Maria DeNunzio combined her passion for science communication with her desire to see research drive real-world change when she applied for an American Society for Nutrition (ASN) Science Policy Fellowship last year. Upon being named a Fellow, she said, the program "allowed me to gain diverse perspectives on science policy" and provided opportunities to explore how her interests — such as integrating climate change considerations into nutrition research — align with current federal initiatives. She also gained insights into crafting a well-structured one-pager and an informative brief, as well as how to effectively disseminate information to non-scientific, non-academic audiences to amplify the impact of her research.

    A Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, DeNunzio’s dissertation focuses on how food retailers can integrate environmental stewardship practices into their operations. This work both informs and is informed by policy, she said, and that sparked an interest that led her to explore science policy as a means of creating real-world impact more efficiently than through traditional academic channels. Her journey into science policy began during her time as a master’s degree student at Virginia Tech, where she pursued a graduate certificate in science, technology, and engineering in policy (STEP), which she completed in May 2023.

    While searching for opportunities to expand her experience in science policy, DeNunzio discovered the American Society for Nutrition (ASN) Science Policy Fellowship, a prestigious and competitive program that offers two positions annually to early-career professionals. One of the largest professional organizations for nutrition researchers, the ASN provides an avenue for scientists to engage in policy advocacy. Encouraged by her mentors, she applied to the program to gain hands-on experience in science policy and advocacy, building upon her STEP training. The fellowship’s remote format and flexible schedule made it an ideal fit for a graduate student’s demanding workload, DeNunzio said, and the combination of theoretical knowledge and practical examples from experts across various aspects of science policy provided an excellent introduction to integrating policy relevance into an academic research program.

    DeNunzio credits her doctoral mentor, Dr. Sarah Misyak (Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise and Virginia Family Nutrition Program), and Dr. Carrie Kroehler of the Center for Communicating Science for their support and encouragement in helping her submit a successful application. Having worked with both mentors for nearly five years, she believes their guidance and unique expertise significantly strengthened her application.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Maria DeNunzio has grown fond of the scenic mountains in southwest Virginia. Photo courtesy of Maria DeNunzio.
A Pennsylvania native, Maria DeNunzio has fallen in love with the mountains of southwest Virginia. Photo courtesy of Maria DeNunzio.

    As a Science Policy Fellow, DeNunzio is expected to dedicate approximately ten hours per month to the program. These hours are filled with unique opportunities to engage with federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as academics with expertise in science policy. Through regular calls with mentors and federal employees from agencies such as the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Nutrition Service, and the Food and Drug Administration, DeNunzio gains diverse perspectives on science policy. She also explores how her interests, such as integrating climate change considerations into nutrition research, align with current federal initiatives. Fellows meet regularly with a mentor within the federal government and an academic with similar interests.

    One of the most rewarding aspects of the fellowship, DeNunzio said, is the networking opportunities provided to her. She visited Washington, D.C., for an in-person advocacy event, where she met with representatives from eight congressional offices over two days. During these meetings, she advocated for federal investment in food and nutrition research, emphasizing how U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Institutes of Health grants directly impact the communities served by members of Congress.

    This experience reinforced her commitment to direct communication with policymakers and highlighted the importance of amplifying the impact of federal research funding. Scientists play a critical role on Capitol Hill, and DeNunzio highlighted that her “training in science communication prepared me well to translate my research in ways that resonate with policymakers.”

    “Researchers from all disciplines, from cell biology to political science, should consider how their work can influence policy,” DeNunzio said. For aspiring policy fellows, she advises starting early and actively seeking opportunities from the first semester of graduate studies. She encourages students to explore resources such as GoGovernment.com and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) fellowship, as well as to engage with their principal investigators to identify potential opportunities.

    She also highlights the numerous opportunities available to get involved in this often-overlooked aspect of science translation and communication.

    The ASN Science Policy Fellowship has reinforced DeNunzio’s passion for bridging research and policy. She remains committed to using her expertise to shape policies that drive meaningful change in public health nutrition and science.

By Padmaja Mandadi, Center for Communicating Science graduate assistant