Howard Garrison Advocacy Fellow

Matthew Steinsaltz

Matthew Steinsaltz is a graduate student researcher at Yale University.

Describe your interest in participating in the Howard Garrison Advocacy Fellowship.
Steinsaltz: Research does not thrive in isolation but through advocacy, supportive policies, and effective communication with the public – a reality I’ve come to understand throughout my scientific journey. While my academic training has expanded my critical thinking and research skills, I’ve actively sought opportunities to bridge the gap between bench work and public impact. This began with Yale’s “Science in the News” program and training courses with the National Science Policy Network, where I acquired the initial tools necessary for communicating science to the public and engaging in science advocacy. The Howard H. Garrison Advocacy Fellowship’s comprehensive science policy course and hands-on advocacy training would build upon this foundation, providing the structured mentorship and practical experience I need to become a more effective science advocate.

Recently, while speaking at a local city council meeting in support of food assistance programs, I witnessed firsthand the urgent need for scientists to take action. I encountered an unexpected level of distrust and rage toward scientific institutions, filled with concerning inaccuracies that could have devastating impacts on public health. This experience, combined with my current participation in SCOPES’ “Engaging with Science Policy Through Traditional and New Media” program, revealed how crucial it is to develop the professional communication skills that the fellowship’s Capitol Hill Day and media training would provide. The opportunity to receive coaching on engaging with elected officials and crafting compelling op-eds particularly appeals to me, as these are vital tools for creating meaningful change.

The current challenges facing U.S. science make this fellowship’s training especially valuable. Recent funding cuts to the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation threaten not only research progress but also programs that support historically underrepresented communities and early-career scientists. Priority shifts, staffing reductions, and agency restructuring at these institutions, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, risk undermining decades of progress. The fellowship’s access to FASEB Science Policy Committee meetings would provide invaluable insight into how scientific organizations respond to these challenges. Simultaneously, engaging with policy experts would enhance my understanding of effective advocacy strategies, enabling me to contribute as both an advocate and a scientist during these turbulent times.

My interests in public health, climate science, and sustainable food systems policy, coupled with my appreciation for basic research funding, align perfectly with FASEB's strategic priorities. Through this program, I aim to develop the expertise necessary to advocate for critical policies and educate the public about the science that impacts their daily lives.

How do you plan to use the knowledge and experience gained through your participation in the Howard Garrison Advocacy Fellowship?
Steinsaltz: Throughout my scientific career, my goals have evolved, yet my commitment to exploring opportunities and increasing my public impact beyond that of a research scientist has remained constant. 

I will leverage the lessons gained from this fellowship and its communication tools to enhance my work with the climate action non-profit San Diego 350. As the social media liaison for the plant-forward team, the fellowship’s media engagement coaching would improve my ability to craft compelling messages for both public outreach and policymakers. Furthermore, I plan to utilize my policy expertise and Capitol Hill Day experience to more effectively engage with local and state representatives on science policy issues. This will involve organizing meetings with representatives’ district offices to discuss research funding and climate policy with SD350, and mobilizing other scientists to do the same.

As I near the end of my doctoral program, I am eager and prepared to seize the opportunities this fellowship offers. I believe the training will equip me to pursue diverse career paths in science policy and advocacy, whether as a research and policy advisor for the government, within international contexts like the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation & Technology, or as a research scientist who effectively champions science. Through this experience, I aim to become a more competent civic actor, a persuasive advocate for science, and a mentor for the next generation of scientist-advocates.

Using no more than 250 words, describe your research as you would to a non-scientist.
Steinsaltz: My research focuses on one of the most commonly mutated molecules in all cancers: p53. When it functions correctly, p53 helps stop tumor formation; however, when mutated, it can promote cancer. Understanding how these mutations lead to poor clinical outcomes is crucial for developing effective therapies and ultimately saving lives.

For p53 to effectively stop tumors from forming, it must be properly folded, much like the prongs of a plug need to be aligned correctly to fit into an outlet and activate a device. However, thirty years of research have shown that mutated p53 can misfold into sticky clumps that also show up in the brains of people with neurodegenerative diseases, likeAlzheimer’s. What makes these clumps especially concerning, particularly in relation to cancer, is their ability to lessen p53’s normal function or even acquire new, harmful functions.

Think of these protein clumps like tangled holiday lights—not only do they stop working correctly, but they can also drag other properly functioning strands into the mess. In cancer cells, these p53 clumps can spread their misfolded state to other proteins, potentially making the cancer more aggressive and resistant to treatment. My research aims to understand how these misfolded clumps form and develop strategies to stabilize p53, preventing its misfolding. Success in this area could lead to new therapeutic approaches for multiple types of cancer, potentially helping millions of patients worldwide.

Briefly describe any past or present participation in additional career exploration activities, experiences, and/or programs.
Steinsaltz: My career exploration began during my biochemistry degree when I intentionally sought research experience across different fields—from analytical biochemistry to computational chemistry and cancer biology—to gain an understanding of the various research paths available.

Following this, at the National Cancer Institute, I expanded beyond research by taking a writing course through FAES Graduate School and participating in my first NIH-sponsored science policy and public health workshop, which opened my eyes to careers beyond the lab. During my doctorate at Yale, I’ve pursued additional training through the Physics and Engineering Biology certificate program while engaging in science communication through Yale’s Science in the News and exploring ethics and philosophy through a student-run fellowship.

For the last three years, I’ve been working at Altos Labs in San Diego alongside my degree, studying cellular health and rejuvenation. I’ve broadened my perspective by attending conferences in global health, agriculture, and animal welfare. Recently, I’ve enhanced my policy and communication skills through the National Science Policy Network’s courses, SCOPE’s New Media Training, and hands-on advocacy work with San Diego 350’s plant-forward initiative. Lastly, I published an op-ed in The Riverdale Press for Science Homecoming’s McClintock letters project advocating for our scientific institutions and the scientists that fill them.

Matthew Steinsaltz is a member of American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, a FASEB member society.