Peer Career Advisors

Originally from Lima, Peru, and currently based in Cambridge, MA, Diego is a first-year Master in City Planning candidate at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and an architect from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP). His work is dedicated to making visible and strengthening, through design and planning, the multidimensional frameworks of societies and communities. He has a special interest in public spaces and policies, housing, and water management. His academic and professional experience includes specializations in Public Policy and Participatory Governance, International Cooperation for Development, Governability and Public Innovation, and a diploma in Geographic Information Systems. Before MIT, Diego worked in international development and the public sector, as well as an assistant professor and associate researcher.

What did you dream about being when you were a kid? When I was a kid, I dreamed about becoming an artist, a writer, and also a professional tennis player (like Roger Federer)!

Jayashree is a first-year PhD student in the Computational and Systems Biology program, with research interests in computational structural biology and protein design. Before joining MIT, she earned her bachelor’s degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where she studied Computational Biology and Biochemistry/Biophysics. She has experience pursuing internships at government research institutes, including the NIH, as well as in industry. Jayashree has also presented her work through talks and posters at academic conferences and has received competitive fellowships. Outside of research, she enjoys hiking, dancing (Bharathanatyam), and watching and playing cricket.

What do you collect as a hobby?  I enjoy collecting postcards from every place I visit, with the goal of one day visiting every country in the world!

Michelle is a fourth-year PhD student in Course 1 (Civil and Environmental Engineering) with research interests in earth remote sensing and hydroclimatology. Her main research focus involves using remote sensing to make direct and global measurements of key environmental variables to understand the links between the water, carbon, and energy cycles on Earth. Outside of research, she is involved with MIT Emergency Medical Services as a volunteer EMT, Student Events Board, CEE CommLab, and CEE GradCom.

Before coming to MIT, Michelle graduated from UC Davis with her bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering. She has internship experience within both private and public sectors and academic experience writing journal articles and presenting talks at conferences. Originally from California, she is not prepared for the Boston winters and enjoys running, playing tennis, and snowboarding in her free time.

Miles is a fourth-year PhD student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, where he uses optimization methods to understand how the nervous system produces coordinated movement during locomotion. Before MIT, he completed his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and a master’s degree from Stanford, competing as a student-athlete in track and field at both institutions. He has interned at government research institutes and worked as an engineer at an early-stage startup. Beyond research, Miles is involved with Melanated MechEs and continues to compete for Tortoise Track Club, an MIT-based running club. He remains a highly competitive middle-distance runner and may be the only MIT PhD student to run a sub-4 mile while completing his degree.

What’s a fact about you that surprises people? I’ve worked as a freelance fashion model for Tracksmith, a locally owned running apparel brand — so I know their catalog quite well!

Pronouns: he/him/his

Erik is a generalist who supports all students and recent alumni as they explore options, gain skills and experience, and pursue their career goals. In addition to developing programs and meeting 1:1 with students and alumni, Erik also trains and supervises the Peer Career Advising program.  He curates and manages resources that support students interested in Arts, Communications, and Media or who identify as veterans or as first generation/low income. He holds an MS in Organizational Psychology from the University of Hartford and a BA in Psychology from Northeastern Illinois University. Erik is a certified Career Services Provider (CCSP) and Facilitating Career Development Instructor (FCD-I) through the National Career Development Association (NCDA), a Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF), a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, a certified MBTI Practitioner (Step I and II), EQi 2.0/360 certified administrator, and a Certified LEGO® Serious Play® facilitator. His experience spans over 15 years in higher education with 10 years specifically in career development.

Erik leads with Strategic Thinking, with his top-5 CliftonStrengths: Adaptability, Learner, Intellection, Input, and Ideation.

What song would you say best sums you up?  “You’re Never Fully Dressed with out a Smile,” from Annie.