(330b) From a PhD in Cheme to Science Policy and a Government Career

Dr. Pennington will present an oral history of choices made, and the potential alternatives not made, which lead her from the laboratory to the Federal government for a career in science policy where she leverages her PhD in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering to enhance governmental leaders and policy maker's scientific understanding. Of the items covered, will be the decision to obtain a Masters and subsequent PhD, the decision of where to serve as a Postdoctoral research associate, and the conversion from laboratory work to science policy.

After obtaining her PhD at Rutgers University, Dr. Pennington became an NRC Postdoctoral Associate at the Naval Research Laboratory where she worked on research projects with DTRA and naval interest. From the laboratory-based postdoctoral fellowship Dr. Pennington was accepted to the non-laboratory-based AAAS Science and Technology Policy fellowship where she worked with DOE's Federal Energy Management Program to leverage her engineering background to enhance public-private partnerships pertaining to the integration of fleet electrification, utility partnerships, and climate resilience. Dr. Pennington is now the Stakeholder Engagement Division's Chemical Engineer at the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). In her role, Dr. Pennington provides technical expertise and advice relating to the supply chain, physical and cybersecurity, and climate resilience of the chemical sector, as CISA is the Sector Risk Management Agency (SRMA) for the nation's chemical sector.