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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
Rebecca

Rebecca

MA

Expertise

Memorialization culture (monuments, memorials, and museums); Public history; Genocide, crimes against humanity, and mass atrocities; History of human rights; Germany [German literature, poetry, film, and art]; 20th century; World War II

Alyson

Alyson

MS

Expertise

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

Alyssa

Alyssa

PhD candidate

Expertise

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

Clarissa

Clarissa

PhD candidate

Expertise

Art history, Feminism, Contemporary art, Art and Science, Women in STEM

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

Elizabeth

Elizabeth

PhD

Expertise

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

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.

Melissa

Melissa

MS

Expertise

Human Computer Interaction, User Experience, History

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

Hamzah

Hamzah

PhD

Expertise

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

Griffin Smith-Nichols

Griffin Smith-Nichols

Industry expert

Expertise

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

Andrew

Andrew

PhD

Expertise

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

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)

Alexandra

Alexandra

PhD candidate

Expertise

20th Century American History

Rachel Nefertari

Rachel Nefertari

PhD

Expertise

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

Rose

Rose

MS

Expertise

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

William

William

MA

Expertise

Game Design and Development, Web Design, Agile software development, Game Design theory Archaeology, Digital Humanities, Research Essays, Photogrammetry, Digital Art, Virtual Reality, Unity Game Engine

Sam

Sam

PhD candidate

Expertise

Film studies + production, American literature, History, Economics, Music

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