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Research Program Mentors

Polygence mentors are selected based on their exceptional academic background, teaching experience, and unique ability to inspire the next generation of innovative thinkers and industry leaders.

History
Emily

Emily

PhD candidate

Expertise

Environmental science and sustainability, management, governance, and policy. Conservation, social science, writing. Decision-making, project management, strategic planning, and evaluation. Science communication, data management, NGOs/ nonprofits, philosophy of science, research process and methods.

Elizabeth

Elizabeth

PhD

Expertise

European and Middle East History, Comparative Literature, Creative Writing, French Literature,

Anthony

Anthony

PhD

Expertise

Classical studies (Latin and Greek language and literature), Greek and Roman archaeology, Greek and Roman history, art history, history of architecture, US history, world history, creative writing

Nate

Nate

PhD

Expertise

Disability History, Transatlantic History, Quaker History, American Religious History, History of Mormonism, 19th-century American History, History of the Built Environment, Architectural History, History of Transatlantic Slavery, US History, European History, Cultural History, Pop Culture History

Bailey

Bailey

PhD

Expertise

Writing, rhetorical analysis, feminist analysis, archival research, creative writing

AJ

AJ

PhD candidate

Expertise

Journalism (reporting, multimedia, publishing, editing), French, Arabic, contemporary Arabic culture, international relations, international political economy, creative writing (novella, short story, haiku), photography, history of post-world war Europe and Middle East

Kristen

Kristen

PhD

Expertise

History; Anthropology; STS (Science, Technology & Society Studies); Environmental History; Medical Anthropology; colonial, post-colonial, de-colonial studies; feminist anthropology; the social study of science and technology; East African history; Imperialism; social science; creative writing & ethnographic writing/autoethnography

Katy

Katy

MA

Expertise

Early and Modern Middle Eastern history, Political Science, Latin American history, Arab and Latin American cinema, feminist cinema, film theory, ethnography, Islamic Studies

Christine

Christine

PhD candidate

Expertise

mental health, inequality, culture, qualitative methods (interviews, ethnography, archival analysis, content analysis), social justice, social problems, sociology, sociology of religion and spirituality, gender and sexuality studies, sexual and reproductive health, ethnic studies, disability studies

Griffin Smith-Nichols

Griffin Smith-Nichols

Industry expert

Expertise

Ancient Greek and Latin classics, medieval literature and languages, history of religion, German

Alyson

Alyson

MS

Expertise

Food Systems, Gastronomy, Innovative solutions for climate change, humanistic approach to design, Wicked Problems, Regenerative Agriculture, Gastronomic design,

Andrew

Andrew

PhD

Expertise

Media, Culture, Technology, AI and Ethics, Politics, History, Music, Gender, Religion, Anthropology, International Relations, the Middle East

Mikaela (Mik)

Mikaela (Mik)

MS

Expertise

History; Cultural heritage; archaeology; anthropology; Classical studies (Ancient Greek & Roman history, language and culture); library science and archives

Ievgeniia

Ievgeniia

PhD

Expertise

Ukraine, Ukrainian history and literature, the Renaissance and the Reformation in Western Europe, Eastern European and Russian history.

Hunter

Hunter

PhD

Expertise

History; Religion; Islamic Studies; History of the Middle East; History of South Asia; Issues in Science and Religion; the History of Philosophy; Science and Technology Studies (STS)

Hamzah

Hamzah

PhD

Expertise

Geopolitics, Middle East and African history, race and ethnicity, political theory, international relations, Black Studies

Rose

Rose

MS

Expertise

Comparative religion, drama and esl education, cultural experiences, Ed tech

Connor

Connor

PhD candidate

Expertise

American history, African-American history, Atlantic history, Southern history, Black studies, gender and sexuality studies, carceral studies, social history, oral history, Black feminist and queer theory

Alyssa

Alyssa

PhD candidate

Expertise

Communication. Political Communication. Rhetoric. Political Polarization. Politics. Government.

Rachel Nefertari

Rachel Nefertari

PhD

Expertise

Cross Cultural conflict resolution, cultural medicine, refugee health diplomacy and policy, Middle East and North Africa