President spi-exec@mit.edu
Ippolyti Dellatolas is a PhD candidate in the Mechanical Engineering department at MIT. Her research focuses on fluid infiltration in soils, its impact on land stability and applications for CO2 sequestration. Previously a Mirzayan Fellow with the National Academies’ Board on Energy and Environmental Systems, Ippolyti now works with the MIT Office of Sustainability to advance campus decarbonization efforts by accelerating technology deployment and leveraging federal and state policy.
vice President spi-exec@mit.edu
Daniella DiPaola is a PhD student in the Personal Robots Group at the MIT Media Lab. Her research focuses on supporting children’s rights in the age of artificial intelligence and social robots, which includes designing AI literacy curricula for K-12 students. Before coming to MIT, Daniella was a UX Researcher at Jibo, Inc., where she helped design and research the world’s first social robot for the home.
Treasurer spi-exec@mit.edu
Lokesh Sangabattula is a PhD student in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. As part of MIT’s climate grand challenge, his research involves developing novel techniques for manufacturing cement with lower carbon emissions. Before MIT, Lokesh worked as a research assistant at ICMM, Madrid where he synthesised advanced nanomaterials using photochemical reactions. Out of research, he is interested in the impact of policy on technology and innovation.
Executive Visit Days spi-exvd@mit.edu
Phillip Christoffersen is a PhD student at CSAIL, in the Algorithmic Alignment Group. His interests span multi-agent RL, neurosymbolic AI, robotics, and conceptual research, for the purpose of ensuring safe and socially valuable deployments of AI. He is also passionately interested in advocating and advancing such AI paradigms in the context of policy. Before MIT, Phillip was an undergraduate researcher at the University of Toronto, and at the Vector Institute.
Congressional Visit days spi-cvd@mit.edu
Andrew Fishberg is a PhD student at MIT studying robotics, computer science, and AI. In his research he develops multi-agent mapping algorithms in service of nuclear non-proliferation. Prior to his graduate work, Andrew was employed as Associate Staff member in the Advanced Capabilities and Systems Group at MIT Lincoln Laboratory where he developed swarm robotics technology. Beyond robotics, Andrew has interest in policy, education, and AI / technology ethics.
Marie Floryan is a mechanical engineering PhD candidate in the Mechanobiology lab advised by Prof. Roger Kamm. Her research focuses on developing in vitro models using microfluidics to study the mechanisms of cancer metastasis. In her free time, Marie enjoys playing soccer, volleyball, and trying new recipes.
Bootcamp SPI-Bootcamp@MIT.EDU
Dylan Wootton is a 3rd year Ph.D. student at MIT CSAIL where he researches how people make decisions with data. He’s currently interested in exploring how interactive data visualization interfaces change how data is communicated – and used – by decision makers for public good. In addition to his work in computing, Dylan is a National Geographic Explorer and creates interactive data stories about Arctic Sea-Ice.
Special Events spi-exec@mit.edu
Misha Gerovitch is an undergrad studying Computer Science and Engineering. He is a member of MIT AI Alignment where he focuses on a range of technical and governance questions relating to AI safety including interpretability, scalable model oversight, AI auditing, and model evaluations. He spent a summer working at MIT's DC Office, focusing on AI policy. He also runs the MIT Forecasting Group, is interested in ethics/philosophy, plays piano and guitar, and rock climbs!
Communications spi-webmaster@mit.edu
Hannah LeBlanc is a PhD candidate in Biology studying bacterial RNA decay in Gene-Wei Li's lab. She's interested in inclusive and equitable education and healthcare access. In their free time, Hannah rows, plays hockey, and works on getting more engaged in local politics.
Alumni Relations spi-exec@mit.edu
Serena Booth is a PhD student in CSAIL's Interactive Robotics Group. Serena aspires to design better robot and AI collaborators by enabling agents to explain their behavior and by giving people the tools to change agent behavior. Before joining MIT, Serena was a Product Manager at Google, where she worked on search and augmented reality. Serena is particularly interested in policy to guide evaluations of technology and to increase diversity in STEM.
Cathy Badding is a Chemistry PhD candidate advised by Prof. Danna Freedman. Their research focuses on synthesizing and studying 3d transition metal-bismuth intermetallic materials at ambient and high pressure as permanent magnet and superconductor candidates for renewable energy applications. They use extreme pressure, generated either by compressing diamond anvil cells or by shooting bullets, for materials discovery as ambient pressure systems are well-explored. In their free time, Cathy enjoys playing tennis, reading, punch-needling, and cuddling with their cat.
External Relations spi-exec@mit.edu
Advait Athreya is a fourth year PhD student in Computational and Systems Biology working on three-dimensional genome organization (i.e. how DNA folds inside the nucleus) in Bin Zhang's lab. When not in lab, he's interested in learning about federal research policy and new ideas for open science communication.