Alternative careers in chemistry: public policy

In this week's chapter of "Nontraditional Careers for Chemists"*, Lisa Balbes covers three people who are involved in public policy. There's a National Research Council mid-level director, a senior science advisor at a national law firm and a lobbyist/corporate VP of research.

How did the law firm advisor get to her position and what does she do?:

[After her Ph.D.], Lee really wanted to combine her interests in science, public policy, and writing and to do more research and public-policy work. A friend from graduate school heard about a law firm that was looking for a chemist to serve as an advisor and recommended Lee. She jumped at the opportunity, went for the interview and was hired.  

Lee's responsibilities have increased in the five years she's been at the law firm. She is now engaged in a much wider variety of activities. In addition to writing policy and technical papers and advising on scientific matters, she spends a significant amount of time in a a management role, helping lead and coordinate activities in which the firm's clients are involved. She explains, "This may involved coordinating the activities of testing labs or managing scientific or industry working groups." 

How did the lobbyist get their position? (This is a good one).

Jim's first job after graduate school was an assistant professor of chemistry at Davidson College, where he taugh and conducted research for 12 years. While at Davidson, he successfully ran for a position on the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners. He was a commissioner for six years, serving as chairman for the latter parts of this tenure there... Looking for a ways to make more of an impact, Jim ran for a seat in the UI.S. House of Representatives in 1972. He was elected and ended up serving six consecutive terms... In 1984, he was elected governor of the state of North Carolina... In 1993, he stepped down as governor and prepared to return to private life... He was offered a position heading the research lab at Carolinas Medical Center.. In 1999, instead of retiring, Jim again left the research world to move into public policy, this time as a lobbyist. 

I should definitely do a post on chemists that end up in government -- there seem to be a fair number of them...

*As always, CJ's copy of the book helpfully provided by the author, Dr. Lisa Balbes.