Peer Concentration Advisors (PCA) Program
PCAs serve as peer advisors for pre-concentrators (and current concentrators), providing a valuable perspective and helping students to discover additional resources and opportunities.
If you would like to be matched to a PCA, you can do one of the following:
- Reach out by email to a PCA with similar academic, career, or extracurricular interests by exploring their bios below.
- Get paired with a PCA by filling out the Find my PCA Google Form. While we recognize some students might know exactly what they are looking for, we are happy to help pair you.
May Jung (Co-Captain)
Email: mayjung@college.harvard.edu
Hi! My name is May, and I’m a senior in Leverett studying Biomedical Engineering (A.B.) with a secondary in Energy & Environment. When I’m not doing coursework, I can usually be seen choreographing in Lev basement or at lab doing thesis research! I work at the T.H. Chan School of Public Health as part of the Sarosiek Lab where I develop methods to better quantify apoptotic activity. I also TF for the intro BME course Engineering Sciences 53, so let me know if you have any questions about the course or concentration. I am also happy to talk about being pre-med, pursuing research abroad, navigating Longwood, or volunteering on/off campus. Or, email me if you relate to any of the following: overjoyed about the upcoming Shrek 5 movie, interested in learning Korean, or know how to draw caricature. Excited to meet y’all!
Roaa Marei (Co-Captain)
Email: roaamarei@college.harvard.edu
Hi everyone!! My name is Roaa and I am a senior in Pfoho, concentrating in Mechanical Engineering with a secondary in Social Anthropology. On campus, I am actively involved in many clubs that I absolutely love! I am the Co-President of the Harvard Undergraduate Engineering Society (HUES), member of the Harvaed Rocket Propulsion Group (HRPG) Assistant Director of the College Events Board (CEB), and Outreach Chair for the Aviation Insight Caucus (AIC), among other clubs. My interests mainly lie in the aerospace industry and I interned at Woodward, an aerospace manufacturing company, as a mechanical engineer intern and I worked on building airplane parts for Airbus, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Gulf Aerospace and more! I’m also passionate about mentoring and leadership, I am also a dedicated math and physics tutor! I love teaching and sharing valuable knowledge with others. My love for engineering and the humanities fuels also led me to pursue the unique combination of mechE and anthropology! In addition to my campus activities, I lead Youth Leadership Conferences in Dubai and India, where I guide students in developing social impact projects and help youth lead change around the world. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, drawing, and playing tennis and badminton. I would love to connect with you and I am extremely excited about being an Engineering PCA! Please feel free to reach out :) looking forward to meeting you!!
Genevieve "Genna" McQuillan (Co-Captain)
Email: gmcquillan@college.harvard.edu
Hi everyone! My name is Genna(Genevieve) and I am a Senior in Cabot House. I am studying Environmental Science and Engineering on the S.B. track. Within Environmental Engineering, I am primarily interested in renewable energy, storage and grid system planning. Outside of school, I’m very interested in the food system and regenerative agriculture. Two summers ago, I worked on the data science and climate tech investments team for Coatue Management L.L.C. Last summer, I studied International Agriculture and Environmental Engineering for the Tropics in Monteverde, Costa Rica through CIEE. This Summer, I am working at Energy and Environmental Economics(E3) on the Integrated Systems Planning team and will be volunteering at Camp Kesem, a sleepaway camp for kids whose parents have cancer. On campus, I lead hikes through the Harvard Outing Club, work with Learn with Leaders through the Clean Energy Group, make pottery through the Cabot Ceramics Program, host film photography classes at the Eliot Darkroom, and am a community chair of ESE. I spend a lot of my free time outside, swimming, hammocking, journaling, hiking, etc. Feel free to reach out! I would love to help with any questions you may have.
Ashley Redhead (Co-Captain)
Email: aredhead@college.harvard.edu
Hello all! I’m Ashley Redhead, a junior studying Electrical Engineering (S.B.) with a strong interest in computer architecture and hardware. This summer, I was an engineering intern at Northrop Grumman, where I worked on chip quality and redesigns. On campus, I've previously collaborated with the Edge Computing Lab on their generative architecture research. I am also taking several classes at MIT, so reach out if you are interested in this. Outside of engineering, I serve as the Associate Director of External Initiatives at the Harvard Undergraduate Consulting Group and am a member of the Men’s Club Volleyball Team. I’m also passionate about early-childhood literacy and equitable technology. Recently, I got a new DJ set, so I spend most of my free time making music. As someone who constantly balances distinct interests, I’m happy to discuss the Harvard engineering course pathway and the diverse opportunities available for engineers. I look forward to meeting you soon—please feel free to reach out!
Michelle Chang
Email: michelle_chang@college.harvard.edu
Hello! My name is Michelle, and I’m a junior in Winthrop studying Biomedical Engineering (A.B.) with a secondary in government! My interests primarily lie in tissue and immune engineering. Specifically, I am fascinated by how we can utilize various biomaterials as tissue mimics to manipulate the phenotypes of different cells in our immune system. On campus, I have worked with cancer immunology at Professor Rashidian’s lab at Dana Farber, and currently, working on immune engineering at Professor Mooney’s Lab at the Wyss Institute. Additionally, I am also part of Brigham and Women’s Medical Career Exploration Volunteer Program, allowing me to volunteer in different departments. Outside of classwork, I can usually be seen dancing with the Harvard Crimson Dance Team or the Harvard Contemporary Collective. In my free time, I love exploring coffee shops and watching law and crime documentaries! Furthermore, I have considered both a MD or PhD, so I am always happy to chat about any of my experiences or anything you may be curious about! Feel free to reach out!
Ari Cheriyan
Email: mcheriyan@college.harvard.edu
Hello all! I’m Ari Cheriyan, and I'm a senior at the college studying Bioengineering (S.B.) on the Chemical & Materials subtrack. I’m also pursuing a secondary in Classical Civilizations, and am broadly interested in cell/tissue engineering, smart biomaterials, and STS (science, technology, and society). This summer, I was a research intern at the Mooney lab working on immunoengineering & building an ex vivo thymus! Last summer, I did mechanobiology research abroad at National University of Singapore through the Amgen Scholars Program; on campus, I have previously worked with organoid staining/culture at Professor Mooney’s lab and DNA origami at Professor Shih’s lab at the Wyss Institute, with my work supported by the PRISE&HCRP awards. I participated in the BioSTAR "tissue culture bootcamp" wintersession program last year with the Active Learning Labs, and I TA'ed for the high school version of the program this summer. Outside of academics, I am an avid user of the REEF makerspace and EMT with CrimsonEMS. I also love music; I’m the senior choir manager of the Harvard University Choir and sing with the group as a choral fellow. Please feel free to message me about any of the above or any topic beyond, and I’m happy to chat about anything — looking forward to meeting you soon!
Hayden Graham
Email: haydengraham@college.harvard.edu
Hey everyone!! My name is Hayden- I’m a junior in Leverett House studying Biomedical Engineering (A.B.) and Economics as a double concentration. Outside of academics, I love the outdoors and traveling!! I recently completed a 2 week backpacking trip through Florida and went surfing for the first time! At Harvard, I am the HoCo chair of Leverett House (best house!!!). Also this fall, I will be a course assistant for the intro bioengineering class ES 53. Looking forward to seeing some of you in the class!! Professionally, I plan to work in biotech after graduation and have interned at pharmaceutical companies for the past two summers. This summer, I worked at Boehringer Ingelheim in the Bay Area doing cell culture R&D. Previously, I worked for AbbVie in Chicago supporting immunology medicine programs in a more business-focused role. Before coming to college, I worked as a pharmacy technician for two years, so happy to share about that experience as well. Let me know if you have questions about navigating pre-med vs. industry paths or anything else :) Feel free to reach out via email, find me in class, or even on the SEC shuttle, and I’d love to talk. Excited to meet you all!
Ghazal Jafari Naeimi
Email: ghazaljafarinaeimi@college.harvard.edu
My name is Ghazal and I am a junior in Kirkland house studying electrical engineering on the S.B. Track. I am also trying to get my citation in French. My passions include aerospace, computer engineering, robotics, and the intersection of electrical engineering with other disciplines such as medical applications. Currently, I am interning as an electrical engineer in a startup that makes health and fitness wearable technology. My job is mostly related to signal processing, working with various sensors and circuit boards. Before declaring my concentration, I was planning to study computer science so I took some CS courses my freshman year and would be happy to discuss engineering course pathway and how much it overlaps with other concentrations. I spend my free time enjoying playing violin, swimming, and watching movies. Looking forward to meeting you!
Jiani Johnson
Email: jiani_johnson@college.harvard.edu
Hello! My name is Jiani and I am a junior living in Leverett House studying Bioengineering (S.B.) on the chemical and materials subtrack. Currently, I work as an undergraduate researcher in the Mitragotri Lab, where I am developing an innovative process for fabricating a new cell therapy treatment for cancer. I also serve as president of Harvard iGEM, a student-run synthetic biology research group. I am deeply committed to promoting diversity in STEM and work closely with Science Club for Girls, a local Cambridge organization that brings free STEM education to elementary school girls from underrepresented backgrounds. I serve as a volunteer mentor and Harvard Mentor Chapter Co-President for the Harvard Mentor Chapter of the organization. Outside of the scientific world, I am a student brand ambassador for Kaplan, an exam prep company. In my free time I love reading, listening to music, and watching Christoper Nolan movies. Feel free to reach out anytime to chat about engineering courses, research on campus, academic support options, grad school prep resources, or whatever else you may have questions about.
Thomas King
Email: thomasking@college.harvard.edu
Thomas King (he series) is a Junior concentrating in mechanical engineering. In 2024, he spent a summer with the Volpe Center (part of the DoT) researching train collisions. His primary extracurricular in college is Choir. In his spare time, he is a recreational scuba instructor, amateur runner, and avid DnD player.
Cooper Knarr
Email: cknarr@college.harvard.edu
My name is Cooper. I’m a junior studying Mechanical Engineering (S.B.), on the thermal systems track, with a secondary in Germanic languages and literature. My interests lay in many areas—from sports equipment to defense. Last summer, I conducted research on Electric Vehicle batteries at the Technical University of Munich in Germany. This summer, I am an intern with the Air Force. Outside of class, I am the Co-President of the Harvard Undergraduate Sports Lab (HUSL) and spend my time enjoying all things related to sports!
Davina Komaravalli
Email: dkomaravalli@college.harvard.edu
Hi! My name is Davina Komaravalli and I’m from West London, UK. I’m a junior in Cabot House studying Mechanical Engineering (S.B.) with a secondary in Earth and Planetary Sciences. I’m interested in pursuing a masters after college and eventually a career in aerodynamics in Formula 1. Last summer, I had the opportunity to spend a week at McLaren Racing exploring their different engineering departments. This summer, I was a research intern at the Singapore Airlines - National University of Singapore Digital Aviation Corporate Laboratory in Singapore (I love traveling). On campus, I currently serve as Co-President for Harvard Society of Women Engineers (SWE) which I am so excited to be heavily involved in! Outside of academics, I am one of the Directors for Harvard Undergraduate Ghungroo, a photographer for Harvard Yearbook Publications and a graphic designer for The Harvard Crimson. Harvard can be really overwhelming and as a FGLI and international student, trust me I get it. So feel free to reach out to chat about F1, course schedules, extracurriculars, existential crises (we all have them) or literally anything! <3
Addison Liu
Email: ayliu@college.harvard.edu
Addison Liu
Hi! My name is Addison, and I am a senior in Leverett House pursuing an S.B. in Mechanical Engineering with a secondary in Art, Film, and Visual Studies. My interests lie primarily at the intersections of medicine, materials, and mechanics, exploring how engineering technologies can further clinical medicine. To this end, I have worked as an undergraduate researcher at the Harvard Microrobotics Lab developing a wearable sensor and at EPFL in Switzerland developing a neurosurgical microrobot. Most recently, at Boston Children’s Hospital, I am designing a device that quantifies mitral valve coaptation to improve surgical repairs. This summer, I am interning at NASA Ames Research Center, where I work on biosensor development. Beyond research, I am a photographer for the Harvard Crimson and an EMT for my local fire company. I have also loved being involved with the Harvard Undergraduate Engineering Society (HUES) and working as an undergraduate teaching assistant for various classes. In my free time, I love exploring coffee shops, reading memoirs, and making Spotify playlists for every possible mood. I am always happy to chat about any of my experiences or anything else you may be curious about—feel free to reach out at anytime :)
Oliver Murcko
Email: olivermurcko@college.harvard.edu
Hi everyone! My name is Oliver, and I’m a senior in Cabot studying Mechanical Engineering (S.B.) on the mechanical systems track with a secondary in Computer Science. One of the reasons I chose to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering is my interest in the automotive industry and racecars. Outside of school, I’m involved with the Harvard Undergraduate Automotive Society (HUAS), and for my senior design project, I’m designing the aerodynamic elements for Harvard’s first-ever Formula SAE. Since I’ve always been interested in cars, I spent a summer working with a car manufacturer, designing and testing interiors for their upcoming vehicle that’s coming into production in 2025. Lately, however, I have become more interested in materials science, and this past summer, I conducted research at Lewis Lab, looking into utilizing ML models to predict the material properties of acrylates. Besides that, I spend a lot of time on the other side of the river because I’m also a sprinter on the Harvard Track & Field team. Please reach out if you have any questions about balancing academics as a student-athlete, want to chat about the different engineering paths you could take at Harvard, or are curious about anything else! I’m looking forward to meeting you!!
Onovughakpor Otitigbe-Dangerfield
Email: onovu_otitigbe@college.harvard.edu
Hello! My name is Onovughakpor Otitigbe Dangerfield and I am a senior in Mather House concentrating in biomedical engineering and history of science with a secondary in theater, dance and media. I plan on pursuing a biomedical engineering concurrent masters. I am also premed - but my biomedical engineering subtract is mechanical so I am incredibly interested in the future of robotic assisted surgeries on the side of biomedical device design and more specifically in the field of pediatric neurosurgery. On campus in terms of pre professional and academic clubs - I serve on the board of the Harvard Society for Black Scientists and Engineers as Vice President, the Harvard Undergraduate Robotics Club as the project manager. I am also a certified EMT, and plan to work with BostonEMS part time. I also conduct research at the Boston Children's Hospital. Outside of academics I am also music director of Keychange: A Black Acapella Experience, the First Year Retreat and Experience as a FYRE TL, and I'm president of Harvard College Musical Theater! Please reach out for anything related to my concentration, the FGLI and black experience on campus, or anything related to the arts or just to talk!
Bella Pignataro
Email: ipignataro@college.harvard.edu
Hey! I’m Bella and I am a senior in Currier House studying Electrical Engineering. I'm from the great state of Ohio, so shout out to all the midwesterners out there. Previously, I have spent summers working in the Biodesign Lab on an inflatable shoulder exosuit and at Cleveland Clinic on ophthalmology research. Nowadays, though, I am much more interested in renewable energy (specifically wind) and I work as an installation intern for Vineyard Offshore. Outside of my academic interests, I hit myself with colorful tubes in The Harvard Undergraduate Drummers (THUD) and work at the hockey arena on campus. I enjoy hiking, watching sports (especially PWHL), the season of fall, dogs, and so many other things! I would love to chat with you about virtually anything, but please reach out if you want to talk about engineering tracks, course selection, music recs, or my future plan to one day become a cowboy!
Emma Kate Price
Email: emmaprice@college.harvard.edu
Hey, y’all! My name is Emma Kate, and I am a senior in Leverett studying Mechanical Engineering (SB) with a secondary in Astrophysics. I am from rural Missouri, and I love hiking, kayaking, and just being outside! My career interest lies in aerospace, and I intend to work in rocketry research and development. In the past couple years, I have worked at Boeing as a Systems Engineering Intern and conducted crop growth, water testing, and additive manufacturing research. Next summer, I will be working at SpaceX (Starlink) as an Engineering Intern. On campus, I am a board member of Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and on the propulsion team in the Harvard Rocket Propulsion Group (HRPG). I am also a member of Student Astronomers at Harvard Radcliffe (STAHR) and AstroSoc. Beyond STEM, I direct Kesem Harvard Undergraduate, a camp and year-round support system for kids whose parents have cancer, and edit The Ichthus, a campus publication. This fall, I will be studying abroad at Oxford, where I will be reading engineering and rowing with the Oriel College Boat Club (OCBC). I am happy to chat with you about studying abroad, pursuing an astrophysics secondary, searching for internships, or anything else about which you are wondering! I also work a couple of jobs during the semester, so I am available to discuss balancing work with school. I love being a MechE (especially since the SEC is the best place on campus:), and I cannot wait to help you out with your engineering plans!
Mitchell Sharum
Email: msharum@college.harvard.edu
Hello! My name is Mitchell. I am a senior in Winthrop studying electrical engineering (S.B.) with a secondary in computer science. I am into pre-silicon design verification, or really anything on the digital side of EE. In my time off, I enjoy playing and producing music, watching sci-fi and horror movies, and running. For the past two summers, I have worked as an electrical engineering intern at the Corvalent Corporation in Cedar Park, Texas (my home state). I am a part of HUES, and during my time at Harvard have spent some time with CBE, the HCC, and the HRDC, as well as in the Harvard-Berklee dual degree program. If you would like to talk about navigating the many, many different subfields of EE, or are interested in anything listed above, feel free to reach out!
Kyle Stevenson
Email: kstevenson@college.harvard.edu
Hello! My name is Kyle, and I’m currently a senior in Pforzheimer House concentrating in Bioengineering (S.B.) with a citation in Japanese. Being on the Chemical and Materials subtrack, I’m particularly interested in tissue engineering and biomaterials as well as the medical applications they can have. Since coming to Harvard, I’ve really enjoyed conducting research, including working on kidney organoid research in the Lewis lab for the past year as well as traveling to Japan last summer to work on skin cell research at the University of Tokyo. I’m happy to talk more about my experiences pursuing research opportunities abroad! Elsewhere on campus, I’m involved with the Harvard Society of Black Scientists and Engineers as well as the Harvard Wind Ensemble and Harvard Band where I play the French Horn/Mellophone. Outside of classes, I also enjoy soccer, basketball, and meeting new people, so please reach out! I look forward to meeting all of you!
Talia Vaught
Email: taliavaught@college.harvard.edu
Hi everyone! I’m Talia and I am a junior studying Environmental Science and Engineering on the S.B. track with a secondary in Astrophysics. I live in Pfoho and am a Quad enthusiast, but grew up in Bluffton, South Carolina! This summer, I worked on the Environmental Team at a manufacturing plant called Georgia-Pacific. I aim to work in marine or space science after graduating, but am excited to explore more over the next two years! Aside from ESE, I am involved in Harvard Model Congress, the Society of Women Engineers, the Climate Coalition, and I am a PAF. Long term, I hope to apply my ESE knowledge to policy! I love exploring Boston, running, and traveling - and I am always happy to talk about all things ESE over coffee!!
Lana Wagner
Email: law330@college.harvard.edu
Hi all! My name is Lana. I'm a senior in Winthrop studying Mechanical Engineering on the S.B. track. I am passionate about design, problem-solving and any hands-on mechanical project. My engineering interests are broad, ranging from aerospace to medical devices. Over the past two summers, I worked at Rocket Lab in Long Beach, CA as a Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer, where I did mechanical design work for Rocket Lab’s satellite programs. I also worked in the Harvard Biodesign Lab with Professor Conor Walsh for multiple summers on several different soft robotics and wearable device projects, including through the Harvard PRISE summer fellowship. Outside of the classroom, I am a dinner leader for the Franklin Fellowship and have a weekly jazz radio show on WHRB! I also love running, surfing, discovering new music, and cooking. If you have any questions or just want to chat, please reach out!
Aaron Zheng
Email: aaron_zheng@college.harvard.edu
Hey everyone! My name is Aaron Zheng, a senior in Quincy House, pursuing an S.B. in Bioengineering - Chemical and Materials Track and a Citation in Chinese from Auburn, Massachusetts. I always grew up with a fascination for science, mathematics, and real-world applications of what we learned, combined with finding computer science and the world of biotech while at Harvard, Bioengineering became a clear choice. My interests primarily lie in the intersection of entrepreneurship, business development, and biotechnology, rather than pure research, academia, or med school, although I have conducted research in materials science and computational biology. On campus, I actively participate in cultural organizations, FGLI advocacy, and am the current President of the Harvard Biotechnology Club. I also love exploring Cambridge and Boston by foot or by bike, binging podcasts and video essays, and just living life outside of a problem set. Please reach out if you have questions on approaching industry and business in biotech over academia or med school, figuring out what to do in life (as if I know yet), navigating Harvard as a FGLI student, or just about anything and everything. Excited to meet you all!