Data Science Alumni Mentorship Hub

Welcome to the Data Science Alumni Mentorship Hub

The Data Science Alumni Mentorship Hub fosters meaningful connections within our community by pairing experienced alumni with recent graduates and current students. This program offers seasoned alumni an opportunity to stay involved and give back, while empowering graduates and students with invaluable career guidance and support.

Mentors in our program connect virtually with one or more mentees during their mentorship term. Browse mentor profiles to discover their areas of expertise and the topics they’re excited to discuss.

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. You may submit a connection request (located at the bottom of this webpage) for:

a specific mentor
or the first available mentor that meets a certain criteria (ex: first available to help with resume review)

You will have an option to list up to 3 preferences for connection.

Please note that our mentors have varying availability for connections. If you’re interested in connecting with a specific mentor, we encourage you to submit your request early. Additionally, while we strive to keep our webpage updated with current availability, if multiple requests come in rapidly and exceed a mentor's availability, you may receive a reply that your mentor is no longer available.

What happens next?

Once your request is received, Data Science Undergraduate Studies will attempt to facilitate a connection. We will let you know your options if your mentor is no longer available.

Upon a match, we will email you and your mentor so that you may set up a virtual meeting.

You'll use our Mentee Pre-Meeting Checklist to prepare so you make the most out of your meeting.

Crowd of students walking through Sather Gate

Become a Mentor!

Are you a seasoned UC Berkeley data science alum eager to give back to your community? Discover how you can make an impact as a mentor!

Mentee Checklist

Our Mentee Checklist will guide you through the process of meeting with a mentor, from how to prep, what to ask, and how to say thank you!

Text-only version

FAQ

Once you submit your connection request, Data Science Undergraduate Studies will aim to connect you with a mentor. We will pre-screen to ensure a match of availability and topics so that your conversation is productive. If there are any concerns with the above, we will contact you via email to make sure we are on the same page and to explore options.

Once connected with a mentor, we will introduce you both via email so you can arrange your virtual meeting.

Mentees will guide the meeting so it's critical to prepare. However, we make it easy by providing our Mentee Checklist, which includes steps to prepare, optional questions you might consider asking, and best practices for after your meeting.

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 your Data Science Undergraduate Studies contact, who will be emailing you after you submit your form. We can provide you with advice, information, or whatever you need to feel comfortable with the process.

Yes, as this is a pilot program, we are still assessing demand and it is possible that mentee demand will exceed mentor availability.

Some of our mentors will only meet with 1-3 students for the term. Once they have done so, they will become unavailable for additional connections.

How mentees are selected

This program operates partly as first-come, first-served, and partly based on priority criteria.

If a number of requests come in for a mentor while they are listed as available, priority will be given to:

data science B.A. alumni who are not currently in a full-time data science roles and are actively searching for positions
declared data science majors nearing graduation
data science B.A. alumni who are currently in full-time data science roles but are actively searching for positions
other data science students and alumni (including alumni and current students with data science minors)

We will also consider a match of topics to ensure your mentorship meeting will be a positive experience for you and your mentor.

What if I don't get a connection?

If we are unable to connect you with a mentor, we will discuss your options with you, including the option of joining a waitlist.

A mentorship connection request is for one virtual meeting with a mentor. One 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 Mentee Checklist.

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, not the mentee. Mentees should not request additional follow up if it is not offered.

We do recommend following up with one thank you email.

Mentees may only connect with one mentor at a time. After completing a mentorship connection meeting and submitting your post-meeting feedback form, you may request an additional connection.

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

We will add mentors to the program based on demand. If you are looking for a mentor, but can't find the right fit, submit a connection request that explains what you're hoping to find in a connection. While we can't guarantee anything, we will do our best to recruit mentors that meet our mentees needs. We will then add you to a waitlist for that type of mentor so if one becomes available, you will have priority.

That's okay! We provide some ideas for questions to help guide your meeting. Remember, that this isn't an interview of you as a mentee--this is a low pressure way to learn about career options, get advice, and just connect with your community. This is a great opportunity to practice these types of "informational interviews" for the future since we offer a lot of guidance.

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 a mentor or two. Share where you are with your mentor, but mostly, prepare to learn! You can focus on questions about the mentor's career and experiences if you're not sure where to start.

As we pilot this program in Spring 2025, we will be giving priority to current or former data science majors.

If you are a current or former data science minor, we welcome you to submit a request. We may put requests from alumni or students with minors on a waitlist, but will do our best to connect you if space allows.

Spring 2025 Mentors

Akshatha Muralidhar

Product Manager

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

Topics:
- Personal experience in role, industry, or graduate school
- General advice for internship or job searches in their field
- Advice for selecting or applying to graduate programs
- General resume tips for their field (ex: skills to highlight)
- Personalized resume feedback

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!

Arnav Gulati

Machine Learning Engineer

Organization: Apple (https://www.apple.com/careers/us/)
Industry: Tech

Topics:
- Personal experience in role or industry
- General advice for internship or job searches in your field
- Advice for selecting or applying to graduate programs
- General resume tips for your field (ex: skills to highlight)

Hi there! I am Arnav, I graduated from UC Berkeley in 2022 and now work at Apple as a ML Engineer. I really appreciate the mentorship I got while at Berkeley and am excited to give back!

Ashley Santos

Data Scientist - Growth Machine Learning Insights

Organization: Warner Bros (https://careers.wbd.com/global/en/home)
Industry: Media/Entertainment

Topics:
- Personal experience in role or industry
- General advice for internship or job searches in their field
- General resume tips for their field (ex: skills to highlight)
- Personalized resume feedback

As a first-generation Latina transfer student who has had an untraditional educational journey, I have gained a lot of experience in building technical resumes and technical interview preparation. I have a passion for mentoring and would love to mentor first-generation, low-income, Latine/Black students. Especially if you're a transfer student or a woman interested in a technical role! On top of industry advice, I have a lot of advice on navigating the DS major and studying abroad. Feel free to ask me anything!

Conan Minihan

Graduate Student Researcher

Institution: Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute, UC San Diego (https://datascience.ucsd.edu/)
Industry: Higher Education

Topics:
- Personal experience in role or graduate school
- Advice for selecting or applying to graduate programs

I love mentoring--I was a data science transfer mentor when I attended--and am very grateful for the opportunities my time and degree from CDSS has given me. I really would like to support efforts for Cal CDSS students for getting into and thriving in grad school.

Faisal Qureshi

Data Analyst

Organization: Molten Cloud (https://www.moltencloud.com/)
Industry: Media/Entertainment

Topics:
- Personal experience in role or industry
- General advice for internship or job searches in their field
- Advice for selecting or applying to graduate programs
- General resume tips for their field (ex: skills to highlight)
- Personalized resume feedback

Sometimes all it takes is one person to help guide you to get your foot in the door. I would be so grateful to give that opportunity on to someone from Cal! Go Bears!!

Irving Campos Carrillo

Business Intelligence Analyst

Organization: GoFundMe (https://www.gofundme.com/c/about-us)
Industry: Tech

The transition to a full-time role, especially in today’s competitive market, can feel overwhelming—particularly for those without external guidance, like first-generation college students. I want to share the lessons I’ve learned and the mistakes I’ve made, so others can be better equipped as they navigate the process of securing full-time opportunities.

Jake Lamb

Data Scientist

Organization: Naval Information Forces
Industry: Government/Military

Topics:
- Personal experience in role, industry, or graduate school,
- General advice for internship or job searches in thier field,
- Advice for selecting or applying to graduate programs,
- General resume tips for their field (ex: skills to highlight),
- Personalized resume feedback

I remember how scary the recruitment process was a couple years ago and if it was not for the help of a couple friends who had graduated before me I would have felt completely lost. I would love to share my experiences with a mentee and hopefully make the process seem less daunting for them.

Janani Vijaykumar

Data Engineer

Organization: Pinterest
Industry: Tech / Social Media

Topics:
- Personal experience in role or industry
- General advice for internship or job searches in their field

I have always valued connecting with people more experienced than myself in my field or fields I wanted to join. They've provided me with such valuable advice and guidance with their expertise. I wouldn't be where I am today without the connections and mentors I have had throughout my career so I hope I can help someone reach their goals the same way.

Jhinuk Barman

Data Scientist

Organization: UC Davis Cancer Center (https://health.ucdavis.edu/cancer/)
Industry: Health/Medical

I want to share my experiences with other, especially since I myself had a tough time navigating the data science career path when I was an undergrad. I also wished as a new grad that I had more guidance and mentorship. I hope to provide others with the resources, guidance and words of wisdom that I never had to help foster confidence in them.

Kanchana Samala

Data Engineer

Organization: Gap Inc. (https://www.gapinc.com/en-us/)
Industry: Business/Fashion

Topics:
- Personal experience in role or industry
- General advice for internship or job searches in your field
- General resume tips for your field (ex: skills to highlight)
- Personalized resume feedback (you will receive the resume before your meeting)

I would love to be a source of support and guidance for students. The future after graduation can often be daunting when you don’t have someone you can reach out to or lean on. I would also be happy to talk with students about the stress and anxiety that can occur while navigating all of this and offer meditation practices that have worked for me.

Ling Xie

Software Engineer

Organization: Thumbtack (https://www.thumbtack.com/about)
Industry: Tech

Topics:
- Personal experience in role or industry
- General advice for internship or job searches in their field

I understand the challenges of navigating the job market after graduation, especially in a highly competitive industry. When I graduated, I explored opportunities across roles in data science, data engineering, and software engineering. After working in the industry for a few years, I wanted to give back to the community by sharing what I’ve learned. I’m passionate about supporting early-career professionals, helping them grow, and guiding them toward opportunities that align with their interests and goals.

Louie Ortiz

Technology Ethics and Policy Research Associate

Organization: Stanford University (https://ethicsinsociety.stanford.edu/)
Industry: Research

It was through receiving mentorship while at Cal that I learned how to navigate higher education as someone who comes from a first-gen low income background. I have mentored high school students who are applying to university, and would love to continue to provide support to data science students through this program. I'm especially interested in helping people who are applying to their first roles after graduation and with general interview prep.

Mariah Rogers

Senior Analytics Engineer

Organization: Arcadia (https://www.arcadia.com/)
Industry: Energy/Environment

Topics:
- Personal experience in role or industry
- General advice for internship or job searches in their field
- General resume tips for their field (ex: skills to highlight),
- Personalized resume feedback
- Deciding on a focus area (eg. analysis, data science, or engineering) or domain in industry you want to go into
- Advice on best coursework to take for specific job pathways and upskilling options outside of university coursework
- Building a portfolio
- Getting involved in open source data or software

I love this data science program (especially having helped get it off the ground) and I want to see its students get everything they want out of their careers. It is a challenging environment to navigate, especially with the current job market conditions, but I have learned a few things over the years that I would be happy to pass on.

Mario Alberto Montoya Llamas

Data Scientist

Organization: Intuit (https://www.intuit.com/company/)
Industry: Financial Tech

Topics:
- Personal experience in role or industry
- General advice for internship or job searches in their field,
- General resume tips for their field (ex: skills to highlight),
- Personalized resume feedback

I want to be the mentor I wish I had when I was going through school and transitioning into the workforce. I'm especially interested in working with transfer students.

Napoleon Vuong

Data Scientist

Organization: Intuitive (https://www.intuitive.com/en-us)
Industry: Medical Tech

I love giving back to UC Berkeley students. I was a Data Science transfer mentor, part of course staff, and was involved in many clubs focused on providing data science education to fellow undergrads during my time at Berkeley. I'm excited to continue that mentorship now that I'm an alum.

Nabeil Kizilbash

Data Scientist

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

I graduated from UC Berkeley in 2019 as a Data Scientist, worked at Facebook 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.

Prathyusha Charagondla

Senior Machine Learning Engineer (Generative AI)

Org: Adobe (https://www.adobe.com/ca/about-adobe.html)
Industry: Tech

Topics:
- Personal experience in role, industry, or graduate school
- General advice for internship or job searches in their field
- General resume tips for their field (ex: skills to highlight)
- Personalized resume feedback

I was fortunate to have many mentors and support when I was in Berkeley which helped me narrow down what I wanted to do and navigate career and future career goals. I'd love the opportunity to give back, pass on my experiences and help others achieve their goals!

Rachel McCarty

Data Scientist

Organization: Chevron
Industry: Energy

Topics:
- Personal experience in role or industry
- General resume tips for your field (ex: skills to highlight)

I felt like an imposter starting data science at Cal and worried I wasn't cut out for the lower division classes. But I had mentors who gave me confidence in myself and inspired me to keep pursing my degree. I am so thankful about that and look forward to giving back.

Rebecca Woolf

Data Science Manager

Organization: Firebird Music Holdings (https://firebirdmusic.com/)
Industry: Entertainment

When I first arrived at Cal, I felt overwhelmed by everything related to computer science and data science. Mentorship helped me discover my passion for the field, which I now use in the entertainment industry, in companies like Warner Bros, DC Comics, and now music (for artists like Sabrina Carpenter, Maggie Rogers, and Chris Stapleton). I would be truly honored to give back and show others that, with the right support and determination, they can absolutely succeed in this area too.

Ryan Sandan

Data Analyst

Organization: Juniper Networks (https://www.juniper.net/us/en.html)
Industry: Tech

Topics:
- Personal experience in role or industry
- General advice for internship or job searches in their field
- General resume tips for their field (ex: skills to highlight)

I'm looking forward to reconnecting with the Berkeley community. I had other data science transfer students give me support when I was a student and want to pay it forward.

Sepehr Khosravi

Software Engineer - Machine Learning Platform

Organization: Coinbase (https://www.coinbase.com/)
Industry: Tech/Cryptocurrency
Additionally: Instructor @ Product Launch (Decal) through SCET at UC Berkeley

I love teaching. I aim to eventually have a career in education and I would to help out people that were recently in my position as much as I can.

Shirley Jiang

Associate Data Scientist II

Organization: Blizzard Entertainment (https://careers.blizzard.com/global/en)
Industry: Gaming/Entertainment

Topics:
- Personal experience in role, industry, or graduate school
- General advice for internship or job searches in their field
- General resume tips for their field (ex: skills to highlight)

I'm interested in staying connected with current students in the data science major. I'm curious about how it's evolved since I've graduated, especially because I was a data science peer advisor. I'm happy to talk about working in the industry as a data scientist, pursuing my MIDS degree, and my experience as an undergrad and undergrad peer advisor.

Tanner Arrizabalaga

Senior Data Scientist - Growth

Organization: LastPass (https://www.lastpass.com/company/about-us)
Industry: Tech / Cybersecurity
Additionally: MBA Candidate at University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

The Data Science program and community at Berkeley have profoundly impacted my life and opened countless opportunities for me and my family. Becoming an alumni mentor allows me to give back and support the next generation of students, continuing the cycle of growth and opportunity that Berkeley fostered in me.

Yuyang Zhong

Program Manager

Organization: Coding it Forward (https://codingitforward.com/)
Industry: Public Interest/Government

Topics:
- Personal experience in role or industry
- General advice for internship or job searches in their field
- Advice for selecting or applying to graduate programs

As one of the first declared data science majors on campus, the data science program has given me the technical competency and breadth of perspective to understand the broader tech landscape. I'd love to share more with current students about public interest technology and how they can use their date (and multidisciplinary skills) for the public good.

Alekya Mallina

Data Scientist

WAITLIST FULL: Please review other mentor options

Organization: Meta (https://about.meta.com/company-info/)
Industry: Tech

I know the feeling of being very overwhelmed when first entering the working world and the difficulty of reaching out to people to network. It always helps to have someone with experience just to reassure you that you will be ok! As a mentor, I'm happy to be the person you lean on for advice, encouragement, or any other support you need when navigating college and beyond.

Bobo Kwok

Software engineer

WAITLIST FULL: Please review other mentor options

Organization: Apple (https://www.apple.com/careers/us/)
Industry: Tech

I'm looking forward to giving back to my community, sharing my experiences with a bad job market, and providing encouragement to students. I personally had a 5-month career break and learned the value of creating backup plans and not giving up.

Ojasvi Khanna

Data Scientist II

WAITLIST FULL: Please review other mentor options
Organization: Xbox (Microsoft) (https://careers.microsoft.com)
Industry: Tech

Topics:
-Personal experience in role or industry
- General advice for internship or job searches in their field
- Advice for selecting or applying to graduate programs
- General resume tips for their field (ex: skills to highlight)
- Personalized resume feedback

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.

Submit a request to connect with a mentor!

Connection Request Form

Welcome to the Data Science Alumni Mentorship Hub

How it works

FAQ

What should I expect if I'm connected to a mentor?

Is there a chance I won't get connected to a mentor?

Is it only one meeting?

Can I meet with multiple mentors?

What if I can't find a mentor? Will more mentors join in the future?

I feel like I need mentorship, but I don't know what to talk about.

Is this open to data science minors?

Spring 2025 Mentors