2021 Fellows

Maya is a rising junior in Kirkland House studying Social Studies. This summer, she is excited to be working with Professor Jennifer Hochschild on understanding both how experiences related to Covid-19 influenced Republican voters’ support of Donald Trump and how race, class, policing, and housing intersect in American cities. On campus, Maya plays viola with the Harvard Radcliffe Orchestra and the Harvard Pops Orchestra and serves as Director of Collaborations for the Harvard Votes Challenge

Luca is a rising sophomore planning to concentrate in Applied Math/Economics with aspirations of one day getting a PhD in economics. He is excited to work with Melissa Dell this summer on applying deep learning methods to analyze historical databases and understanding the effects of media reporting on public trust in government and institutions during the Vietnam War. He is a huge Roger Federer fan, a secret CIA (Chinese-Italian-American) agent, and loves to read and grab desserts with his friends.

Esteban is a rising junior in Cabot House studying Government and the Classics with a Secondary in History. He is interested in the history of political thought, democratic theory, cosmopolitan justice, jurisprudence, and the reception of the Classics. This summer, Esteban is excited to be working with Danielle Allen and the Democratic Knowledge Project Team to research and improve civic education in Massachusetts. On-campus, you will find him with the Harvard Glee Club, Cabot Theatre, Voters Choose, the IOP, and at the Safra Center.

Rachel is a rising sophomore in Dunster House planning to study History. She is excited to work with Professor Lepore this summer on tracking efforts to amend the US Constitution. On campus, she is involved with the Harvard International Review, the Harvard Undergraduate Law Review, and the Harvard University Foreign Policy Initiative.

Shai Hirschl is a rising junior living in much-maligned Kirkland House studying Economics (or Applied Math-Economics, with shifting opinions each month) with an intended secondary in Government. He is interested in how political and economic systems interact; as such, he is very excited to be working with Prof. Dan Carpenter this summer examining how financial institutions influence the federal rulemaking process. On campus, he is involved with Harvard Consulting on Business and the Environment and the Economics Review. He also enjoys swimming, reading, following the NBA, and, believe it or not, spotting planes from various lookouts around Boston.

Taehwan is an off-cycle junior in Adams House from Chicago, Illinois. This summer, he will be working with Adaner Usmani to investigate the injustices of the American mass incarceration system through a historical lens. As a Social Studies concentrator passionate in social and political theory, he is excited to contribute to the study of justice in America. On campus, he has been involved in the Harvard Korean Association. In his free time, Taehwan loves to jam on his guitar, watch old movies, and play basketball with his friends.

Sofia is a rising junior in Quincy House who currently lives at home in the Philippines. She is concentrating in Cognitive Neuroscience and Evolutionary Psychology and hopes to use her degree to help foster mental health in the Philippines and elsewhere. This summer, she is excited to work with Adam Morris and the Cushman Lab to determine how people might improve their introspection through mindfulness and other techniques. Outside of school, Sofia enjoys running, painting, playing video games, and spending time with friends and family.