Dr Dinesh Raghu

Dinesh has worked in health research for 10 years and received numerous prestigious awards. Apart from research, Dinesh volunteered to lead advisory positions in executing policy and programs, which motivated him to apply for the Australian Science Policy Fellowship. He strongly believes this Fellowship is an exciting opportunity to pursue his passion for policy and contribute to the Australian community.

What were you researching before you started as a Science Policy Fellow?

My previous research was to understand how immune cells in the different regions of the bowel are diverse and how their differences at gene level prevent the development of bowel cancer.

How has your research background helped you contribute to policy development?

The skills I've developed through my research career have transferred to my work in policy development. For example, my ability to think strategically to solve research problems, identify and mitigate risk, plan projects, analyse data, present information to expert and non-expert audiences, manage multiple projects and work collaboratively with diverse team members have all been incredibly useful as a Science Policy Fellow. I can apply my acquired research skills and the knowledge of the research environment to provide data-driven recommendations and develop research strategies to deliver evidence-based public policy for Australia.

How has the program changed your career aspirations?

When I joined the Fellowship program, I had very little knowledge and expectations of how my previous research experiences would be critical to my current role. Over the past six months, I was able to appreciate the significant need for STEM experts and researchers in developing public policy. The Fellowship program and my current role also provide various learning and development opportunities to upskill and embed successfully in the public service. The Fellowship program has given me a deep insight on broader career prospects that are available for researchers in the Australian Public Service (APS), including in policy and project roles.

What is your favourite part about working in a policy role in the Australian Public Service?

Every day in the APS is different. The environment is very dynamic and challenging which provides daily learning opportunities that quite excite me. I can see ‘behind the scenes’ on how Australia functions effectively, irrespective of the complexity. Working with the passionate, collaborative, supportive and encouraging colleagues, I can appreciate how my day-to-day work and evidence-based recommendations are crucial to develop effective policies for the Australian community.