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Brian Jackson
PhD '99, Chemistry
How did you transition from your studies at Caltech to your current position?
To move from laboratory science to public policy and national security work, I pursued a fellowship in science and technology policy at the George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs. In addition to providing formal education in the new field, being in Washington meant that I had the opportunity to do internships in a number of government agencies and other organizations. They made it possible for me to gain experience in the area before pursuing a full time position.
Describe a "day in the life." What do you encounter in a typical day on the job?
A typical day is difficult to describe since it can vary a great deal depending on what specific research project I am involved in at the time. A day could center on library-type research figuring out what other researchers have already done on a particular policy problem or question, gathering new data in the field, quantitative analysis or simulation work, and so on. For some projects, including the homeland security and counterterrorism work I have been involved in, quite a bit of travel is frequently involved to interview relevant practitioners and gather information to support analysis. After research is published, activities transition to disseminating the results and getting the information into the hands of policymakers and the public who can use it; which can involve everything from delivering briefings to speaking with the media to testifying before Congressional committees.
What are your "extra-curricular" activities? What do you do outside of work?
In the time carved out away from work, I usually have a significant remodeling project in progress in my house and I am an avid photographer. Even though I travel quite a bit for work, I also travel as frequently as I can for pleasure, looking for new things to photograph.
What's your best advice to Caltech students, or to alumni who want to switch to a career like yours?
Advice for pursing work in the policy field differs significantly depending on the field of your degree. For many in fields like economics or political science, the transition is quite natural since policy analysis is a great fit for those specialties. For individuals like myself (my Caltech degree was in chemistry), the shift can be a little harder. Although there are certainly policy problems where individuals with interdisciplinary backgrounds and expertise are very valuable and can contribute a great deal, there are fewer niches than for individuals with more traditional backgrounds for the work. In that case, I found my fellowship and internships valuable as ways to broaden my background. No matter your specialty, however, policy work will almost certainly require that you work on many different problems and areas in your career, so it is important to maintain the ability to learn new areas quickly: nurture your curiosity.
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