Woman on a video call screen

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.

Literature and Languages
Sam

Sam

PhD candidate

Expertise

Film studies + production, American literature, American history, Gender studies, Music

Hamzah

Hamzah

PhD

Expertise

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

Kai

Kai

PhD candidate

Expertise

English literature, Black Studies, Queer theory, History, Latin America and the Caribbean Studies, Indigenous Studies, Gender and Sexuality, Postcolonial Studies, Performance and Theatre Studies, Political Movements and history, Organizing/Activism, and Spanish

Laurie

Laurie

MA

Expertise

reading for comprehension, writing for clarity, research and college-level compositions,

Sophia

Sophia

PhD candidate

Expertise

History, Philosophy, Social Science, Political Science, Literature, Cultural Studies, Museum Studies

Lydia

Lydia

EdD candidate

Expertise

Education, Educational leadership, Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Organizational Policy and Procedure

Sarah

Sarah

MFA

Expertise

Filmmaking (directing, cinematography), screenwriting, film analysis

Katie

Katie

MPA candidate

Expertise

History, English, Psychology, Environmental Science/Studies, Political Science, Environmental Policy, Environmental Justice, Immigration Rights, Social Justice, Advocacy

JP

JP

Industry expert

Expertise

Business, finance, economics, organizational behavior, artificial intelligence, acquisitions, socioeconomic impacts

Yehuwdiyth

Yehuwdiyth

PhD

Expertise

finance, accounting, psychology, writing, business

Jake

Jake

PhD candidate

Expertise

Philosophy of Science, Mind, and Cognitive Science; Neuroscience and Psychology Projects, especially in perception; History of Philosophy; Creative Fiction and Nonfiction

Shivangi

Shivangi

DMD candidate

Expertise

Medicine, evolutionary biology

Rachel

Rachel

PhD

Expertise

refugee health diplomacy and policy, Middle East and North Africa

Emily

Emily

PhD candidate

Expertise

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

Semilore

Semilore

PhD candidate

Expertise

Black Atlantic Literature, African & African-American Studies, postcolonial theory, gender and sexuality studies, media and cultural studies

Katrina

Katrina

MA

Expertise

Creative writing; Prose fiction; Poetry; Literary Analysis; Mythology and Folklore analysis; Science Fiction and Fantasy; World building; Film theory and history; Screenwriting

Allen

Allen

PhD

Expertise

projects that combine computing/programming and literature, language, or history; myth, ancient literature, Ancient Greek, Latin; analyzing language and literature with AI; linguistics

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

Shana

Shana

MPH candidate

Expertise

Global/Public Health, Community Advocacy, Writing, Spanish, Diversity/Equity/Inclusion, Decolonization, Trauma-Informed Care, Community Health

Gabriela

Gabriela

PhD

Expertise

American Literature, Philosophy and Film, Feminist and Queer Literature, Confessional and Autobiographical writing, Political Theory and Philosophy, History