Food Scientist Ellia La Has No Problem With Legislative Word Salad

Food Scientist Ellia La Has No Problem With Legislative Word Salad

Science Policy Fellowship Spotlight: La is a legislative analyst with the California Department of Toxic Substances Control.

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Ellia La studied the pigments of fruits and vegetables as a scientist. But as a science fellow and legislative analyst with the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, she deals with word salad every day.

"The complete story is important," says La, who received her doctorate in food science and technology from Ohio State University. "The scientific process is exciting because you are pushing the boundaries of what's known. But it sometimes felt myopic."

NCSL caught up with La to talk about her fellowship with the California Council on Science and Technology, the nation's longest-running state science policy fellowship program.

Science Policy Fellowship Spotlight

NCSL is running a series profiling the participants in the Eagleton Science and Politics Program, a one-year fellowship allowing Ph.D.-level scientists and engineers to apply their training and expertise to the development of state policy.

Read about other fellows in the program: Celia Smits

Tell me about your role.

The bulk of my placement is working on bills. As an analyst, I engage with attorneys, fiscal staff, scientists and engineers on proposed legislation related to hazardous waste management, chemicals management and site remediation. Our department doesn't support or oppose bills when engaging with external stakeholders, but we provide technical assistance to inform the Legislature on the bills' practicality. I also coordinate with staff to develop estimates on a bill's fiscal impact.

The bills I'm particularly interested in are related to PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as "forever chemicals"). One bill in particular banned PFAS unless proven to be essential. However, the fiscal impact estimate was high, and the bill later died. Though I can't say for certain that it died for fiscal reasons, I'm learning how much fiscal conversations can influence policy viability.

How was the transition out of the lab?

This fellowship is very different than what I was doing before. I was studying pigments in fruits and vegetables as alternatives to synthetic food dyes. Synthetic colorants have associated toxicity, like PFAS. So, in that vein of replacing a harmful chemical with something less harmful, I stayed in a similar breadth of work. However, my work now is much more generalized than my specialized studies on using light to stabilize pigment compounds.

My current role involves aligning our internal team for stakeholder engagement, drafting agendas and talking points, and managing my bill as it moves through the legislative process. Much of my work requires social skills. I didn't necessarily pick up these skills in the lab, but I bring them from other roles, like campus involvement and community organizing. For me, these roles outside of my dissertation were great assets that led me here.

What made you apply?

I didn't want to be on the bench anymore. I wanted the fruits of my labor to be used in the world faster than they could be in academia. In the policy world, I get to talk with diverse stakeholders. I get to hear what community members think. Seeing that dialogue and learning where misunderstandings and trade-offs are, I truly feel as though I'm at the heart of an issue.

What has been the most valuable takeaway from your fellowship?

It's been fascinating to see different methods of reaching the same goal. For example, environmentalists, agency folks, legislators or business lobbyists all may want to manage PFAS. The question is, how? It varies depending on which stakeholder you ask and their priorities.

I'm also learning that there is a lot of variety in science policy. When I started, I thought the role would be extremely scientific, but my role is actually quite legal. Being in the legislative office, I'm training to be a process expert rather than subject-matter expert. I am essentially the messenger between the Legislature and the department. I see this field as a spectrum, with science on one end, politics on the other and policy in the middle. I'm learning where to place myself on that spectrum.

What inspires you?

My work matters, and that motivates me. Whatever I work on in the fellowship, even if the bill dies, the concept can and probably will come back if it had a lot of traction. It means that people care. It makes an impact on their lives, which feels great.

Even if my work played a miniscule part in solving a broader policy problem, a small win is a win nonetheless.

Many doctoral students strive for perfection. I've learned that this is not a healthy endgame, and I need to give myself grace to not meet 100% every time, because there are times when perfection does more harm than good during a fast-paced legislative process. I continue finding avenues to grow, and that keeps me going.

What advice would you give to someone interested in your role?

You must know yourself, your priorities and your boundaries. It's important to dive into new roles, work products, topics and stakeholder engagements. However, don't say yes for the sake of having one more experience. I personally think that will impact how you show up in other places.

What are your aspirations after your fellowship ends?

I really want to explore a regulatory science role. I enjoy work products that require great attention to detail. I think that skill works well in a regulatory role, where the timelines allow for more meticulous review in comparison to legislative timelines. I would love roles in regulatory science for chemicals management. But who knows! This is just one stop on my journey.

Maddy Tyner is a policy associate with NCSL's Center for Results-Driven Governing. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.