First Class of New York State Science Policy Fellows Announced

The Rockefeller Institute of Government has announced the six scientists who will make up the inaugural cohort of the New York State Science Policy Fellowship. The program, funded by the Simons Foundation and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, gives fellows the opportunity to lend their technical and scientific expertise to state policymakers while gaining hands-on experience in state government.

“The Simons Foundation is extremely pleased that the inaugural class of New York State Science Policy Fellows has been selected and begun their work in the program,” says David Spergel, president of the Simons Foundation. “The six fellows are highly capable and diverse individuals that will bring a myriad of talents to their service in New York State government. We congratulate them and the Rockefeller Institute of Government in reaching this wonderful milestone.”

The fellows will be placed in executive agencies and the New York State Legislature. The program aims to fill a critical need to bridge the gap between government and academia at a time when policy problems are increasingly reliant on technical understanding and solutions.

“We are proud to host this initiative, which will give New York State leaders at-hand access to the types of expertise needed to make technically informed, evidence-based policy decisions,” says Rockefeller Institute President Bob Megna. “We are also incredibly grateful to our funding partners — the Simons and Moore Foundations — for understanding the need for this initiative and recognizing the Institute as the best place to facilitate these connections between scientific expertise and government. We look forward to continuing to work with the governor and legislative leaders to ensure the success of this program.”

The fellowship is similar to other science policy fellowships across the country, including the California Council on Science and Technology.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Simons Foundation to support launch of the Rockefeller Institute’s science policy fellowship program in Albany,” says Jon Kaye, program director at the Moore Foundation. “In other states, fellows have demonstrated how their counsel on scientific and technological matters helps meet the needs of state officials. We are excited that fellows will now be available to New York decision-makers and look forward to continued expansion of these programs across the country.”

The six fellows were chosen from more than 70 applicants from around the world with expertise in various science and technology topics. The fellows and their placements are:

• Megan Cassingham, Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from the University of Southern California, will work on the Renewable Optimization and Energy Storage Innovation Program at the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA);
• Mariliis “Mary” Eensalu, Ph.D. in geology/earth science from Northern Illinois University, will work in the Bureau of Greenhouse Gas Mitigation for the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC);
• Elana Goldenkoff, Ph.D. in kinesiology from the University of Michigan, will work in the Division of the Budget (DOB) and the Department of Health (DOH);
• Emily Laurilliard, Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Cornell University, will work on the Life Science Workforce Development Initiative at Empire State Development (ESD);
• Anqesha Murray, Ph.D. in biology/biological science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, will work with the New York State Senate Finance Committee; and
• Isabel Yannatos, Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Pennsylvania, will work on the healthcare team with the New York State Assembly Ways and Means Committee.

The two-year fellowship began on August 1 with a multi-week networking and orientation organized by the Institute. The fellows attended the National Conference of State Legislature’s four-day annual summit in Louisville, Kentucky, the nation’s largest gathering of legislators and legislative staff. The fellows also met with staff leaders at the Simons Foundation, who are primary funders of the fellowship, after which they participated in an intensive, four-day policy training orientation, learning about New York State’s processes, policies, budget, and more.

Over the course of their first year in the fellowship, fellows will return to the Rockefeller Institute for monthly educational meetings with guest speakers from across the New York State government. These sessions will focus on the mechanics of state government and the intersection of science and policy. During their second year, fellows will be paired with a mentor in their field and work on a year-long capstone project.

A second cohort of students will begin in August 2025. The application window for the 2025-27 NYS Science Policy Fellowship is slated to open in October of this year.