Current position and employer: Research Associate, Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child (University of Notre Dame)

Hometown: Trivandrum, Kerala, India

Current City: South Bend, Indiana

Why did you choose McCourt? McCourt has a quant-heavy curriculum with a lot of focus on laying strong foundational skills required in the policy world. The research centers at McCourt are numerous and they do amazing work. Reading the website and talking to graduates from the school convinced me that there was enough flexibility in terms of the course itself to build it the way I want and to learn both inside and outside of class. Moreover, who wouldn't want to study policy in DC?

What was the best part of your experience? I started working as a Research Assistant at the Massive Data Institute (MDI) at the beginning of the semester. My work at MDI gives me an opportunity to look at the practical application and implication of a lot of things I learn in class and it has been rewarding.

What internships did you have during your time at McCourt? I worked as a Research Assistant at the Massive Data Institute (MDI) through the duration of the Master's program. I also had the opportunity to intern at Unbounded Associates, and Brookings Institution, and both the experiences were instrumental in finding a full time job after graduation (where I currently work) as a Research Associate at the Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child.

Student organization involvement while at McCourt: Georgetown Technology Policy Initiative (GTPI) and McCourt Policy in Practice (MPiP)

Undergraduate Degree and University: Bachelor of Technology-Applied Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering. Kerala University.

Hobbies / Interests: I love music, so I make it a point to go for free or cheap gigs/concerts in and around DC. When I do manage to find the time, I also love visiting the museums in DC.