Tell us about your journey since graduating from LSE
I left London (to move back to the US) just as the second wave of COVID was flaring up. I worked remotely and on a temporary contract as a Policy Fellow at a lobbying firm in D.C. The firm had a big focus on tech & national security, so I got great exposure to cyber security issues, 5G & 6G networks, microchips etc. which was fascinating. However, because the work was remote, I never met anyone at the firm and didn’t get to spend time in and around the D.C. political scene which was a bummer.
However, the entire time I was dating a lovely women who I met at the LSE, and eventually we got married and I moved back to London. Now, I’m working at a policy institute, focusing on the Life Sciences. A bit out of my comfort zone at first, but now I really love it!
What is it that sparked your interest in the life sciences?
The Life Sciences are not my natural home, I must admit. However, like the tech and cyber policy I worked on previously, so much of what we do at my work is on the very cutting edge of human knowledge and capability, which I love. Now, we’re obviously not practising geneticists or scientists – we’re working on regulatory regimes, workforce issues, making research and trials more accessible etc. – but getting to work with some of the world’s most brilliant scientists is a true honour.
Additionally, the Life Sciences are now front and centre in all of our lives due to COVID. Though COVID may start becoming endemic, nobody that lives through this is going to forget the past few years. So, when at work we run a series on pathogen surveillance systems across the UK’s four nations, that is policy that is genuinely impactful at a large scale, which is rewarding.
What did you gain from studying at LSE’s Department of Government?
At least in the policy world, the analytical and writing skills are crucial. Once you’ve made it to the other side of a Masters degree, you’re just that much better at critically analysing large (and small!) problems, then quickly organising your thoughts and putting them into words.
I write a lot policy briefs for my job, and being able to quickly define a problem, put that problem into the broader political/policy context, and then succinctly lay out a plan as to how we will examine the problem and provide solutions is crucial. Studying at LSE really helped me refine those analytical and writing skills, which gave me the confidence to do my job from day one.
What's been the highlight of your career so far?
This pre-dates my LSE days, but before I came to the LSE I was Chief of Staff to a State Senator in the state of Colorado. The year I was there, our office was the lead sponsor of a bill that guaranteed free, full-day Kindergarten to all kids in the state. That legislation not only gave all kids in the state an opportunity for free schooling that didn’t previously exist, but when kids are in school they are also eligible for free meals, which drastically reduces child hunger. It was an excellent bill to have passed, and I’m very proud to have been a very small part of that effort.
What is your fondest memory of LSE?
During the first semester all Comparative Politics MSc students had one mandatory class that we all took together at the same time. The class was on a Friday, and it ended at 4:30 or something like that. The moment class ended the march to George IV began, where we all enjoyed a few cheeky pints together and really got to know one another at a personal level. Those were some fun Friday’s!