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Current undergraduate student, studying Biological Engineering with minors in Urban Studies & Planning and Environment & Sustainability
At MIT, my educational journey has taken me beyond technical skills and problem-solving. I have broadened my worldview and gone to places I could never have imagined four years ago. Many of my transformative experiences, including participating in student organizations and residential life, traveling with MISTI, and developing professional connections, continue to be supported by strong community ties. As a member of the Corporation, I would ensure that these and new opportunities remain available for future classes to learn and grow from.
In addition to sustaining these programs, MIT faces the ongoing challenge and opportunity of deciding which new issues to focus on. As a global technological leader, we must look for areas where solutions can emerge, with a profound understanding of the broader societal impact. The Institute’s increased commitment to climate and sustainability, an issue I care deeply about, is one timely example of how we can tackle challenges by bringing together interdisciplinary solutions. Through my involvement in student government, I have been developing a deep understanding of the unique ways MIT functions and the many different experiences the Institute offers. With each new person I meet or project I encounter at MIT, I gain a greater appreciation for our community’s creativity, talent, and passion. But for our solutions to truly have a global impact, it also takes coordinated effort and a shared vision. We must continue to connect across disciplines and differences, support the diversity of our community, and do our best work together.
SB, 2024, MIT, Biological Engineering
MIT Dormitory Council, December 2020–present
- President
- Dining chair
- Underclassmen representative
- i3 (interactive introduction to the Institute chair)
MIT Climate and Sustainability Consortium, 2023–2024
- Climate scholar
South Asian Association of Students Executive Board, August 2022–present
- Vice president, Internal Events Committee
- Executive member, South Asian Initiative
Institute Committee on Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid, 2023–2024
- Member
Civil and Environmental Research Day, 2023
- Presenter
Graduate student in System Design & Management
MIT has given me a community that feels like family. I’m eager to give back by serving on the Corporation, working toward an even more resilient and impactful MIT.
MIT’s strength lies in its unique, diverse community of students, researchers, faculty, and staff. From fusion energy and mRNA to the Banana Lounge and MITHenge, if you have a (wild) idea MIT, won’t just help you bring it to life—you’ll find 10 others wanting to co-create with you. It’s an organized chaos where people feel the freedom to ideate and innovate, which produces breakthrough technologies and a global community of change-makers. This sense of freedom and drive to create a better world are not a given.
1. Recent events showed that we need to think deeply how to create an environment where we feel safe to discuss our views and feelings with each other.
2. MIT’s Climate Plan showcases leadership in addressing our greatest global challenge. Both in and beyond this project, we must ensure that MIT’s funding sources and investments clearly align with its values.
3. Arriving at MIT and the journey toward graduation can be tough. Mental health is a top priority for the future success of MIT, and we can never invest enough in the individual care of students during their time here.
By focusing on these topics, I hope to continue contributing to a community that nurtures change-makers who are building a better tomorrow.
SM, 2024, MIT, Systems Design and Management
MA, 2013, University of Groningen, International Political Economy
BS, 2010, University of Groningen, Sociology
MIT Energy & Climate Club
- Project lead: Launchpad (January 2024–present)
- Winner: Ironwood Forestry Challenge, Energy & Climate Hack (October 2024)
- Mentor (2022–2023) and volunteer (Energy Night 2023 and MIT Energy Conference 2024)
Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship
- TEX-E fellow, strengthening student-driven entrepreneurship ecosystems (April 2023–present)
- ARPA-E Innovation Summit Student Program awardee (May 2024)
MIT System Design & Management
- Organizing Committee, Ocean Science & Engineering Forum (March 2024)
- Trek liaison, SDM Netherlands Trek (December 2023–April 2024)
MITxHarvard Climate Crew
- Organizer (September 2022–present)
Cultuurfonds Scholar
Netherlands-America Foundation Scholar
Medical student, NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Spending five years growing and learning at MIT fundamentally changed who I am for the better. I learned how to solve challenging problems, work in teams, and feel comfortable outside of my comfort zone. More importantly, I found a community that grounded and inspired me. My motivation to serve on the MIT Corporation stems from a love for MIT and a deep appreciation of the transformative power of an MIT experience.
While MIT can be a place that brings out the absolute best in its students, its rigor can also break people down: a sentiment captured by the two meanings of “IHTFP” (I-Have-Truly-Found-Paradise and I-Hate-This…). This dialectic is one of MIT’s most significant challenges. We cannot make the world a better place if we do not attend to our well-being and mental health. Having experienced MIT as an undergraduate and graduate student, I have seen how pervasive mental health issues have become at every level, and yet often they lead individuals to feel alone. The principles of togetherness, collaboration, and creative excellence that we routinely use to tackle technical problems should not be abandoned where they are needed most. For MIT to execute on its mission, it has an obligation to prioritize its students’ health, happiness, and safety. As the president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, I found this work rewarding and impactful. I want to extend similar initiatives to the university as a whole and work toward an MIT where we address students’ well-being with the same commitment and enthusiasm that we apply to the world’s greatest challenges.
MD, 2026, New York University, Grossman School of Medicine
MEng, 2023, MIT, Biomedical Engineering
SB, 2022, MIT, Biological Engineering
Varsity Women’s Soccer, August 2018–June 2023
- Captain, 2021–2023
MIT Slums and Informal Settlements Research Group (MIT SIS), March 2020–present
- Cofounder
- Undergraduate/graduate researcher
Epilepsy Research, Sahin Lab, January 2019–June 2023
- Undergraduate/graduate researcher
- UROP direct supervisor
NCAA Woman of the Year, 2022
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, 2022
Malcolm G. Kispert Award, 2023
MIT student body president
Senior in Chemical Engineering and Mathematics
Incoming quantitative research analyst at BlackRock
MIT holds a profound place in my identity, offering a myriad of opportunities that have shaped my educational journey in ways I never envisioned. Reflecting on my time at MIT fills me with gratitude, as it expanded my horizons significantly. Being part of the MIT Corporation would not only be an honor but a fulfilling way to give back to my beloved alma mater.
My pride in MIT’s reputation and achievements fuels my commitment to remain involved, supporting initiatives that enhance its standing. As a prospective member, I aspire to contribute ideas shaping educational policies, fostering academic excellence, and influencing the Institute’s trajectory for long-term success.
Looking ahead to 2023 and beyond, MIT faces challenges and opportunities. Maintaining its global educational prominence, attracting brilliant minds, and addressing issues of diversity, inclusion, mental health, and student well-being are paramount. MIT is uniquely positioned to equip students with the tools to navigate an ever-evolving world. Leveraging its research capabilities, MIT can tackle global challenges like climate change, ethical dilemmas in gene editing, and advancements in AI technologies. Striking a balance between tradition and adaptation, innovation and ethical considerations is essential for both a diverse student body and navigating the evolving landscape of future technological advancements at MIT.
SB, 2024, MIT, Chemical Engineering
SB, 2024, MIT, Mathematics
MIT Undergraduate Association, May 2023–May 2024
- President
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, October 2020–May 2024
- Researcher
- Mentor
Theta Chi Fraternity, May 2022–December 2022
- President
- Mentor
Publication in Nature Water, 2024
- Accepted publication on “Multifunctional zwitterionic hydrogels for the rapid elimination of organic and inorganic micropollutants from water”
Best Scholarship Program for Theta Chi Fraternity Award, 2022
Senior associate at Fine Structure Ventures
Board observer at Boston Metal and Caelux Corporation
Founding team member of Science for America
I will never forget the words of an MIT faculty mentor: “MIT’s most valuable asset is not the Nobel Prize–winning science or companies we spin out, rather it is the people we educate.” This is the core perspective I plan to bring to the Corporation as we tackle emerging challenges and opportunities that affect MIT students and the broader community. This people-centric approach is what has allowed me to successfully address challenges as a scientist-entrepreneur, deep tech investor, and nonprofit advisor.
Embracing this core principle, I want to fully empower our community to translate knowledge into real and positive global impact, especially solutions to the ethical implications of AI and climate change that should be scalable, accessible to all, and responsibly deployed. I am also driven to foster an Institute where we do cutting-edge research while remaining committed to teaching scholars from the broadest array of backgrounds and experiences. My track record working on DEI initiatives has prepared me to implement this vision. Between 2017 and 2020, I worked alongside every level of MIT senior administration on Institute-wide DEI initiatives. I played a critical role in reviewing and bolstering the 2015 BSU and BGSA recommendations and coauthored two additional memos that critically evaluated our successes and failures as we moved toward a more diverse and equitable Institute.
Moreover, I now see MIT at a pivotal juncture where we can recognize that free speech and DEI are not mutually exclusive but are in fact complementary forces. MIT is a tapestry of diverse views and is a microcosm of the world; we must always be able to sit in the same room even though we may hold drastically different views. To be effective in its mission to best serve the nation and the world, we must ensure all members feel supported while they develop into responsible citizens; because in the end, the students we educate will create the innovative solutions the world needs.
PhD, 2022, MIT, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
SM, 2017, MIT, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
BS, 2014, Rice University, Physics with Distinction in Research
MIT Graduate Student Council, 2018–2019
- Vice chair, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Committee
MIT Academic Council Working Group, 2018–2020
- Member
MIT Academy of Courageous Minority Engineers, 2017–2018
- President
MIT Forum on Racial and Environmental Equity and Justice, 2016–2017
- Committee co-chair
Kyber Photonics, 2020–2022
- CEO and cofounder
MIT Mens et Manus “Mind and Hand” Convocation Award, 2020
MIT MLK Jr. Leadership Award & graduate student keynote speech, 2018
Facebook Fellowship (AR/VR Photonics and Optics), 2019–2021
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, 2014–2019
MIT Lemelson Presidential Graduate Fellowship, 2014–2015
Assistant professor of computer science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)
Visiting researcher, Google Deepmind
MIT is not defined by a particular course, invention, or building, but a community of amazing people within. They build fantastic contraptions, simultaneously share math and cooking tips, and inspire us as people to learn, grow, and ask more from life.
The disruption of the pandemic coupled with emergence of new technology is rapidly changing how we interact with each other. We are already seeing the impacts of AI, climate change, remote work/education, biological engineering, and more. As MIT and the world face these challenges, we must leverage our strong history of technological innovation to grow together, not apart.
To unite an increasingly segmented world, MIT must start from within. MIT has the people and resources for you to accomplish anything, be it starting a company or getting help with a pset. Yet, knowing that these resources exist, let alone how to use them, is gatekept behind a hidden curriculum. Activities and communal housing provide opportunities to meet and learn from each other but are increasingly costly in both money and time.
I spent my time at MIT creating communities to bring us together: leading the MIT Minecraft project, creating Discord servers for each class year and virtual Campus Preview, and running the largest (2,000+ person) MegaPi class reunion, to name a few.
Everyone at MIT has the potential to change the world. As a Corporation member, I will ensure MIT brings people together and provides everyone (students, alumni, faculty, and beyond) the resources and knowledge to do so.
PhD, 2023, MIT, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
MEng, 2017, MIT, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
SB, 2017, MIT, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
SB, 2017, MIT, Physics
Student Information Processing Board (SIPB), 2017–2023
- Chair (president)
- Executive Committee member-at-large, keyholder
Maseeh Hall Executive Committee (MHEC), 2015–2017
- President
- Treasurer
Undergraduate Association (UA), 2015–2017
- Council member
Dormitory Council (Dormcon), 2015–2017
- Judicial chair
MIT Alumni Association/Admissions Office, 2021–present
- Alumni class president
- Finance chair, MegaPi reunion
- Second-level reviewer for Engineering Advisor Board (undergraduate admissions)
Karl Taylor Compton Prize, 2021
Larry G. Benedict Award, 2017
Great Dome Award, 2023
Artificial Intelligence Accelerator Transition Award, US Air Force, 2023
Policy analyst (industrial strategy), White House Office of Management and Budget
At MIT, I first found my people: a singular community of creative, enthusiastic, and collaborative problem-solvers. Naturally, I stuck around. With degrees from four out of five schools (plus a Sloan RA), I’m running to help our Institute stay quirky by (1) empowering students to figure out how to be their authentic selves, and (2) forging deeper cross-departmental collaborations. First, given the wealth of neurodivergence on campus, MIT could be a pioneer in cultivating happy nerds with healthy coping mechanisms. Colorful murals, lively debates, cooking clubs, and hacking culture are how we learn to navigate complexity and shape the world around us. Yet I fear the contentious balance between protecting students and allowing for self-determination has skewed toward sterilization and autocracy. MIT must build stronger democratic partnerships with the student body—including our new Graduate Student Union—to develop viable community solutions for a thriving campus.
Second, we’re hampered by the rigidity of existing degree programs and faculty incentives—but programs such as the Work of the Future Task Force and the Energy Studies Minor showcase other pathways. My colleagues in emerging fields like biomanufacturing, AI, fusion, and industrial policy struggle to hire interdisciplinary graduates who can synthesize diverse fields, design for manufacturing, navigate regulations, and even tackle equity concerns. By strengthening the best of MIT’s quirky creativity, I want to help the next generation identify the most impactful ways to use their own minds and hands—while finding their own people.
PhD, 2023, MIT, Urban Studies and Planning
SM, 2018, MIT, Technology Policy
SB, 2011, MIT, Physics
SB, 2011, MIT, Writing and Humanistic Studies
MIT Graduate Student Union/UE Local 256, June 2022–May 2023
Lab for Chocolate Science, 2009–2023
- President
- Officer-at-large
Fab Foundation, 2010–2020
- Consultant/volunteer
- Co-organizer, 11th Annual Fab Lab Conference at MIT
Fulbright Student Fellow in Kumasi, Ghana, February–December 2012
Practical Education Network, cofounder
MIT IDEAS Global Villages Award, 2011
MIT Public Service Fellowships, 2009 and 2010
10-time MIT Writing Prize Recipient, 2009–2020
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