CASE - CONNECTICUT GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Call for Fellowship Applications

The Connecticut Academy of Science & Engineering (CASE) is now accepting applications for a one-year fellowship at the Connecticut General Assembly in Hartford, Connecticut, to begin September 2026.

Eligible candidates must have a PhD or equivalent terminal degree — or, for engineers, a master’s in engineering with three years of professional experience — in a field relevant to one of the topics.

The focus will be on research and support for policy work on topics where scientific and technical expertise is critical.  Candidates will work directly with state legislators and staff (both partisan and nonpartisan) in the Connecticut General Assembly.

Policy topics currently seeking Fellows include:

  1. Energy Policy – work at the intersection of three interconnected goals—often referred to as the “three-legged stool” of energy policy: (a) advancing renewable energy goals and meeting climate commitments; (b) maintaining the reliability and resilience of the electric grid, and (c) ensuring energy affordability for ratepayers.
  2. Public Health Policy – work includes developing, implementing, and evaluating initiatives that protect and improve the well-being of local communities. Issues may include disease prevention, healthcare access, emergency preparedness, mental health, and addiction services.
  3. Policy – work on the balance and uncertainty created by the growing emergence of artificial intelligence, as well as the interrelated topics of data privacy, social media, cybersecurity, and consumer protection

PhD or equivalent terminal degree candidates will be considered if completion of their degree is imminent (see the FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION and FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS for more information).

CASE seeks to identify a diverse pool of candidates, including broad representation across career stages, gender, age, race/ethnicity, physical ability, geographic location, and institutional affiliation.

TO APPLY:

To provide additional time for interested applicants, the application deadline has been extended to Monday, September 14, at 5:00 p.m. While applications will be accepted through the extended deadline, preference will be given to candidates who submit their materials by the original deadline of August 31, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET. Interested individuals are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Submit your application via email to Jeff Orszak, CASE Executive Director, jorszak@ctcase.org. Incomplete applications or applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

To access the application, instructions for submitting the application, planned scope of work, and frequently asked questions, click on the following links:

 

CASE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY POLICY FELLOWSHIP

In 2017, CASE received one of nine planning grants awarded by the California Council for Science and Technology (CCST) in partnership with the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and the Simons Foundation. The grants supported state-level planning for the implementation of a science and technology policy fellowship program, with the American Association for the Advancement of Science and CCST Policy Fellowship Programs as successful models from which to build. The fellowships provide opportunities for scientists, physicians, and engineers with PhD’s or equivalent terminal degrees to contribute their skills and knowledge to the development of science-related public policies while simultaneously learning about the public policy process.

CASE began the planning phase by establishing a Fellowship Advisory Committee that included representatives from the state government, former and current fellows, CASE Members, and foundations. The committee provided guidance for the development of the program. The Fellowship Program is made possible in part through the generous backing of our funders. In the interest of maintaining independence, funders are not involved in any aspect of Fellowship program operations including Fellow selection, placement, and evaluation.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) provided the first opportunity to place a CASE Fellow in the spring of 2019. Dr. Anna Hagstrom served as the Inaugural Fellow and completed her two-year fellowship as a member of DEEP’s emerging contaminants/per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) team. Seema Alim is DEEP’s second fellow and will focus on Building Decarbonization.

A grant award from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation supports an expansion of CASE’s Science and Technology Fellowship Program in Connecticut. Read more…

Elements of a Successful Science and Technology Policy Fellows Program for State Government is a guide describing current state-level program models and steps for getting started in your state.

CASE Fellows

Stephen R. Nichols

CASE Science and Technology Policy Fellow
AI: Artificial Intelligence

Connecticut General Assembly

CASE – CGA Science and Technology Policy FellowThe Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE) is pleased to announce the placement of Stephen R. Nichols as a CASE Science and Technology Policy Fellow. Stephen Nicols’ fellowship at the Connecticut General Assembly (CGA) is focused on artificial intelligence (AI) policy. This fellowship is dedicated to advancing policies that strengthen data privacy and security for Connecticut residents, addressing key areas such as consumer and health information privacy, online protections, and data security standards.

Stephen R. Nichols is an engineer whose work lies at the intersection of emerging technologies, complex systems, and human-centered design. With nearly twenty years of industry experience at the former United Technologies Corporation (UTC), Otis Elevator Company, and Schindler Corporation, he led global initiatives in research, development, and product strategy for electromechanical and digital products.

Nichols is a named inventor on more than forty patents in areas including elevators, application programming interfaces (API), robotics, human-machine-interfaces, and other complex systems. A two-time participant in the National Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering (NAE FOE), Nichols was invited to deliver a prestigious Gilbreth Lecture. A frequent presenter at industry events and academic institutions across the Northeast, he has also been interviewed by several news outlets including the Wall Street Journal and National Public Radio.

Originally inspired to pursue a STEM career as a FIRST robotics student, he is the father to two young children who he is helping to teach to think creatively, love learning, and try new things. Nichols is committed to advancing robust data privacy protections that safeguard families and uphold public trust in the digital era. He views AI as a powerful tool that, when guided by thoughtful policy, can not only enhance security but also spur innovation, create high-quality jobs, and strengthen Connecticut’s economy.

Mr. Nichols earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Tufts University and a Master of Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He has completed certificate programs at MIT, Wharton, and UC Berkeley. He previously served on the Board of Directors for Ithaca College’s Cybersecurity Program and the New England Chapter of INCOSE.

 

Seema Alim, PHD, PE

CASE Science and Technology Policy Fellow
Building Decarbonization

CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

Dr. Seema Alim has a PhD in civil engineering, is a licensed professional engineer, and brings 30+ years of experience in urban planning, building design, and infrastructure development.  Her work included projects in the US, and internationally, including in Canada, the United Arab Emirates, and Middle East/North African (MENA) countries. She accepted the fellowship, “…to continue working on climate mitigation and Green House Gas emission reduction through policies, programs, and integrated planning focused on decarbonizing existing residential and commercial buildings, incentivizing new construction to adopt zero-emission building and appliance standards, and training the real estate community to incorporate energy efficiency metrics in real estate transactions.”

Dr. Alim’s professional experience includes an IEEE Science & Technology Policy Fellowship at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and leadership positions at CH2MHill/Jacobs and Louis Berger.  She has a BE in Civil Engineering from NED Engineering University and a MSc and PhD from Imperial College in London.

Anna L. Hagstrom, PhD

Inaugural CASE Science and Technology Policy Fellow

PFAS & Emerging Contaminants Policy, Remediation Division, Bureau of Water Protection & Land Reuse, DEEP

As the inaugural CASE Science and Technology Fellow, I have spent the past two years working for the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) as part of the agency’s small core team focused on PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). Six weeks into my fellowship, a release of PFAS-containing foam into the Farmington River garnered public outcry throughout the state and thrust this class of emerging contaminants into the spotlight. Soon after, Governor Ned Lamont established an interagency task force charged with advising his administration on a comprehensive strategy to address PFAS in CT. Over the next five months, I helped DEEP and the CT Department of Public Health (DPH) convene this task force and took on a leading role in organizing, writing, and editing the CT PFAS Action Plan, which lays out a series of initiatives that DEEP and its sister agencies have since been working to implement. The opportunity to help shape this foundational document was undoubtedly one of the highlights of my fellowship experience.

As a CASE Fellow, I have participated in outreach to audiences ranging from researchers to concerned citizens and municipal officials and have served as a point person for a wide range of executive branch colleagues in need of PFAS expertise. For instance, I have provided technical edits for the Office of the Attorney General on multistate letters to federal Congressional leadership on actions to support PFAS action at the state level and to the EPA on proposals to monitor and regulate the levels of certain PFAS in drinking water. I also provided technical assistance to a multistate coalition that recently published model legislation to support state-level efforts to ban PFAS in packaging materials. During the abbreviated 2020 legislative session, I wrote briefings for DEEP leadership on legislative hearings related to PFAS and testimony for the DEEP Commissioner on a PFAS-related bill. During the ongoing 2021 session, I have been able to play a more active role in the legislative process. In addition to advising DEEP leadership on testimony for PFAS-related bills, I met with the chair of the CT legislature’s Environment Committee and provided advice and multiple rounds of edits on legislative language. These efforts culminated in a bill banning the sale of PFAS-containing food packaging and the use of PFAS-containing firefighting foam, which was recently passed by the Senate and is currently being considered by the House. Helping to guide this bill from inception to the floor of the General Assembly has been another major CASE Fellowship highlight.

My experience as a CASE Fellow has confirmed my desire to pursue a career in environmental policy. I have been honored to work with and learn from skilled and passionate colleagues dedicated to safeguarding human health and the environment in CT. Participating in cross-government efforts on PFAS mitigation, a timely and complex policy issue, has given me valuable insight into the unique challenges and opportunities associated with work in the government sector. As I transition to a new position as an AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the U.S. Department of Energy this fall, I look forward to applying my CASE Fellowship insight to federal-level efforts to accelerate the deployment of clean energy.