Smits
Celia Smits went from studying fruit flies to informing energy policy in New Jersey. And to her mind, it’s not that big of a leap.
“Scientists and policymakers are different, but in many ways, very similar,” says Smits, who has a doctorate in molecular biology from Princeton. “When scientists discuss technical issues, they resort to their own industry language. Policymakers do the same. For me, the transition was like switching languages. With time, the policy world felt familiar.”
Smits, who grew up among the “cows and corn” in eastern Colorado, heard about the Eagleton Science and Politics Program from Princeton classmates. The program recruits scientists and engineers to serve as full-time fellows in legislative and executive branch offices. Fellows provide technical and research skills in exchange for an understanding of state government and the policymaking process.
Some fellows return to the lab after the fellowship, but Smits has found a new calling with the New Jersey Legislature.
Why did you apply to the Eagleton fellowship?
I was questioning my next steps. I originally explored a more traditional scientific route, but several of my friends stepped into the policy space. I realized I was drawn to public service, where my contributions could be more tangible.
I was drawn to the fellowship because it was a yearlong commitment. I felt that it was enough time to fully dive in and see if this was for me.
Tell me about your fellowship.
My placement was in the Senate Majority Office in New Jersey in the Energy and Environment Committee. I started the program as a fellow until our lead staffer moved into a different position. In February 2024, I took over as the committee aide. The transition was fairly seamless.
How did your role change?
As a fellow, I brought in softer skills, such as presentation skills or synthesizing complex information to various audiences. I also brought critical thinking skills, recognizing pros, cons and effects of policies. I tracked and analyzed bills and worked on amendments. I completed research requests from legislators and their staff. We would dive into several topic areas. Although my committee is focused on energy, that could mean anything from fossil fuels to land use. My background in chemistry was actually very helpful in environmental policy, especially for topics like PFAS or environmental contaminants.
I’ve maintained similar responsibilities as an aide, except I added logistical tasks. This entails organizing meetings and tasks to keep the committee on track. The role change also expanded my job scope. Instead of having a couple bills to complete analysis or amendments on, I work on all the bills.
You studied fruit flies and now work in the Senate Majority Office. Tell me about that change.
The groups I work with changed. I am also meeting stakeholders I wouldn’t have met in academia. I could do the best Googling in the world, but it’s so much more helpful to talk to someone who is impacted by a policy. They are the ones who teach me. I hear a lot of differing views, but the varying opinions are all helpful. It’s beneficial to interact with anyone with any type of opinion on legislation. In my role, I can take notes from various sides of an issue, and inform a bill sponsor, or I can conduct research to merge differing solutions.
Did anything surprise you about the fellowship?
In graduate school, I worked very independently. In this role, I rely on others and the interpersonal relationship piece is important. We gain so much when we network. In the beginning, I was drained at the end of my workday. Fourteen hours in a lab? That’s fine. Eight hours of interpersonal communication? Whew!
Do you miss the lab?
Absolutely. I miss the hands-on aspect of working with microscopes. I didn’t leave the field because I didn’t love it. I was just looking for new experiences and allowing life to take me to different places.
What made you want to stay?
I trained very hard and became so much more efficient at this job, but I know I can grow even more. Plus, it usually takes a couple years for a bill to grow from an idea into a law. I really want to see that process in its entirety. As a person who lives in New Jersey, it would be amazing to see laws come to fruition.
Maddy Tyner is a policy associate with the Center for Results-Driven Governing. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Science Policy Fellowship Spotlight
State Legislatures News is running a series profiling the participants of state science policy fellowships across the nation. Programs allow predominately Ph.D.-level scientists and engineers to apply their training and expertise to the development of state policy.
Read about other fellows: Sarah Anderson, Ellia La, Sarah Maher, Ryan Nesselrodt