction with the capacity, initiative and flexibility to work well independently, as well as in groups.
• Ability to identify personal strengths and areas for growth and development.
• Potential to take initiative to make the fellowship a rich and positive experience, disseminate the skills learned through the fellowship and take advantage of networks developed. 

Analytical and problem-solving abilities (1-20 points)

• Evidence of critical thinking, analytical skill and versatility.
• Ability to translate and apply theoretical concepts into practice to solve problems.
• Capacity to make connections between science, social science and technology and broader economic, social and political issues.

Communication, interpersonal and outreach skills (1-20 points)

• Excellent communication skills: articulate, cohesive, concise, rational flow of information and clear in both context and detail.
• Ability to convey science/social science/technology knowledge in broader contexts.
• Capacity to work effectively with diverse stakeholders outside science, social science and/or engineering communities. 

Commitment to ISTPF (1-20 points)

• Strong interest in applying science/social science/technical knowledge toward the solution of problems in areas in which the fellowship would be served.
• Clarity of objectives for applying to the fellowship and how the fellowship experience will be used in the future.
• Willingness and flexibility to tackle issues beyond area of expertise, openness and capacity to expand experience in the policy realm and to interact with Idaho policymakers and regulators.
• Realistic expectations, open-minded and adaptable to fellowship opportunities and challenges.
• Demonstrated or clearly communicated commitment to apply science/social science/technical expertise to serve society and in particular the state of Idaho.

* Based on selection criteria set by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science and Technology Policy Fellowships (STPF) 

Total compensation provided to ISTP fellows includes salary, benefits, such as healthcare and retirement, and certain support for travel and professional development. Reimbursement for select moving expenses also may be covered.

Annual salary schedule:

• Early career (0-6 years post-qualifying degree): $65,000
• Mid-career (7-14 years post-qualifying degree): $75,004.80
• Late career (15+ years post-qualifying degree): $85,009.60

Please note that salary provided through the ISTPF may be reduced by an amount commensurate with salary support to the fellow from other sources (e.g., salary provided in support of a faculty sabbatical).

For a better understanding of health and other benefits, see the University of Idaho Benefits page. 

The professional development program is an integral part of the fellowship experience and includes a one-week orientation and monthly seminars and trainings. The curriculum is designed around learning goals and objectives developed specifically for science and technology policy fellowship programs. The learning goals and objectives support each fellow’s development as a science policy leader and encompass four areas of learning: policy and the state government, leadership, communication and networking and career strategies. 

Fellows whose stipends are administered by the ISTPF receive a travel/professional training allowance of $3,000. The funds may be used only for fellowship-related travel and for professional training. All travel and training must be pre-approved by the placement office and the ISTPF.

The ISTPF is a collaborative effort among the University of Idaho, Boise State University and Idaho State University. The three universities provide oversight and administration of the ISTPF. The operation of the ISTPF is informed by the ISTPF advisory board.

The advisory board meets twice yearly to provide ongoing guidance on the ISTPF. The advisory board is chaired by Katherine Himes, Ph.D., Director of the McClure Center for Public Policy Research at the University of Idaho.

Advisory board members

Nonpartisan sponsors

• Boise State University School of Public Service
• Idaho State University
• University of Idaho James A. and Louise McClure Center for Public Policy Research 

Sources of financial support 

• California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) in partnership with the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and the Simons Foundation
• Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES)
• Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
• Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
• Idaho National Laboratory on behalf of Battelle Energy Alliance
• Idaho STEM Action Center
• Micron Foundation
• POWER Engineers
• Boise State University
• Idaho State University
• University of Idaho
• Individual contributions