Welcome to the Data Science Career Connection Program

The Data Science Career Connection Program (formerly known as the Alumni Mentorship Hub) empowers data science students and recent alumni with career guidance and support by connecting with an alum in a data science career role. This program offers seasoned alumni an opportunity to stay involved and give back, while expanding the networks of students and new grads.

If matched, the program will help facilitate one connection meeting between mentee and mentor, providing guidance in helping the mentee prepare to get the most out of this experience. Browse mentor profiles to discover their areas of expertise and the topics they’re excited to discuss.

While we use the terms "mentee" and "mentor," this program is meant to allow mentees to get information and advice from a professional in a space they're interested in. Helpful expectations are learning more about a role or industry, getting insight from a professional with experience as a Berkeley student, and expanding your network (and networking skills!).  

You are eligible to request to connect with one of our mentors if you: 

  • are a UC Berkeley data science alum (priority given to alumni searching for career opportunities)
  • are a declared UC Berkeley data science major (priority given to students approaching graduation)

How it works

Submitting your request

Browse the available mentors below. During one week at the beginning of each term, you may submit a connection request (located at the bottom of this webpage). You will have an option to list up to 3 preferences for connection or may ask to be paired with the best available mentor who can help you with a particular topic (ex: interview prep). 

Our mentors will each take on 1-3 mentees for their cohort term. 

What happens next? 

Once the connection request window closes, the program will match mentees to available spots for each mentor. Space is limited and it is possible not all prospective mentees will be able to be matched. The program uses the priority criteria in the FAQ below in its matching process.

We will then email all prospective mentees after the matching process is complete. Mentees who are able to be matched will be told who their mentor will be and the program will facilitate an email introduction. Mentees will take lead of scheduling and preparing for the meeting and can use preparation sheets and videos to guide you through the process. 

 


Questions about the program? Contact the admins!

Brandilyn Buckley (brandilyn@berkeley.edu) 

Amanda Dillon (amjdillon@berkeley.edu)

FAQ

Once the connection request window closes, Data Science Undergraduate Studies will begin its matching process. We aim to make matches that balance a mentee's goals and preferences with the kind of support our mentors are able to provide.

After the matching process is complete, we will contact you with information about the outcome. If you are matched with a mentor, we will either introduce you right away via email or inform you of the timeline in which we will introduce you. (Mentors may need to pace out their connections, and you may be introduced at a later time in the term.)

The program helps you get connected for one meeting with your mentor match. It can be helpful to think of this as a more in-depth networking meeting. 

As a mentee, you will lead the scheduling and preparation for the meeting so it's critical to prepare. We provide resources to guide you through this process, which will be provided via email if you are admitted to the program. These resources will include tips on preparing, sample questions and email templates, and best practices for after your meeting. This experience is designed to build your confidence and skills for future networking and informational interviewing. 

Your mentor may or may not offer additional follow up.

After your meeting, you will receive a post-meeting survey so we know how things went. This will help us continually improve the program and ensure it's a positive experience for all involved.

At any time, if you have questions or concerns, you can email program admins. We can provide you with advice, information, or whatever you need to feel comfortable with the process. 

How mentees are selected

This program operates based on priority criteria. 

During the open connection request window, if more requests come in (for a particular mentor or the program in general) than spaces are available, priority will be assigned in the following order

  1. data science B.A. alumni who are not currently in a full-time data science roles and are actively searching for positions
  2. declared data science seniors (ordered by EGT term) 
  3. declared data science juniors
  4. data science B.A. alumni who are currently in full-time data science roles but are actively searching for positions
  5. other declared data science majors, declared minors, and alumni with a data science minor 

While the above tiers are prioritized, we will also consider the following:

  • Order of submissions within an above tier (i.e. seniors who submitted early in the application window will be matched before seniors who submitted later)
  • A fit with available mentors' industries, roles, or topics of support
  • Flexibility with mentor options (connection request form provides options)
  • If mentees have submitted connection requests in previous terms but were unable to get paired due to space limitations
  • If mentees have had previous mentorship connections
  • Data scholars program participation 

Current students who are not declared in data science (major or minor) should wait until they have declared to submit a connection request. 

Is there a chance I won't get connected?

Yes. Mentors will take on 2 mentees in summer and 3 mentees for fall/spring programs*, so there are limited slots available. So far, in each term, demand has exceed available space. Through expanded spots made available in Fall 2025, we were able to accommodate all current and former majors and hope to be able to do so again in the future. There may be fluctuations term to term in how many interested mentees we are able to accommodate. 

What if I don't get a connection? 

Applicants who meet eligibility requirements for the program, but are unable to be matched, will still be invited to the term's virtual mentor/mentee mixer, allowing an opportunity to meet mentors in small group settings. 

Additionally:

  • If you are a declared major and unable to be paired, we recommend applying in a future term as your priority rise as you advance through your time at Cal. 
  • If you are a declared minor, we are still in a pilot phase of this program and are uncertain whether minors will be able to be accommodated with official matches. However, applying can still give you an opportunity to get matched if space allows and will give you access to any mixer events for the term. 

Current students and alumni without a declared major or minor in the undergraduate data science program are not able to be accommodated at this time.

Should I even submit a request if I have low priority?

Yes! As long as you meet eligibility terms, we highly encourage you to apply. We are still experimenting with space and demand and hope to accommodate as many mentees as possible.

Additionally, your connection request can help you in future terms, even if you aren't matched now. We use connection request data to expand mentor recruitment in roles/industries with high demand and in requested niche areas. Plus, having applied previously and not getting matched gives you a bump in priority in future cycles. 

 

*Some mentors may receive special permission to take on fewer mentees than the term's standard. 

One virtual meeting is all that is under the scope of this program, so we encourage you to make the most out of that opportunity by adequately preparing using the preparation tools we'll provide you.

If a mentor would like to offer additional follow up or contact to their mentee, they may do so, however, this is not expected. Extra mentorship is beyond the scope of this program and is at the discretion of the mentor

If a mentor does offer additional follow up, while we encourage mentees to take advantage of the opportunity and can provide additional advice if a mentee is unsure how to approach additional meetings. We also recognize that mentees may not always wish for additional mentorship. In these case, we encourage a clear, polite response to the mentor's offer. The program will provide sample templates. 

Mentees may only connect with one mentor per cohort. After completing a mentorship connection meeting and submitting your post-meeting feedback form, you may request an additional connection in a future term. 

While there is no limit on how many mentorship cohorts a mentee can participate in, priority will be given to mentees who have not yet had mentorship opportunities.

Please note that mentees who fail to communicate with their mentor in a timely manner after being paired may be required to complete another step before being paired again*. Serious failure of communication or misconduct can result in being ineligible for future participation in the program. 

 

*The program allows mentees to identify blackout dates to avoid communication issues due to being out of town or otherwise unavailable. 

That's okay! Your connection meeting isn't an interview--this is a low pressure way to hear about people's experiences, get advice, and connect with your community. 

If you don't know your interests in data science or are feeling lost in regards to post-graduation plans, that's actually a great time to meet with an alumni mentor. 

That said, do keep in mind that mentees are expected to be active in their mentorship experience, including setting goals, generating questions, and being responsive. We provide resources to guide you that will include:

  • Step-by-step suggestions on preparing for your meeting, including how to set goals and generate meaningful questions
  • Email templates and sample questions
  • Suggestions for follow up that leaves a positive impression

Mentees who follow the steps will get the most out of of this program and ideally feel more confident when approaching future networking opportunities.

Former and current majors are given priority. We will do our best to connect former and current minors if space allows.

Minors are eligible to join in any program events for the term, such as the virtual mentors/mentees networking mixer (offered once per term). Minors who apply to the program in a term will be invited to these events even if they are not able to be matched. 

Summer 2026 Mentors

Aileen Peralta, Data Science Alumni Mentor

Aileen Peralta

Machine Learning Software Engineer

Organization: General Motors (https://search-careers.gm.com/en/jobs/)
Industry: Tech / Automotive

Extra or specialized topics:
- Personalized resume feedback
- Networking advice

Hi, I'm Aileen! I graduated from Berkeley in 2022 majoring in data science. I came in interested in applied math but was intrigued by data science/cs. As someone who had no prior coding experience and as a first gen student, it can be a bit daunting exploring a new major. I'd be happy to share my tips that helped me do well during my time at Cal. I currently work as a ML software engineer at General Motors where my team develops ML models for our supply chain business teams to utilize. I'm happy to discuss my journey as a ML software engineer and working in supply chain. I hope to be a resource for those who are still trying to figure out what role or domain they would enjoy and how working in industry looks like.

Profile photo of Akshatha Muralidhar, Data Science alumni mentor

Akshatha Muralidhar

Product Manager

Organization: Mermaid Chart (https://www.mermaidchart.com/)
Industry: Tech

Extra or specialized topics:
- Personalized resume feedback
- Interview prep
- Networking advice
- Discussing whether grad school is helpful in their field/role
- Finding early career roles in a tight job market

Breaking into the tech industry can be incredibly challenging, especially without guidance from mentors who have already walked the path. I’m passionate about helping current Berkeley students who dream of joining the innovative and exciting world of technology but don’t know where to start, who to turn to, what roles they would like to go into or even need someone to believe in them. Whether they need guidance, encouragement, or just a cheerleader to keep them motivated, I’m eager to help them navigate the path to a bright future in tech!

Alexander Lee, DSUS Career Connections program mentor

Alexander Lee

Medical Student / MD Anderson Clinical Researcher

Organization: McGovern Medical School (https://med.uth.edu/)
Industry: Health / Medicine

Extra or specialized topics:
- Personalized resume feedback
- Interview prep
- Networking advice
- Discussing whether grad school is helpful in your field/role
- Finding early career roles in a tight job market

Hi, my name is Alex and I am a third year medical student at UTHealth McGovern Medical School. I graduated from Berkeley in 2022 and worked as a full stack engineer at Expedia Group for 2 years before beginning med school. At Expedia, I was heavily involved with the early careers program where I helped write the technical interview for new grads/interns, served as a mentor and tutor for the application process, and taught several courses for students and interns! Although I am currently hoping to become a surgeon, I get to use my data science skills through several different research projects related to novel surgical oncology treatments and orthopedic spine patients. I am always happy to help with applications, interview prep, networking, or perhaps even pursuing a nontraditional career path!

Alexandra Gomez, DSUS Career Connections Program mentor

Alexandra Gomez

Business Operations

Organization: Cisco
Industry: Tech

Extra or specialized topics:
- Personalized resume feedback
- Interview prep
- Networking advice
- Finding early career roles in a tight job market

Hi, I'm Alexandra! I graduated from Berkeley in Spring 2025 with a degree in Data Science and now work in Business Operations at Cisco. In my role, I collaborate closely with leadership to execute corporate strategy, leveraging tools like Snowflake & SQL to build automated technical workflows and data-driven solutions. Back at Cal, I served as a Data Science Peer Advisor, which gave me a deep appreciation for the unique challenges Berkeley students face when balancing demanding coursework and mapping out their future. Having recently navigated the transition from graduation to a full-time corporate role, I know firsthand how daunting the job search and early-career onboarding process can feel right now. I’m incredibly excited to pay it forward as a mentor. Whether you want to talk about resume positioning, interview prep, or exploring how data science applies to business strategy and operations, I'm here to support you!

Allen Shen, Data Science Alumni Mentor

Allen Shen

Software Engineer

Organization: Google (https://www.google.com/about/careers)
Industry: Tech

Extra or specialized topics:
- Personalized resume feedback
- Interview prep
- Discussing whether grad school is helpful in your field/role

I have helped teach multiple courses (mainly Data 100) at UC Berkeley, and I am looking forward to continuing to give back to the data science community. I am particularly interested in the application of data science in software engineering roles and would love to help prospective applicants find these roles. I would also be happy to chat about applying to graduate programs and teaching positions.

Profile photo of Ashley Santos, Data Science Alumni Mentor

Ashley Santos

Data Scientist - Growth Machine Learning & Agents

Organization: Warner Bros Discovery (https://www.wbd.com/)
Industry: Entertainment

Extra or specialized topics:
- Personalized resume feedback
- Interview prep
- Networking advice

I’m a first-generation, formerly low-income Latina transfer student with an unconventional college path, taking 6 years to complete my BA. Along the way, I built my network and gained experience through student research and class projects to develop strong technical skills and resumes. I’ve gone through internship technical interviews (not full-time recruiting) and I’m eager to help where I can. I’m passionate about mentoring Latine and Black students from underrepresented backgrounds, especially transfer students interested in technical roles. I’m happy to share guidance on navigating a DS major, internship recruiting, and studying abroad.

Brian Xi, DSUS Career Connections program mentor

Brian Xi

Data Analyst

Organization: Metropolitan Transportation Commission (https://mtc.ca.gov/about-mtc)
Industry: Transportation

Extra or specialized topics:
- Personalized resume feedback
- Interview prep
- Finding early career roles in a tight job market

Hi, I'm Brian! I graduated in 2024 majoring in data science and computer science. Like many others, I was drawn to data science for its applicability in many different fields while figuring out my academic and professional interests. I've since found a space within civic tech, using technology to help improve government delivery. I currently work as a data analyst at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, but I previously worked at the CDC as a software engineer as part of the U.S. Digital Corps. I'm happy to speak about my journey navigating tech roles within the public sector, general career guidance, or anything in between!

Colby Lewis V, Data Science Alumni Mentor

Colby Lewis V

Biostatistician

Organization: Weill Cornell Medicine (https://weill.cornell.edu/)
Industry: Health

Extra or specialized topics:
- Personalized resume feedback (you will receive the resume before your meeting)
- Discussing whether grad school is helpful in your field/role
- Finding early career roles in a tight job market

Interested in education, collaborating with medical researchers, and applying data science concepts in your career? Learning more about biostatistics could be for you! There are a huge variety of careers in research that data science undergraduate studies prepare you for. I'd love to share what I know with you!

Profile photo of Conan Minihan, Data Science alumni mentor

Conan Minihan

Graduate Student Researcher

Institution: Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute, UC San Diego (https://datascience.ucsd.edu/)
- MOSAIC Lab UCSD: https://mosaic-laboratory.github.io/
- Smarr Lab UCSD: https://smarr.ucsd.edu/
Industry: Higher Education, Biomedicine

Extra or specialized topics:
- Networking advice
- Discussing whether grad school is helpful in your field/role
- Non-traditional students advice
- Biomedical Data Science

After a research experience, many people decide they don’t like research... I did internships and found out I don’t like work, at least not the way most jobs do it. So I went for a PhD, where I get paid to think, teach, and solve problems that matter (for more hours and less pay). I knew I wanted this path when my skills and interests intersected with my lived experience, and the work I wanted to do became clear. My research blends statistical modeling, machine learning, and time series analysis of biomedical data from wearables and sensors, focusing on supporting marginalized communities, including formerly incarcerated individuals, former foster youth, and survivors of abuse, in managing conditions like PTSD and addiction. I’m happy to help you weigh grad school versus industry and find work that truly fits you.

David Yi, DSUS Career Connections program mixer

David Yi

Senior AI Engineer

Organization: LinkedIn (https://about.linkedin.com/)
Industry: Tech

Extra or specialized topics:
- Personalized resume feedback
- Interview prep
- Discussing whether grad school is helpful in your field/role
- Finding early career roles in a tight job market

Hi there! My name is David, and I graduated from Berkeley in 2021 with a double major in EECS and Data Science. My domain emphasis in Linguistics eventually led me to a Master’s in Computational Linguistics at the University of Washington—a path that proved to be both ironic and serendipitous given the subsequent rise of LLMs.

Since entering the industry in 2023, I’ve had the opportunity to work at the intersection of research and product engineering at Atlassian and Meta, focusing on various fields including LLM tool-calling, Agentic systems, AI Safety, and Recommendation Systems. I'm currently transitioning to a new role at LinkedIn as a Senior AI Engineer, where I'll be working on building models and agentic solutions to help small-and-medium businesses scale their recruiting efforts. I'd love to share all of my experiences in more detail and am happy to discuss things like grad school, working in industry, job searching, and the current AI landscape!

Dayawanti Punj, Data Science Alumni Mentor

Dayawanti Punj

Lead Analyst

Organization: BJ's Wholesale Club (https://careers.bjs.com/)
Industry: Retail

Extra or specialized topics:
- Personalized resume feedback
- Interview prep
- Networking advice
- Finding early career roles in a tight job market

Hi, I’m Daya! I’m a lead analyst at BJ’s, where I leverage data to support the measurement of large-scale campaigns and in-market tests that inform business strategy. Early in my career, I realized that when you have diverging interests, finding the right opportunity can feel daunting- especially in fast-growing application areas like retail and marketing, where there’s limited guidance on what data science roles look like day-to-day. I’d love to serve as a resource to students curious about careers at the intersection of data science, business analytics, and industrial optimization. During my time at Berkeley, I was drawn to both technical depth and strategic decision-making, and I enjoy helping others navigate that same balance.

Profile photo of Derek Topper, Data Science Alumni Mentor

Derek Topper

Data Scientist

Organization: Swish Analytics (https://swishanalytics.com/careers)
Industry: Sports

Extra or specialized topics:
- Personalized resume feedback
- Interview prep
- Networking advice
- Discussing whether grad school is helpful in your field/role
- Finding early career roles in a tight job market

Hey there, I'm Derek! I’ve worked for several professional sports organizations and hold both a bachelor’s and master’s in data science from UC-Berkeley. I seek to be the mentor I wish I had when I was at Cal and when I was transitioning into the workforce. I would be happy to be a source of support and guidance for any students! I'm especially eager to help those passionate about breaking into non-traditional data science industries. Data science can be difficult to get going in, and I’m excited to help students who dream of joining the field but don’t know where to start.

Profile Photo of Dhruv Krishnaswamy, Data Science Alumni Mentor

Dhruv Krishnaswamy

Business Intelligence Engineer

Organization: Amazon Web Services (https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/)
Industry: Tech

Extra or specialized topics:
- Personalized resume feedback
- Interview prep
- Networking advice

Hi, I’m Dhruv - I graduated from Berkeley in 2021 and now work as a Business Intelligence Engineer at Amazon Web Services. At AWS, I support analytics for our Data Streaming & Messaging portfolio (SQS, SNS, Kinesis, and related services) and lead operational excellence initiatives around CapEx reduction, Operational Readiness Reviews, and AWS Console health. I also serve as an Amazon interviewer and enjoy helping candidates navigate the interview process. Back at Cal, I was active in the ASUC and passionate about building community - something I’m excited to continue as an alumni mentor. I know how overwhelming it can feel to carve out your path in tech or data, especially with a multidisciplinary background. I’m always happy to chat about everything from resume reviews and interview prep to landing your first role or exploring longer-term pivots into product.

Profile photo of James Nguyen, Data Science Alumni Mentor

James Nguyen

Strategy and Operations Analyst

Organization: Docusign (https://careers.docusign.com/)
Industry: Tech

Extra or specialized topics:
- Personalized resume feedback
- Interview prep
- Networking advice
- Discussing whether grad school is helpful in your field/role
- Finding early career roles in a tight job market

As a first-generation Vietnamese-American student from Richmond, CA, I’m passionate about mentorship and supporting others on their academic and professional journeys. I began my time at Cal studying Economics, and later added Data Science as a second major - so I understand what it’s like to balance a double major while exploring new academic interests. I started out interested in careers in consulting and finance, and through that journey, I’ve gained valuable experience preparing for both technical and non-technical interviews, reviewing resumes, and offering career guidance. I'm especially eager to support students from first-generation, low-income, and historically underrepresented backgrounds - particularly Southeast Asian students. Whether you're navigating coursework, choosing extracurriculars, or exploring opportunities in finance or tech, I’d love to support you!

Justin Kadi, Data Science Alumni Mentor

Justin Kadi

Projects Data Coordinator

Organization: National Center for Ecological Analysis & Synthesis (UCSB) (https://www.nceas.ucsb.edu/) and NSF Arctic Data Center (https://arcticdata.io/)
Industry: Environmental Science, Climate Science, Academia/Research

Extra or specialized topics:
- Personalized resume feedback
- Interview prep
- Networking advice
- Discussing whether grad school is helpful in your field/role
- Finding early career roles in a tight job market

Hello! I’m excited to meet and speak with Cal students who might be in a similar position as I was in college, confused and unsure of where to go with your Data Science degree. One of the biggest draws to the Data Science major for me was the emphasis on its intersection in a lot of different fields, as I had many interests and explored many majors. I knew I was interested in the natural sciences and wanted to work in an impactful role, but I often felt lost and overwhelmed trying to navigate what was possible. Ultimately, I was able to carve out a career in the environmental sciences with guidance and advice I received from amazing mentors and peers along the way. I’m happy to talk about my experiences at Cal, the environmental field, technical skills I’ve learned/used, seeking out opportunities outside of traditional sectors, and anything else to offer support and encourage you on your journey!

Kate Li, DSUS Career Connections Program mentor

Kate Li

Technology Automation & Innovation Senior Analyst

Organization: Deloitte (https://www.deloitte.com/us/en.html)
Industry: Finance

Extra or specialized topics:
- Personalized resume feedback
- Interview prep
- Networking advice
- Discussing whether grad school is helpful in your field/role
- Applying to grad school
- Applying to full-time work without prior US internship experience
- Applying MBA & Deferred MBA

Hi I'm Kate! I graduated from Berkeley in 2022 in Data Science and Economics. My journey has taken me across different fields and geographies—from neurobiology to data science, from consulting to finance to tech, and from the U.S. to China to Canada. As someone who's explored various paths, I would love to help anyone who's figuring out their own. Whether it’s resumes, interviews, understanding different industries, navigating the evolving job market, or exploring and applying to grad school and MBA programs, I am here to help and support you! Together, we can do Q&As, mock interviews, resume review/editing, explore whether to work or continue your study after graduation, or just chat about what's going on in life:) I'm happy to share my stories transitioning between industries and navigating different job functions. Feel free to let me know what you'd like to focus on for our mentoring sessions as well!

Profile photo of Kunal Mishra, Data Science Alumni Mentor

Kunal Mishra

Data Scientist

Organization: Interwell Health (https://www.interwellhealth.com/who-we-are/about)
Industry: Health / Medicine

Extra or specialized topics:
- Personalized resume feedback
- Interview prep
- Finding early career roles in a tight job market
- Public Health & Health Tech

I had a chance to get into Data Science before the major existed, finding my passion in the intersection of Public Health and Computer Science. My work in industry has evolved over time, starting as the sole data scientist at a healthcare technology startup, then transitioning into a senior member on a growing Data Science team as the company became a more mature corporation, working to achieve profitability. Throughout it all, I've learned about what's important to focus on as a budding data scientist is a relatively new field, as well as the need for a constant growth mindset, as the advent of LLMs and AI require new skillsets and give us more ways to add value. As a data scientist in healthcare, my primary motivation has been giving patients the chance to live their best lives... and that means a system that is more efficient and less costly at scale. I'm excited to meet you, hear about what motivates you, and watch you go on to do great things.

Luna Ragot, DSUS Career Connections Program mentor

Luna Ragot

Data and Policy Analyst

Organization: Al Otro Lado (immigration advocacy non-profit) (https://www.alotrolado.org/)
Industry: Advocacy / Non-Profit

Extra or specialized topics:
- Personalized resume feedback
- Finding early career roles in a tight job market

Hi my name is Luna! I started at UC Berkeley with many interests, not knowing exactly what I wanted to do, and ended up majoring in Data Science in part because of how interdisciplinary it was. This allowed me to explore many different fields from CS to psychology (even exploring education briefly), but also made it overwhelming when needing to figure out a career path. I started working at a small consulting firm in public medical care and found myself feeling out of touch with my job. I'm now in the non-profit sector working at an immigration advocacy organization. I'd love to chat about the journey of discovering a job and field that fits your interests!

Maricruz Montes de Oca Sanchez, DSUS Career Connections Program mentor

Maricruz Montes de Oca Sanchez

Consulting Analyst

Organization: Accenture (https://www.accenture.com/us-en)
Industry: Professional and Technology Services

Extra or specialized topics:
- Exploring careers in data analytics and consulting
- Internship recruitment
- Resume feedback
- Networking advice
- Interview prep

Hi! I’m Maricruz, and I graduated from UC Berkeley in Fall 2024 with degrees in Data Science and Spanish. When I first came to Cal as a first generation, low income student looking for upward mobility, the adjustment was rough to say the least. But when I decided to explore data science, it ended up being a great fit. I tutored for data 8, participated in two Data Science Discovery projects, and eventually interned at Accenture, where I now work on data transformation and AI implementation projects. My projects range from data governance and data modeling to building ML models and AI agents.

My journey was definitely not straightforward, but it taught me it’s ok to explore and change directions. I know how overwhelming it can feel when you are still trying to figure out what direction you want to go in, especially if you’re doing it alone like I did. I’d particularly love to support students who are still exploring their interests, trying to gain experience, and navigating recruiting and career decisions for the first time.

Michael Yazdani, Data Science Alumni Mentor

Michael Yazdani

Product Analyst

Organization: Farther (https://www.farther.com/)
Industry: FinTech

Extra or specialized topics:
- Personalized resume feedback
- Interview prep
- Networking advice
- Discussing whether grad school is helpful in their field/role
- Finding early career roles in a tight job market

The transition from Berkeley into a high-growth fintech company taught me that data science can be applied in far more ways than I initially expected. I graduated from UC Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in Data Science in 2020 and a 5th-year master’s degree in Information and Data Science in 2021. I now work as a product analyst, where I lead analytics that guide executive strategy, product decisions, and long-term growth initiatives. My role spans business intelligence, strategic finance, and building internal tooling. I’m especially excited to mentor students who are exploring careers in analytics, fintech, startups, or entrepreneurship, and to share honest lessons about navigating early-career uncertainty, choosing roles, and building leverage through your degree. Happy Holidays and thank you again for the incredible opportunity!

Profile of Nabeil Kizilbash, Data Science alumni mentor

Nabeil Kizilbash

Data Scientist

Organization: Google (https://about.google/)
Industry: Tech

Extra or specialized topics:
- Personalized resume feedback
- Interview prep
- Networking advice
- Finding early career roles in a tight job market

I graduated from UC Berkeley in 2019 as a Data Scientist, worked at Facebook post-grad and am now a Data Scientist at Google. I'm passionate about giving back and helping students prepare for internships and full time roles in Data Science.

Nathan Mehta, DSUS Career Connections Program mentor

Nathan Mehta

Data Analyst

Organization: The Walt Disney Company (https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/about/)
Industry: Entertainment

Extra or specialized topics:
- Interview prep
- Networking advice
- Finding early career roles in a tight job market
- Building relevant skills

My name is Nathan, and I'm a 2023 Data Science graduate. I'm a Data Analyst for The Walt Disney Company, working for ABC local television to analyze viewership. I'm looking forward to passing on the tools I've learned in navigating the job hunt as a Berkeley graduate, and in the professional world. Also, I would love to learn from my mentees' journey! Open to discussing resumes, skills, or interviews.

Nikki Iyer, DSUS Career Connections program mentor

Nikki Iyer

Product Manager

Organization: Zynga (https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/)
Industry: Entertainment / Gaminig

Extra or specialized topics:
- Personalized resume feedback
- Interview prep
- Networking advice
- Finding early career roles in a tight job market

Hi, I’m Nikki! I graduated from Berkeley in 2024 with degrees in Data Science and Economics. My path into tech was a bit unexpected — I originally came to Cal as a Political Science major before being introduced to data science and the world of tech.

Breaking into tech/product with little to no experience can feel incredibly daunting, and I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today without the friends and mentors I had at Cal who believed in me and helped me navigate the process. In my current role, I work in a heavily data-driven environment focused on experimentation and analytics for mobile gaming. Having recently gone through recruiting and the transition into tech myself, I’m passionate about helping students interested in tech and data better understand how these fields show up in real-world industry settings. Whether students are looking for guidance on recruiting, interviews, networking, or early career decisions, I’m excited to support my fellow Berkeley Bears however I can!

Profile photo of Ojasvi Khanna, DS Alumni Mentor

Ojasvi Khanna

Data Scientist II

Organization: Xbox (Microsoft) (https://careers.microsoft.com)
Industry: Tech

Extra or specialized topics:
- Personalized resume feedback
- Interview prep
- Networking advice
- Discussing whether grad school is helpful in your field/role
- Finding early career roles in a tight job market

I am involved in the Data Science recruitment cycle at Xbox and also lead Xbox's Early in Career program. As an international student, recruiting for tech internships was tricky. I wanted to combine tech and sustainability, but didn't know how to choose the right classes. Today, I use my technical skill set and sustainability domain knowledge in the Gaming industry. I would love to be a guide and mentor to students or recent grads who want to break into the tech/ gaming/ sustainability sector. I'd also be happy to chat about advanced degrees, immigration as well as excelling in the tech industry as an undergrad.

Profile photo of Prathyusha Charagondla, Data Science alumni mentor

Prathyusha Charagondla

Senior Machine Learning Engineer

Organization: Adobe (https://careers.adobe.com/us/en/)
Industry: Tech

Extra or specialized topics:
- Personalized resume feedback
- Discussing whether grad school is helpful in their field/role

Hello! I’m a Senior Machine Learning Engineer at Adobe, where I work on Firefly, Adobe’s generative AI platform. I know breaking into this field can feel daunting, as my journey into this field wasn't straightforward. For me, I know firsthand how mentorship, community, and guidance can make a difference, as it was through the support of mentors, meaningful connections, and the exposure I gained through the Berkeley Data Science program to different concepts, tools and fields that all helped shape my career. I would love to pay it forward and hope to support you - whether that’s helping you navigate career decisions, build confidence, or find your own path in data science and machine learning.

Profile photo of Rishabh Meswani, Data Science Alumni Mentor

Rishabh Meswani

Senior Data Scientist - Tech Lead

Organization: Asana (https://asana.com/)
Industry: Tech

Extra or specialized topics:
- Personalized resume feedback
- Interview prep
- Networking advice
- Discussing whether grad school is helpful in your field/role
- Finding early career roles in a tight job market

I've had the opportunity to lead Asana's Data Science Early Career recruiting and have worked with dozens of undergraduates over the past 4 years to help them land internships & jobs in the Data space. Berkeley is a special place and the school has unlocked so many doors for me so giving back to the Cal community is one of my favorite things to do. At Asana, I lead our ML team that builds forecasting and revenue measurement models and am also glad to share any learnings from my time in the industry.

Rithika Neti, DSUS Career Connections program mentor

Rithika Neti

Growth Data Scientist

Organization: Pave (https://www.pave.com/company)
Industry: Business technology

Extra or specialized topics:
- Personalized resume feedback
- Interview prep
- Finding early career roles in a tight job market

Hi! I'm Rithika! I'm a growth data scientist at Pave, where I use compensation and hiring data to tell stories about the labor market and build top-of-funnel data products. I started in quant research out of Berkeley, moved into fintech at Karat (a startup for content creators), and eventually landed in the comp tech world. Through working in early stage startups, I've been a bit different than a traditional data scientist since outside of making charts, doing analytics, and making models, I've got to build and launch data products, run growth and acquisition, create a content strategy, and a whole lot more.

I care a lot about the data science recruiting process and how to actually communicate your value as a data scientist. Having been through recruiting myself, advised students as a data science peer advisor at Cal, and now running hiring on the other side, I'd love to talk about resume building and interviewing, how to think about different DS roles, or what the startup world data scientist looks like.

Steven Du, Data Science alumni mentor

Steven Du

Data Scientist

Organization: The Carlyle Group (https://www.carlyle.com/our-firm)
Industry: Finance

Extra or specialized topics:
- Interview prep
- Networking advice
- Finding early career roles in a tight job market

I deeply empathize with students who feel lost in their undergraduate journey or are struggling to secure their first job. My own career has been anything but conventional, which taught me opportunities are endless and are yours to create. You just need your foot in the door. During my time at Berkeley, I concentrated in NLP, studying, at the time, cutting-edge models like Word2Vec, BERT, and GPT-2. It's remarkable how rapidly this field has evolved. What seemed impractical just a few years ago is now transforming knowledge work across industries. I'm open to connecting with mentees interested in finance or LLMs.

Talia Korobkin, Data Science Alumni Mentor

Talia Korobkin

Medical Student / Researcher

Current Organization: Georgetown University School of Medicine
Previously: Data Engineer (UnitedHealth Group)
Industry: Health / Medicine

Extra or specialized topics:
- Personalized resume feedback
- Networking advice
- Discussing whether grad school is helpful in your field/role

Hi! I’m a third year med student also involved with data-centric projects including MedStar’s AI CoLab program. Prior to med school, I worked as a data scientist and data engineer in Optum’s Technology Development Program. I remember being a stressed freshman at Berkeley torn between pursuing biology and technology; turns out you can do both! I learned how to apply data science to my passion and emphasize my interdisciplinary background when applying for technical and clinical positions. I’m excited to share the tips and connections I wish I had at the beginning of my journey. Whether you’re looking for guidance through work/school applications or mentorship as you explore different directions you can go with your degree, I’m here to help!

Profile photo of Tanvee Desai, Data Science Alumni Mentor

Tanvee Desai

Product Data Scientist

Organization: Company Cam (https://companycam.com/about); Industry: Tech/Business
Previously: Barracuda (https://www.barracuda.com/); Industry: Cybersecurity

Extra or specialized topics:
- Interview prep
- Networking advice
- Discussing whether grad school is helpful in your field/role
- Finding early career roles in a tight job market

I would not be who I am today without the wonderful friends and connections I made through the data science community at Berkeley! My mentors at Berkeley and beyond helped me figure out what I wanted to do in life and have given me the guidance I needed to succeed in my career. I'm hoping to pay that forward by becoming a mentor myself! When I graduated at the peak of the COVID pandemic and lost a job offer, I felt very uncertain I would ever start my career in data science. However, a peer from my network gave me the referral I needed to land my first job after college! As someone who also recruited for a role in the 2025 job market, I understand the very harsh reality of searching for a job today. I want to share my experience and help guide anyone who may be in a similar position! I also love my career as a Product Data Scientist and would love to chat with anyone looking to explore a career in Product Analytics or Product Management!

Vincent Lao, DSUS Career Connections Program mentor

Vincent Lao

Senior Data Scientist

Organization: Echostar (https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/)
Industry: Telecommunications

Extra or specialized topics:
- Personalized resume feedback
- Interview prep
- Discussing whether grad school is helpful in your field/role

Hi, I’m Vincent! I studied data science and statistics at Berkeley, then did a Master's in Business Analytics at MIT and joined industry, working on forecasting and optimization in a tech consulting setting. I’m happy to help you navigate recruiting, technical interviews, and the different paths within data science, while sharing what working in industry is actually like across DS and MLE roles, or my thought process behind doing grad school vs. going into industry directly.

Profile photo of Winson Truong, Data Science Alumni Mentor

Winson Truong

Data Scientist

Organization: NVIDIA (https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/)
Department: Sales, Finance
Industry: Tech (Semiconductors)

Extra or specialized topics:
- Personalized resume feedback
- Interview prep
- Networking advice
- Finding early career roles in a tight job market

If you’re unsure about pursuing a career in data science or sometimes question whether you’re “smart enough” for this field, you’re definitely not alone. I felt this throughout my Cal experience. The advantage of a data science education is that it opens doors to so many different roles-analyst, scientist, engineer, researcher, developer-and makes you valuable across countless industries and departments. But with so many possibilities, figuring out where you belong can feel overwhelming. The supportive data science community at Berkeley helped me find the confidence to blend my interests and education into a meaningful career path. Now, I’m excited to pay it forward by helping you gain the same confidence and practical know-how as you continue your journey with data science. However I can be of service, I’m here to help!

Submit a Connection Request

Submit your request for the summer program by June 2, 11:59pm. 

 

Submit a Connection Request

 


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