Fifteen Elite Students Selected as Inaugural Harris Social Impact Fellows

April 02, 2026

The University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy has named 15 of the nation’s most promising quantitatively-trained recent and soon-to-be college graduates as the inaugural cohort of the Harris Social Impact Fellowship, a highly selective, 11-month program designed to cultivate high-impact policy leaders among the nation’s top STEM graduates.

Selected from nearly 800 applicants—an acceptance rate of just under 2 percent—the fellows represent an exceptionally accomplished inaugural cohort of early-career standouts.

“The Fellowship reflects a clear ambition: that the brightest, analytically trained graduates should view public policy and social impact as domains worthy of their intellectual energy, ambition, and talent,” said Ethan Bueno de Mesquita, Dean and Sydney Stein Professor at Harris. “What excites me about these fellows is not only their extraordinary ability, but their decision to apply it to helping address society’s most urgent challenges.”

At a time when public institutions and social-sector organizations face increasingly complex policy landscapes, the Fellowship is designed to bring exceptional analytical talent into careers and organizations where rigorous evidence can make a meaningful difference.

A Remarkable Concentration of Technical Talent

The inaugural cohort demonstrates exceptional early-career achievement. Collectively, the fellows include emerging computer scientists, mathematicians, engineers, epidemiologists, economists, and environmental scientists; nationally competitive scholarship recipients; published researchers; and leaders of major civic and research initiatives.

They hail from Brown University, Case Western Reserve University, Cornell University, Emory University, Georgetown University, Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, Smith College, the University of Pennsylvania, Vanderbilt University, and Washington University in St. Louis. Their experience spans NASA-supported atmospheric research, AI governance analysis, and Medicaid access modeling. They have built machine learning tools, conducted geospatial analyses of environmental disparities, analyzed federal and state administrative datasets, and led original research on health equity, democratic governance, climate transition, and education finance.

Research Immersion at the Frontiers of Policy

The Fellowship begins this July with an intensive summer curriculum in advanced data analytics, causal inference, economic analysis, and political economy. Fellows then spend nine months embedded within UChicago research and policy centers—including the Crime Lab, Health Lab, Energy & Environment Lab, Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation, and the Behavioral Insights and Parenting Lab—where they will contribute directly to active research initiatives on projects that span gun violence reduction, early childhood interventions, climate and energy transition modeling, urban governance reform, and health equity.

“The applicant pool was extraordinarily strong,” said Olga Rostapshova, executive director of the Energy & Environment Lab. “What stood out was the combination of technical, analytical, and communication skills, with a genuine enthusiasm for using rigorous research to inform policy. We are excited to partner with the Harris Social Impact Fellowship to work with these talented early-career researchers on projects that translate data-driven insights into meaningful policy impact on energy and environmental challenges.”

By aligning technical depth with public purpose, the Harris Social Impact Fellowship aims to expand the talent pipeline and build a durable network of analytically trained leaders across sectors.

“If you look at where highly quantitative graduates tend to go, it’s often into private-sector roles in finance, technology, or consulting where their skills are immediately rewarded,” said Ben Appen, CEO of Magnitude Capital and a member of the Fellowship’s advisory board. “The Fellowship is an effort to make public-impact work just as compelling—intellectually demanding, selective, and consequential. These fellows aren’t stepping away from ambition; they’re redirecting it toward institutions that shape people’s lives.”

The 2026–27 Harris Social Impact Fellows

Ethan Bledsoe (Northwestern University)

Ethan Bledsoe will graduate from Northwestern University in June 2026 with a B.A. in Environmental Sciences and a minor in Data Science. His work focuses on addressing environmental problems with human consequences using quantitative tools such as geospatial analysis and remote sensing. At Northwestern’s Climate Change Research Group, he studied how freight networks and warehouse development externalize pollution and health risks onto communities of color, and at the Lake Michigan Air Directors Consortium he modeled pollution dispersion near schools. He also collaborated with scientists at Fundación Ecominga in Ecuador to assess erosion risks related to a federally installed dam and currently supports NASA’s Student Airborne Research Program. Through these experiences, Ethan has explored how institutions shape environmental inequities and how data can support more equitable policy interventions. He joins the Harris Social Impact Fellowship to help translate research into policies that protect communities disproportionately burdened by pollution and environmental harm.

Owen Cai (Vanderbilt University)

Owen Cai will graduate from Vanderbilt University in May 2026 with a B.A. in Public Policy and Medicine, Health, and Society, with minors in Data Science and Asian American & Asian Diaspora Studies. The son of Chinese immigrants raised in a multicultural community in Houston, he is passionate about economic justice, health equity, and social policy for marginalized communities. His experiences across nonprofits, research institutions, advocacy groups, and government have included writing, research, coalition-building, and policy work. These experiences have deepened his interest in how policy design and implementation shape economic and health disparities. Owen joins the Harris Social Impact Fellowship to strengthen his empirical understanding of policies that influence economic inequities and health outcomes. In the future, he hopes to use evidence-based policy analysis and community-centered advocacy to improve health access, workers’ rights, housing equity, and social safety net programs.

Sabrina Chow (Cornell University)

Sabrina Chow graduated from Cornell University in May 2025 with a B.A. in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Computational Biology and a minor in Data Science. A computational ecologist, she uses remote sensing, ecological modeling, and large-scale data analysis to study ecosystem dynamics and environmental change. As an undergraduate researcher in Cornell’s Biosphere Modeling and Monitoring Lab, she analyzed seasonal greenness decline across the United States using satellite data. Her work reflects a broader interest in understanding how climate change affects ecosystems and how humans can mitigate those impacts. She joins the Harris Social Impact Fellowship to expand her work beyond theoretical modeling toward policy-relevant applications. As a fellow with the Energy and Environment Lab, she hopes to use computational methods and remote sensing to improve pollution detection and environmental enforcement.

Sonya Doubledee (Emory University)

Sonya Doubledee will graduate from Emory University in May 2026 with a B.S. in Environmental Science and a B.A. in Political Science. Her work focuses on the intersection of environmental policy and quantitative data analysis. Her undergraduate thesis examines how rhetoric shapes recovery narratives after disasters, using the 2011 Joplin tornado as a case study, and reflects her work with the ClimTransformations Lab at Emory University. She has volunteered with the EPA’s Water Enforcement Division analyzing PFAS effluent data and worked in Emory’s Prokopec Laboratory analyzing mosquito collection patterns for a Gates Foundation–funded project. As president of the Emory Environmental Report, she leads student journalists covering environmental policy issues. Sonya joins the Harris Social Impact Fellowship to integrate modern data methods into environmental policymaking and pursue a career in environmental policy and disaster recovery.

Gabriela Eastwood (Smith College)

Gabriela Eastwood will graduate from Smith College in May 2026 with a B.A. in Statistical and Data Sciences and Italian Studies, with additional coursework in policy analysis and American political thought. She has worked on projects addressing food insecurity, including an internship with the Rockbridge Area Relief Association and research on food affordability in Florence, Italy as a Blumberg Fellow. For her senior capstone, she developed a machine-learning clustering model to route constituent emails to appropriate government offices. Her work reflects an interest in applying data science to public service challenges. Gabriela joins the Harris Social Impact Fellowship to work with the Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation on policy questions related to housing affordability and food insecurity. At Smith, she sings in the Glee Club and Chamber Singers and manages both ensembles.

Marilee Karinshak (Washington University in St. Louis)

Marilee Karinshak will graduate from Washington University in St. Louis in May 2026 with a B.A. in Environmental Analysis. She is interested in how emerging technologies can help communities adapt to climate change, manage resources sustainably, and inform public decision-making. A Barry M. Goldwater Scholar, she has worked with NASA, international research teams, and local governments using satellite and drone data to study environmental and public health challenges. At NASA’s DEVELOP Program, she led a project identifying pollution disparities in Virginia’s Hampton Roads region. She has also collaborated with researchers and farmers in Australia to strengthen drought resilience through geospatial modeling. At WashU, she was a co-captain of the women’s soccer team, winning 2 NCAA National Championships. She joins the Harris Social Impact Fellowship to further develop skills that connect scientific research with policymaking.

Sofie Langenhuizen (Northwestern University)

Sofie Langenhuizen will graduate from Northwestern University in June 2026 with a B.A. in Data Science and Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences and a minor in Philosophy. Her interests lie at the intersection of education policy and responsible AI governance, particularly how emerging technologies shape student learning and educational opportunity. Through internships in data engineering, analytics, and machine learning, she developed strong technical skills and an interest in how data systems influence institutional decision-making. She believes equity-centered governance is essential as AI systems become more embedded in education. Sofie joins the Harris Social Impact Fellowship to bridge technical expertise and public policy. She hopes to apply data science tools in ways that directly serve communities and advance the public good.

Isabella Lashley (Harvard University)

Isabella Lashley will graduate from Harvard in May 2026 with a B.A. in History and Literature, with additional studies in Government and Linguistics. A John Harvard Scholar and Mellon Mays Undergraduate Research Fellow, her work examines the relationship between state power and marginalized communities. Her senior thesis investigates the impact of mid-twentieth-century slum clearance policies, combining statistical analysis with archival research to understand how urban renewal reshaped neighborhoods and displaced residents. She has also conducted research on demolition permitting and on the legal and political implications of climate change in Puerto Rico. Her policy experience includes helping develop drug policy proposals for the Massachusetts Senate and supporting legal communications on voting rights, mass incarceration, and school closures at the Advancement Project in Washington, D.C. Isabella joins the Harris Social Impact Fellowship to study how different forms of speech—including dialect and disfluency—shape legal outcomes and access to justice.

Julie Lopez (Harvard University)

Julie Lopez will graduate from Harvard University in May 2026 with a B.A. in Computer Science and Sociology. Her work focuses on urban planning and how technology and spatial analysis can help address social and environmental disparities in cities. She previously interned as a software engineer at Athenahealth and worked with the Office of Urban Resilience in Mexico City on projects supporting community water resource centers. These experiences strengthened her interest in applying technology to urban policy challenges. Julie joins the Harris Social Impact Fellowship to explore how data-driven policy can support more equitable, resilient, and sustainable cities. She is originally from Chicago, Illinois.

Sage Mehta (University of Pennsylvania)

Sage Mehta will graduate from the University of Pennsylvania in May 2026 with a B.A. in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, with minors in Survey Research & Data Analytics and Astrophysics. Her primary interests center on healthcare reform and its connections to broader social policy issues. She has worked in a wide range of policy settings, including internships with U.S. Senator Bob Casey and the Argentine nonprofit Asociación Civil por la Igualdad y la Justicia, where she researched judicial corruption. She also served with AmeriCorps VISTA supporting public health programs in Philadelphia and has been involved in political organizing and community advocacy. Sage joins the Harris Social Impact Fellowship to apply her technical skills to policy work with civic and community stakeholders. She looks forward to contributing to research at the Health Lab.

Alexa Nakanishi (Georgetown University)

Alexa Nakanishi will graduate from Georgetown University in May 2026 with a B.A. in Mathematics and Justice & Peace Studies. At Georgetown, she is a Massive Data Institute Scholar, a Digital Accessibility Specialist, and actively involved in philanthropic initiatives. Her work focuses on accessibility, education equity, and gender-based violence. She has interned with the Edunomics Lab analyzing education finance data to maximize student opportunities, as well as with UNICEF USA, working in development, and the Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project, addressing gender-based violence. These experiences strengthened her interest in using data science to advance social impact. Alexa joins the Harris Social Impact Fellowship to explore these issues further as a fellow in the Crime & Education Lab.

Benjamin Ringel (Brown University)

Benjamin Ringel will graduate from Brown University in May 2026 with a B.A. in International & Public Affairs and a B.A. in Computer Science. He is interested in identifying and implementing evidence-based policies that reduce inequality and expand opportunity. His senior thesis examines how a law requiring judges to assess defendants’ ability to pay before imposing court costs affects debt-related incarceration in Rhode Island. At Brown, he is a Social Innovation Fellow and Community-Based Learning & Research Fellow. He has previously interned at the Brennan Center for Justice, Arnold Ventures, and the U.S. House of Representatives. Ben joins the Harris Social Impact Fellowship to continue working on criminal justice policy through the Crime Lab. He enjoys running, reading, and managing a student-run café at Brown.

Alor Sahoo (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Alor Sahoo will graduate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in June 2026 with a B.S. in Computer Science and a B.S. in Writing. His interests include education policy, environmental policy, and the societal effects of artificial intelligence. At MIT, he serves as an editor at The Tech and vice president of MIT Design for America, a student organization focused on human-centered innovation. He has interned as a software engineer at Uber and at Sway, a political organization platform. For his senior thesis, he is writing a full-length realistic crime novel. Alor joins the Harris Social Impact Fellowship to apply technical engineering skills to public policy research through the Behavioral Insights and Parenting Lab.

Toni Shoyinka (Case Western Reserve University)

Toni Shoyinka will graduate from Case Western Reserve University in May 2026 with a B.A. in Epidemiology and an M.A. in Bioethics and Medical Humanities. Her policy interests include global health, reproductive health, immigration, and the carceral system. She previously interned with the City of Detroit Health Department’s Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases divisions, conducting research and disease investigations. She has also worked with Case Western’s Prevention Research Center for Healthy Neighborhoods on studies of Cleveland’s food and tobacco retail environments. Toni joins the Harris Social Impact Fellowship to deepen her understanding of how data analysis can inform actionable public health policy. She hopes to broaden her perspective on the policy process as she continues her education.

Claire Zhang (University of Pennsylvania)

Claire Zhang will graduate from the University of Pennsylvania in May 2026 with a B.S. in Bioengineering and a B.A. in Biology through the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER). Her work bridges public health, energy, and sustainability. At Penn, she conducted research on internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy for youth anxiety and on energy materials for catalysis, while also leading community outreach through Shelter Health Outreach and Access Engineering. She also interned at Aravind Eye Hospital in India, where she studied sustainable, high-volume eye care delivery. These experiences shaped her interest in translating scientific innovation into equitable public health policy. Claire joins the Harris Social Impact Fellowship to contribute to the Health Lab and develop policies that expand health equity.

Applications for the next cohort of Harris Social Impact Fellows will open later this year.

Learn more about the Harris Social Impact Fellowship.

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