Annika Jorgenson, a second-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Indiana University Bloomington, where she studies geochemistry and paleoclimate. Her research focuses on reconstructing various aspects of the water cycle during the Eocene, approximately 50 million years ago, to better understand how Earth’s environment responded to periods of elevated atmospheric CO₂. In addition to her research, Annika is pursuing a Ph.D. minor in Climate Policy, reflecting her passion for bridging scientific research and evidence-based policymaking.
Sarah Seto, an ABD Ph.D. candidate in Child and Family Studies at the University of Notre Dame and is expected to graduate this coming August. Her research examines how families communicate, navigate conflict, and build emotional security, encompassing both basic research and applied translational work. Through this research, she seeks to advance the understanding of family relationships while informing practices and interventions that strengthen family well-being.
Meredith Shand, a third-year PhD Candidate at the Indiana University School of Medicine studying how the brain communicates with other organ systems, with a focus on kidney–brain interactions in inflammation. As an INSPECT Fellow with the Indiana Academy of Science, she works with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to support wildlife conservation through research, science communication, and policy engagement. She is passionate about bridging science and decision-making, ensuring research informs policies that impact communities and ecosystems. Outside the lab, she enjoys traveling to a new country each year, exploring national parks, and spending time with her Pembroke Welsh corgi, Beatrice, and partner, Adam.
The Indiana Science Policy: Educate, Collaborate, Transform (INSPECT) Fellowship is a new fellowship program hosted by the Indiana Academy of Science (IAS). The INSPECT Fellowship’s purpose is to bring together the scientific community and state government while training scientists to be effective advisors for public policy. These fellowships will enable current graduate students in STEM fields to work side by side with elected officials to incorporate more scientific information into state and local policy decisions, promoting the long-term health, sustainability, and economic growth of Hoosiers across Indiana.
Learn about the IU INSPECT Fellows Program here.
For information about the INSPECT Program, contact Dr. Paul Doss.
Fellowship Details: The INSPECT Fellowship is a 10-week summer program (≈ June 1 – Mid-August) for current graduate students that places Fellows in an executive agency host office in the state of Indiana. The Fellowship will include an orientation and training at the beginning and a Fellowship reception at the conclusion of the program. INSPECT Fellows will be current master’s or doctoral-level graduate students from partner Universities across the state of Indiana, selected based on career interests, desire to link science and policy, and scientific integrity. Fellows will be matched to host offices based on mutual interest and placement availability. Potential host offices include but are not limited to the following topics: life sciences, agriculture & conservation, education & workforce, public health, technology & engineering, energy & transportation, and economics & finance.
Eligibility: INSPECT Fellows must be current graduate students (Master’s or Doctoral) in a STEM-related field or a public policy-oriented program in one of the INSPECT Partner Universities (currently: University of Notre Dame, Indiana University-Indianapolis, and Indiana University-Bloomington). Social scientists (i.e., students in fields such as anthropology, economics, psychology, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to apply. Students must be enrolled in a degree-granting program and be able to work full-time with their hosting institution over the 10-week summer term. U.S. and non-U.S. citizens are eligible to apply; however, eligibility for international students may depend on Host Office placements and funding mechanisms from university partners.
Fellow Selection Process: The INSPECT Fellowship is awarded to qualified applicants who demonstrate a keen interest in enhancing the interface between science and political decision-making and who wish to learn about the public policy process in Indiana. The selection process for Fellows is managed by the Indiana Academy of Science and is determined by an Advisory Committee assembled and overseen by the INSPECT Fellowship Coordinator. Three finalists selected by each participating institution are forwarded to the IAS INSPECT Fellowship Committee. The IAS committee selects individual Fellows based on merit and aptitude for the science policy fellowship. Selected Fellow applications are forwarded to the preferred Host Offices for final confirmation, after which Fellows will be notified.
Application Requirements: Resume or CV (maximum of 3 pages), Recommendation letters (2), Personal statement (maximum of 1,000 words), Statement on Science Policy in Indiana (maximum of 750 words), Host Office Preferences, and an optional Diversity Statement (maximum of 250 words)
Compensation: INSPECT fellows will receive a stipend determined by their institution, but not less than $8,500 for the approximately 10-week-long program. Fellows may also receive funds or support for professional development/training costs and travel expenses.
INSPECT Fellowship Coordinator, Dr. Paul Doss, and the 2023 INSPECT Fellows.
Previous INSPECT Fellow Host Offices and Information
Department of Transportation (INDOT):
Preferred fields of study: Engineer (interested in working with INDOT after fellowship), experience with data analytics, policy & human relations
Scope of work:
● Liaison work with legislators in tandem with the Legislative Director: Help work on policy proposals to send to governor
● Electric vehicle infrastructure implementation plan and Alternative fuels
● Differential truck speed limits, Road funding, Leg for workzone safety enforcement
Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR):
Preferred fields of study: Biology, Data Science, Econ., Human Dimensions, Natural Resources, Political Science, Sociology
Scope of work:
• Work with the DFW Office of Science and Research to predict/assess the impact of proposed/implemented rule changes or legislation related to mgmt of fish or wildlife in Indiana.
• May include analysis and synthesis of biological, economic, and/or social data collected by the agency to address a policy question.
Indiana Department of Education (DoE):
Preferred fields of study: Some experience with education work (no specific degree), academic standards, assessment cycles
Scope of work:
● STEM Literacy Initiative – provide support for individual districts and schools
● High-level science support to schools, policy implementation > policy analysis
● Over the summer is good time to focus on some research efforts
Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH):
Preferred fields of study: Public Health definitely preferred
Scope of work:
● Public Health Laboratory @ 16th & MLK
● Public Health Protection Commission initiatives
○ Environmental public health
○ Lead and healthy homes
● Offices of Data Analytics & Cybersecurity (technical–less policy-related)
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