Last Fall, the Materials Research Society (MRS), along with co-sponsors the Optical Society of America (OSA) and The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS), selected their 2011–2012 Congressional Science and Engineering Fellows. Laura Povlich, a recent graduate of the University of Michigan and current MRS/OSA Congressional Fellow, has been serving in US Representative Sander Levin’s office. Jennifer Nekuda Malik, a former postdoctoral researcher at Imperial College London and current MRS/TMS Congressional Fellow, has been serving on the US Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee under Chair Jeff Bingaman. The fellows’ tenures began last September.
Povlich’s interest in science policy began with her desire to learn about the funding, development, and regulation of emerging and sometimes controversial technologies, such as nanotechnology from the toxicological standpoint. She said, “I am intrigued by the balancing act involved in regulating a new technology without stifling scientific innovation.” She accepted a position with Rep. Levin (Dem.-Mich), who is the ranking member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, the chief tax-writing committee.
Since starting her fellowship, Povlich has developed a passion for healthcare policy and enjoys learning about the intricacies of Medicare—government-funded health insurance for people over 65—and health care reform implementation. Relating to her experience so far, she said, “It’s fascinating not only to see how health research is funded, but also the relationship that this research has with actual care by physicians and eventually improved health outcomes. It’s very satisfying to work with groups with a wide variety of interests in health care and to develop a broad view on the entire system.”
Povlich received her PhD degree in macromolecular science and engineering at the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor in 2011 as a Rackham Merit Fellow and an NIDCR Tissue Engineering and Regeneration Training Grant recipient. Her thesis work involved the development of new conducting polymers to interface neural prosthetic devices with nervous tissue. In 2009, Povlich moved to the University of Delaware and finished her PhD research as a visiting scholar.
Laura Povlich
Nekuda Malik accepted a position with the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which has recently been concentrating on legislation regarding clean energy for electricity generation, nuclear-waste storage, and legislation affecting a reliable domestic supply of molybdenum-99, the parent isotope for technetium-99m, used for medical diagnoses. From her experience working at Imperial College in London, Nekuda Malik increased her awareness of how important US public policy is on a global scale, saying, “the scientific and environmental policies adopted by Congress are widely followed from abroad.”
Jennifer Nekuda Malik
She is particularly interested in science outreach as well as development of energy policy. With these interests, it is fitting that Nekuda Malik is working on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee where she has a portfolio that includes technology transfer, solar energy, offshore wind energy, nuclear energy and rare isotopes, high-performance computing, advanced manufacturing, and Department of Energy programs and oversight. “Energy is one of the most pressing issues facing our world today—it has been an amazing experience to work on this important issue and learn so much about the ways we are working as a nation to pursue the energy solutions of the future,” said Nekuda Malik of her experience so far.
Nekuda Malik received her PhD degree in metallurgy and materials engineering from the Colorado School of Mines (CSM) in 2008. Her thesis work was a collaborative project between CSM and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) that focused on development and optimization of deposition and processing conditions for liquid-based precursors for copper-indium-gallium-diselenide (CIGS) photovoltaics. While working on her PhD, Nekuda Malik earned both an R&D 100 Award and recognition for Excellence in Technology Transfer for her work with hybrid CIGS. Following graduation, Nekuda Malik worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Imperial College London, characterizing and optimizing the microstructure of both hybrid (organic–inorganic) and organic materials for electronic applications.
The fellows’ terms will end on August 31, 2012.
