PhD student takes on science policy internship
Bianca Le, PhD student from the Black lab, has been given an exciting opportunity to gain insight and experience in the STEM policy environment in Australia. With the help of a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) policy graduate internship from the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, Ms Le has been able to dive deep into the world of STEM policy.
“This is a perfect opportunity to get a taste of what a non-academic career pathway could be like,” Ms Le said.
“Even if I do decide to do a post-doc in basic science, I believe that having an understanding of how science policies and action statements are developed would only be beneficial for a career in science research,” she said.
Ms Le became interested in science policy after attending a Science Meets Parliament event in Canberra earlier this year. With her supervisor Professor Jane Black’s support, she applied for the internship at the Academy. Of the 18 applicants, only Ms Le and one other person were selected.
“I thought this was a wonderful opportunity for Bianca to explore potential career pathways, where she can work with government to make a difference in science in Australia,” Professor Black said.
The Academy is an independent, non-government organisation which advocates for a future in which technology, engineering and innovation contribute significantly to Australia’s social, economic and environmental wellbeing. Interns have the opportunity to contribute to the development of policy position and action statements, preparation of major government reports and planning and organisation of the Academy’s events.
Since beginning her internship, Ms Le has worked on multiple projects, including the Women in STEM Decadal Plan, a submission to DFAT on soft power and a new project on social licences of new and emerging technology.
“Everything is going so well that they’ve actually asked me to stay for the rest of the year!” Ms Le said.
“My supervisor has been incredibly supportive of my decision,” she said.
Ms Le will return to her PhD studies in mid-January 2019.
“I cannot stress how valuable this experience has been for me, not only for developing skills and increasing my network in science, but also because I now have a better understanding of how academia intersects with government and industry,” Ms Le said.
“I strongly recommend this internship to all PhD students interested in making a difference!”
For anyone interested in applying for an Academy internship, find out more by visiting their website.
About the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute
Committed to making the discoveries that will relieve the future burden of disease, the newly established Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute at Monash University brings together more than 120 internationally-renowned research teams. Our researchers are supported by world-class technology and infrastructure, and partner with industry, clinicians and researchers internationally to enhance lives through discovery.