From Research to Policy

This February, Kendall Scarlett began as a fellow for the 2023 Knauss Fellowship Program. She is one of 84 fellows placed in federal government offices in Washington, D.C. Scarlett is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the environmental sciences program and, as a Knauss Fellow, she has a seat at the table concerning national policy that impacts our environment.

“This fellowship is unique in that it primarily focuses on exploring policies instrumental for the appropriate management of various water resources,” Scarlett said. “In other words, this fellowship allows me to take a step away from my research at Baylor and see how something like that can translate into useful policy initiatives on both the local and federal levels.”

Scarlett’s research at Baylor primarily centers around understanding the impact of toxins produced from Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). As a scientist, Scarlett spent the majority of her time in the lab performing experiments, but she was always curious about how results applied in the real world. 

Growing up on the Florida coastline, Scarlett’s love for the environment began at a young age. Her research on HABs surrounds how they impact both environmental and human health. She hopes to continue investigating and improving ways to make overall water quality safe for all humans and wildlife. 

“After I finish my Ph.D., I do hope to continue working in the federal sector in Washington, D.C., whether it be directly performing needed research, or by helping to translate important research into policy and regulations that are desperately needed on a national level,” Scarlett said. “I was and am still very fortunate to have found a home at Baylor.”