Department Representatives Spring 2026
Vanessa Li (Lead DR)
About Me
I’m a Ph.D. student at Columbia University working on cardiac tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, co-advised by Ke Cheng and Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic. Growing up between Nagoya and Shanghai sparked my interest in developing healthcare solutions that make a real-world impact. Currently, my research focuses on using extracellular vesicles to support heart regeneration while bridging sex differences in heart disease. Outside the lab, I love dancing, playing squash, and am currently working on a skincare startup.
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Shaurya Mathur
About Me
Hi guys! My name is Shaurya Mathur and I am a first-year M.S. student in BME! I'm originally from Houston, Texas, and got my B.S. in Bioengineering from UCLA. I am really passionate about learning on how to apply my skills to help people.
Outside of class, you'll find me supporting public radio, trying new restaurants, or stuck on the subway (the F is very unreliable). I'm very excited to serve as one of your DRs and please feel free to reach out anytime!
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Jacob Nye
About Me
Hi, I’m Jacob Nye, a Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. student at Columbia, co‑advised by Dr. Alex Dranovsky and Dr. Andrew Laine. My research applies deep learning and computational imaging to understand how early‑life stress and aging reshape brain connectivity, constructing whole‑brain maps at cellular resolution. As an EGSC BME Department Representative, I advocate for graduate student needs and help build community through programming and cross‑department collaboration.
Some background, I earned both my B.S. and M.S. in BME at Columbia. Outside the lab, I’m an active member of Columbia’s Ski & Snowboard Club and a superuser at the Columbia Makerspace. I also co‑founded Colonai, a startup using AI to help doctors better detect and remove colorectal cancer and our team won first place in the 2021 Columbia Venture Competition Tech Track.
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Juni Polansky
About Me
Hi! I'm a first-year MS/PhD student in Nandan Nerurkar's Lab, looking at the development of the gut tube in the chicken embryo. In my free time, I love playing soccer, running, going to concerts, and playing guitar.
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Ruxi Xia
About Me
Hi, I’m a first year MS/PhD student in the Yousefpour Lab, and my research is focused on designing RNA circuits for cancer vaccine and immunotherapy. In my free time, I love to bake and explore different restaurants. If you see me, please say hi:) would love to get to know you!
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rx2280@columbia.edu
Aliza Mujahid
About Me
Hello everyone!
I am excited to serve as your departmental representative. I am a first-year MS/PhD student originally from Lahore, Pakistan. My research focuses on osteoarthritis and tissue engineering. I love meeting new people and learning about their unique capabilities, so please feel free to say hi if you see me around! Outside of the lab, I enjoy trying new things and love running.
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William Wei (Lead DR)
About Me
I’m a second-year ChemE Ph.D. student in the Chen Group. My research is focused on tandem catalysis and reaction engineering. Outside of lab, I enjoy working out, live music, and board games!
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Nathan Zou
About Me
Hello I’m a second-year ChemE PhD student in the Alex Urban Group! My research is focused on computational materials discovery and property prediction. I am from Nashville, Tennessee, and my passions include eating, tennis, snowboarding, gymming, guitar, and excelling as your department representative!!
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Qianqian Wu
About Me
I'm a second-semester master’s student in Chemical Engineering. My current academic focus is on electrochemical systems as part of technologies that combat climate change. I'm also a big fan of organic chemistry. In my free time, I enjoy exploring New York City, listening to music, and spending time with friends.
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Zoe (Xinze) Li (Lead DR)
About Me
Hi! I am a first year MS student in Civil Engineering with a concentration in Structural Engineering. I graduated from UCLA this June and recently moved to New York. During my free time, I love to watch horror movies, bar/restaurant hopping, making espresso-based coffee, visiting museums, doing photography and simply trying out new things. I am excited to serve as the CEEM Department Representative and look forward to supporting and connecting with my fellow graduate students.
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Yaseen Baloch
About Me
Hi! I am a first-year MS student in Civil Engineering with a concentration in Structural Engineering. I recently moved to New York and am excited to begin this new chapter. In my free time, I enjoy hanging out with friends, trying out different restaurants, and exploring everything NYC has to offer. I’m excited to serve as a Department Representative (DR) and look forward to connecting with and supporting my fellow graduate students.
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Aurghya Maiti (Lead DR)
About Me
Hi, I’m Aurghya Maiti, a third-year PhD student in Computer Science. When I’m not knee-deep in research, you’ll find me reading or chatting about books — or, let’s be real, anything at all. I like to spice things up by picking a new hobby each semester. After testing my hands with origami and my legs with dancing, this semester, I decided to brave the slippery world of ice skating (send help!). Oh, and here’s a fun party trick—I can write in a mirror image. Can’t wait to meet you all!
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Jue Wang
About Me
Hi everyone! My name is Jue and I am a Masters student in Computer Science. I’m passionate about technology as a tool for solving complex problems, whether that means building data-driven systems, designing intuitive applications, or optimizing processes for efficiency and impact. I have dabbled in LLM training, full stack development, scripting in robotics, and many other fields in CS.
In my free time I enjoy learning history and geography, cooking, and checking out cool, niche spots in NYC. Feel free to ask me any questions and I will try my best to help!
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Shreyas Havaldar
About Me
Heyoo, I'm Shreyas Havaldar, a first year PhD student in Computer Science. If I'm not drowning in a pile of papers, you can find me either reading books or random wikipedia pages, board gaming, doing NYT games, making myriad art, writing random musings, pulling my hair out at trivia nights, or scrolling reels (duh). I'm also an avid sportshead, and am always excited to play or talk about Soccer, Tennis, Squash, Badminton, F1, sigh, the list is too long. If you want company for a museum run or a live concert you can always rely on me to join you in bad financial decisions.
Always open to chat about the randomest things under and beyond the sun, so feel free to hit me up :)
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Joon Young Park
About Me
Hello, I'm a first year MSCS student with a current focus in AI/ML! Excited and honored to be serving as your CS DR this term. I'm from South Korea, and my passions include playing soccer, basketball, poker, gymming, and thinking about how to become a better DR 😮💨
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Litian Jia
About Me
Hey everyone! I’m Litian Jia, but you can also call me Vikey. I’m a first-year master’s student in MSCS. I did my undergraduate in Biomedical Engineering here at Columbia University (yep, same place).
In my spare time, I like playing video games and volleyball, and I love trying out new foods in New York (there are so many good ones). I also enjoy meeting new people, so let’s check out some new restaurants together!
As a department representative, I want to focus on helping students who are transitioning into a new field and on building a supportive community. Feel free to reach out with any suggestions—we’re here to help.
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Sreeram Kondapalli
About Me
Hi everyone! I'm Sreeram, a first year MS Computer Science student, and I'm honored to serve as your DR.
I did my undergrad at Arizona State University in Data Science with minors in Business and Psychology. Outside of school, I love playing basketball (huge Mavs fan) and I'm always down to explore new spots, so send your best Beli recs my way. Please don't hesitate to come to me with any ideas, questions, or concerns!
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Rajvardhan Patil
About Me
Hi! I’m a first-year MS student in the Computer Science department. When I’m not working through assignments, you’ll probably find me playing sports, catching sunsets along Riverside, or wandering around NYC with a coffee in hand. I’ve always loved numbers, which is a big part of why I’m excited about exploring the finance world.
Like many of us, I’ve felt how easy it is to feel disconnected in a big department like ours. As a Department Representative, I want to help make CS feel more approachable, inclusive, and better connected — through clearer communication, low‑pressure social spaces, and resources that actually help.
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[email protected]
Armand Link
About Me
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Joseph C. Shy (Lead DR)
About Me
Greetings! My name is Joseph Shy, and I’m a first-year PhD student in Earth and Environmental Engineering. Hailing from SoCal, I slowly moved east throughout my education. I earned a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Cal Poly SLO, and I worked in aerospace for about a year on NASA's James Webb Space Telescope and Mars Sample Return missions. I then returned for my M.S. in Bioastronautics at CU Boulder, where I researched carbon dioxide sorbent systems for atmospheric management in spacecraft habitats.
These research interests brought me here to NYC to pursue my PhD. On my off days, I love to write, surf, and bake bread. Please reach out so I can better support your needs as your Department Representative—let’s chat!
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Sarah Araujo
About Me
Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, I am a first-year Master's student in Earth and Environmental Engineering. Before starting my graduate studies, I built a strong foundation as a software engineer, gaining nearly five years of experience in consulting firms. I am now focused on leveraging that technological background to help solve critical environmental challenges. In my free time, I enjoy a range of activities, including skating, karaoke, and spending time in nature, with hiking being my latest passion.
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Peter Sayegh (Lead DR)
About Me
Hi everyone! I’m Peter, a Lebanese first-year MS student in Electrical Engineering with a background in math and physics. I'm happy to serve EGSC as department representative. I plan to organize EE-oriented hands-on workshops and foster cross-departmental collaboration. Always up for hiking, climbing, or spontaneous road trips. Find me in the Maker Space, building the future!
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Aaron Cherian
About Me
Hi! I'm Aaron Cherian, an MS student in Computer Engineering with a soft spot for books and thoughtful debates. I'm particularly interested in tech policy and the intersection of Hardware and Software. I've served on the board of a number of student-led clubs and I am looking forward to making an impact at EGSC. Feel free to connect if you have any questions, need advice or want to engage in a friendly debate.
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Sara Shi
About Me
I'm a first-year MS student, focusing my coursework on integrated circuits. Outside of school, I enjoy fiber arts and electronic music!
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Shurong Zhang
About Me
Hi! I’m Alice, a first-year Master’s student in Computer Engineering at Columbia University. My academic interests include software–hardware co-design, full-stack engineering, and real-time AI systems. I previously studied Electrical Engineering at the City University of Hong Kong and have worked as a research intern at University College London and Carnegie Mellon University.
Outside of academics, I enjoy exploring new restaurants around campus and playing tennis. I’m always happy to connect—feel free to reach out if you have any questions or would like to chat!
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Priyal Agarwal
About Me
Hi! I'm a first year master's student in the Computer Engineering department. I'm from India, did my undergrad in Electronics & Communications engineering and then worked at Nvidia for the last two years before diving into my graduate degree. I'm a nerd about anything GPUs and I'm really excited to explore research opportunities in the domain during my time here.
Outside of school, you'll catch me in Central Park/Riverside on a run, at a karaoke bar or drinking my third cup of coffee while exploring everything NYC has to offer.
As a DR, I really want to help guide CE students better into the department as I think students are confused with the amount of paths available to take after this degree. I also want to help all of us make the most of our time here while balancing our school work. Feel free to catch me anytime for a chat, I'm always happy to get another cup of coffee!
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Aparnna Ajay
About Me
Hi! I'm Aparnna Ajay, a first-year MS student in Electrical Engineering. I'm all about VLSI design and hardware verification basically, I love the challenge of taking circuits from concept to silicon and making sure they actually work the way they're supposed to. Outside the lab, you might catch me at one of the AMC Theatres across New York (I'm always down for a good movie ) or running through Central Park when I need to clear my head . At EGSC, I'm excited to organize hands-on EE workshops, build bridges across departments, and bring in alumni to share real-world insights that go beyond the classroom. Let's connect whether you have questions, want to bounce around ideas, or just need someone to grab coffee with!
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Shalinhi Sivaram
About Me
Hi everyone! I'm Shalu, a first-year MS student in Electrical Engineering with an interest in semiconductor materials and devices. Some of my hobbies include watching films and crocheting. I also love trying new restaurants in the city and reading, so if you have any recs, let me know!
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Deesha Basavaraju Raj
About Me
Hi! I’m a first-year Master’s student in Management Science & Engineering. I’m from India and hold a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Engineering. I’m passionate about combining technical expertise with strategic thinking to solve real-world problems. Outside the classroom, I enjoy networking, meeting new people, and dancing whenever I get the chance. Always up for an interesting conversation—feel free to reach out!
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Bhavana Bafna
About Me
Hi! My name is Bhavana Bafna, and I’m a first-year Master’s student in Management Science and Engineering. I grew up in Pune, India, and completed my undergraduate studies in Information Technology at PICT. Before coming to Columbia, I worked as a Software Development Engineer at Flipkart, where I collaborated closely with product managers and engineers to solve real-world challenges.
Beyond academics and work, I love sketching—especially portraits—as it gives me a creative outlet outside of my technical interests. I’m also passionate about music and dancing, and I enjoy finding new ways to balance creativity with problem-solving.
As your Department Representative, my goal is to foster meaningful connections within our community, ensure your voices are heard, and make our graduate school journey more collaborative and fulfilling. Please feel free to reach out if you’d like to share ideas, suggestions, or just meet for a chat!
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Arshia Vijh
About Me
I’m Arshia Vijh, a Master of Science in Business Analytics student at Columbia Engineering (IEOR), with an undergraduate degree in Finance and Commerce. My background combines financial expertise with strong analytical skills, enabling me to solve business challenges with precision and creativity.
I’m a social and approachable person who enjoys building meaningful connections. Friends and colleagues describe me as passionate, tenacious, and quick-witted, while also empathetic and attentive to detail. I strive to bring positive energy into every space, balancing determination with kindness and always ready to support those around me.
In short, I aim to combine intellect with empathy, resilience with compassion, and analysis with creativity, qualities I bring to every academic, professional, and personal endeavour.
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Berta Calleja García
About Me
I am Berta Calleja, originally from Madrid, Spain. After obtaining my Bachelor of Engineering, I decided to broaden my perspective and apply my technical background to real-world projects. As a first-year student in the MS&E program, I look forward to contribute and assist in making the Columbia University student community as strong as possible. In my free time, I enjoy reading, dancing and going out with my friends.
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Oscar Lozac
About Me
Hi! My name is Oscar, a French-Danish first-year MS&E student at Columbia.
I grew up in France, where I completed my engineering degree before gaining experience in renewable energy project development.
In my free time, I enjoy sports, traveling, and exploring New York City. Feel free to reach out if you'd like to chat!
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Keerthan Kumarappan
About Me
Hi! My name is Keerthan Kumarappan, and I am a a first-year student in the MSFE program. I grew up in New York City and completed my undergraduate studies at NYU with B.A. in Economics and Mathematics. As a DR, I am eager to be the bridge between my peers and the school, ensuring your ideas have a voice and that your Columbia experience is meaningful. I aim to apply my skills to enhance student welfare and create stronger engagement within the EGS community. In my free time, I love playing sports and traveling, with scuba diving as my most recent passion.
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Swaran Karthikeyan
About Me
Hey! I’m Swaran, a master’s student in Financial Engineering. I grew up between California and India, where I completed my undergraduate studies in Computer Science and Engineering. When I’m not buried in coursework, you’ll usually find me on the basketball court or unwinding with a good game.
I love bringing people together, whether it’s through casual hangouts or department events, and I’m always approachable, so feel free to reach out anytime!
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Rejwan Himel
About Me
Hi all! My name is Rejwan Himel and I am a first-year M.S. student in Mechanical Engineering, concentrating in Robotics and Control. I completed my B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Boston University. I’m particularly interested in automation and using robotics to make complex tasks easier for people, with a long-term goal of working in agricultural automation.
Outside of the classroom, I enjoy learning and trying new things, which is how I discovered the wonderful sport of quadball, a real-life version of Quidditch! I’m excited to represent the department and connect with you all.
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Vishal Menon (Lead DR)
About Me
I’m an MS in Data Science student who’s mostly curious about NLP and LLMs, especially how machines can understand language, stories, and human chaos just a little better. I also happen to be the President of the Student Council, which means I spend a fair amount of time organizing things, talking to people, and pretending I have my life together.
Outside the academic bubble, I’m an artist at heart. I love painting, getting lost in music, reading whatever catches my mood, and having long, random conversations that start somewhere sensible and end absolutely nowhere. I enjoy mixing creativity with tech, overthinking small ideas, and finding joy in unexpected tangents. If there’s good music, interesting people, or a chaotic but fun discussion, I’m probably in.
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Ishmeen Garewal
About Me
Hi! I’m Ishmeen Garewal, a first-year MS Data Science student. I recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and am excited to be serving as Department Representative. I’m particularly interested in how data science can be applied across domains such as healthcare and finance, and I look forward to exploring these areas during my time at Columbia.
Outside of academics, I love swimming, dancing, listening to music, and discovering new coffee spots around the city. Riverside Park is one of my favorite places to unwind with a long walk. As DR, I’m excited to connect with peers, support our department, and make sure student voices are heard.
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John Won
About Me
Hi! I'm John and I'm a first year MS Data Science student. It's an honor to serve as your DR and I hope you won't hesitate to come to me with any ideas/questions/concerns!
I did my undergrad at UNC-Chapel Hill in Biostats and CS. I enjoy playing tennis, soccer, and basketball (any sport really) but also love to eat and sleep. My specialty is getting distracted in the DSI lounge while working on class assignments.
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Diya Bedi
About Me
Hello! I’m Diya Bedi, a Master’s student in Data Science at Columbia with undergraduate degree in Mathematics. I am passionate about combining data science with sustainability, marketing and finance.
When I’m not immersed into data and algorithms, you’ll probably find me writing poetry, performing theatre, or happily scrolling through endless dog and cat reels!
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Shreya Shetty
About Me
Hi all! I’m Shreya Shetty, a first-year MSDS student, and I’m really excited and honored to be the Data Science DR. I love building inclusive student communities, advocating for student needs, and creating fun, meaningful spaces where people can connect, whether that’s through social events, cross-school interactions, or shared DS struggles 😄
Before Columbia, I led multiple student organizations, bringing people together through leadership, collaboration, and campus events. Outside academics, I enjoy exploring NYC, watching basketball games, and dancing (also led my undergrad department’s dance team). I love meeting new people, so if you see me around, please say hi (or share feedback!), I’m always happy to chat and bring good energy wherever I go ✨
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About Me
Hello! I am Kanchan Bhale and I am a first-year master’s student in Data Science, originally from India. Before coming to Columbia, I worked as a Data Scientist at the Boeing Company.
I am passionate about entrepreneurship and using data science for financial applications, particularly interested in deep learning and reinforcement learning. Outside of academics, I enjoy playing violin and I recently started playing basketball. I am always eager to try new things—lately, I have been exploring jewellery designing.
I am truly excited and honored to serve the graduate engineering student body as a DR! Please feel free to reach out with any questions, concerns, or just to connect!
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Rohun Dhar
About Me
Hey, all! My name is Rohun Dhar, and I am currently pursuing the MBAxMS dual degree at Columbia University. Before Columbia, I spent my career in the software tech industry, most recently serving as a Senior Software Engineer within the small business sector. Looking ahead, I am passionate about applying my technical background to the world of sustainable food and agriculture.
Outside of the classroom, I’m a dedicated piano player, a horror movie enthusiast, amateur chef, and I love spending quality time with my friends and family. As a DR, I look forward to connecting more deeply with the Columbia community and advocating for students as we navigate our time in New York.
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Nilam Patel
About Me
Hi! I’m Nilam Patel, a dual-degree MBAxMS candidate at Columbia Business School and Columbia Engineering, focusing on AI/ML concentration and Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Before Columbia, I spent over eight years in life sciences and digital health consulting at Accenture Strategy, where I worked on AI-enabled clinical operations, M&A integration, and women’s health innovation. And prior to that, I studied Chemistry at Barnard College, where I conducted research the SEAS APAM department!
At Columbia, I’m deeply involved in the entrepreneurial ecosystem through groups like AlleyCon, and Tech Club, while also exploring early-stage ventures in hormonal health. Outside of academics, I love building community through running and wellness and current coach for NYRR and Midnight Runners.
I’m excited to connect students across programs, elevate student voices, and create opportunities for both professional development and social engagement within the engineering community.