How would you describe your job to someone standing behind you in the grocery checkout line?
You might say I'm a sort of science teacher; I help members of Congress understand the science behind the complex issues before them so that they can create better laws.

What is your educational background?
I have an AB in chemistry with a minor in physics from the Honors Program at Loyola University of Chicago and a doctorate in chemistry - organic synthesis - from the University of California at Riverside.

What path did you take to get where you are now?
I found out about the fellowship in graduate school and started to build a portfolio of skills I thought would take me there and beyond. I became active in public affairs and public relations in the Chicago local section of the ACS with Jim Shoffner. I started writing science analysis for two independent, open-source intelligence agencies. I educated myself on political trends in topics in which I had an interest. I also contacted previous fellows to find out what they thought were desirable qualities for success.

How did you get your current job?
ACS sponsors a national competition for public policy fellowships. I applied.

What do you consider to be your key career decisions?
I think my most important career decisions were to finish my doctorate, to recognize my strengths and apply them, to look for work both in and out of the laboratory, and to always keep a hand in teaching.

What is your ultimate career goal?
Rather than an ultimate job, I want to do a number of things. I would like to spend the majority of my career in science policy-likely chemical weapons-and diplomacy then retire to teaching and writing.

What kinds of people do well in your company/organization?
Ideal candidates are team players with superlative written and oral communication skills that can explain complex scientific issues concisely, accurately, and without a personal agenda. I think we also appreciate those who can efficiently sift a great deal of data for the relevant facts and those who aren't flustered by change.

What scientific backgrounds does your company look for?
My office looks at a broad range of skills. There are few actual scientists in the office. Most folks here are political scientists.

What is your typical day like?
I have research days, working days, visiting days, and briefing days. They are all different. On research days, I try to find out everything I can about an issue: players, policies, and plans. On a working day, I am on the phone interviewing people, writing stories, reading articles, and planning meetings. When it's a visiting day, I am out of the office on Capitol Hill speaking with Congressional staff of or attending a workshop to learn more about a subject. When it's a briefing day, I am "everywhere at once" making sure the people-speakers, moderator, and guests-and things-briefing packets, lunch, equipment-are in the right place at the right time. The theme that unites all of these: being dynamic about the details

What do you like about your job? What don't you like?
I like that there are so many opportunities and challenges. I love the days when there is a serious crunch-time pressure, changes in players or policies, acts of God. I enjoy the fight involved in salvaging a "hopeless" situation. Perhaps best-I like that I get to work on a vast, ever-changing array of issues with great people. I have met a lot of top-level scientists and fascinating individuals from many fields.

What don't I like? The other side of those coins. Working on a vast, ever-changing array of issues can feel like a lack of depth on any given subject. Also, a lot of work can go into a project that isn't viable as legislation. It's hard to know when to say, "It's not going to fly, Orville" and move on to the next item. Still, I'd have to say the worst thing is "dumbing down" good science to make a point. While I understand that people lack the scientific skills and time to do their own research, I wish Americans were more scientifically literate sometimes.

What have been your most interesting projects or opportunities?
As far as projects, I enjoyed working on the briefings on biological terrorism, crime fighting technology, and security at the national labs. With opportunities, where to begin? I attended the first-ever Gordon Conference on Science and Public Policy and the last two AAAS national meetings. I'd also have to include every almost workshop I went to at the National Academies. It's great to be there when the great minds in a particular area are meeting.

If you had it all to do over again, what would you do differently about your career?
In retrospect, I would not have taken an extra year to pursue physics as an undergrad and I would not have wasted a year doing a post-doc. Beyond that, there's not much I would trade.

Who are your role models?
Unquestionably, my parents are. In another sense, I would say my undergraduate (Chuck Thompson, University of Montana at Missoula) and graduate (Steve Angle, University of California at Riverside) advisors. Scientists include "chemists" of split genius such as Margaret Thatcher, Maxfield Parrish, Alexander Borodin, Marie Curie, and J. Robert Oppenheimer.

What do you do when you're not at work?
What don't I do? I teach swing dancing, DJ for clubs, and play key's in a rock band. I write fiction and non-fiction for various projects. I run a social group for people of high intelligence and a free inquiry group for those who would be philosopher kings and queens. I restore photographs. I swim. I participate in readers' theatre for children, producing cable television shows, and teaching public speaking skills. I play the piano, violin, and viola. I attempt to revive the dying art of the hand-written letter. I cook for in-home wine tastings and food and wine pairing dinners. I do an occasional stint of stand-up comedy. I drink coffee. I plan things I want to do. On the other hand, I don't sleep all that much.

What is the most rewarding thing about what you do?
In a very small way, I bring good science to bear on our nations' toughest issues.

What advice do you have for others who want a job like yours?
It's fairly universal advice: design a skill portfolio for someone successful at the job you want then work to develop those skills