Join us in welcoming our new First-Year Innovation Fellowship participants for the Spring 2026 semester! These students are brimming with ambition, dedication, and fresh ideas. We can’t wait to see how they grow over the next few months!
FYIF is a program designed to give first-years the knowledge and skills necessary to find solutions to issues they are passionate about. It’s about empowering students to create innovative positive change, through hands-on projects, mentorship, and community building.
Meet the cohort:
Kareemat Adeagbo (ENG’29) is originally from Westfield, Indiana, and is studying Mechanical Engineering. She wants to explore innovative solutions through entrepreneurship, technology, or policy. In the future, she aims to either fix a broken system or create a tool that improves life for millions of people.
Nikita Afanaskin (CAS’29) is originally from Moscow, Russia, and is studying Economics. He is interested in addressing financial inequalities due to AI usage.
Defne Akkan (CAS’29) is originally from Istanbul, Turkey, and is studying Data Science and Applied Mathematics. She is interested in shaping AI to improve people’s lives, focusing on AI policy, safety, and optimization. She enjoys applying math to real-world problems—she once used graph theory to plan an attempt at the Guinness World Record for the fastest time to visit all Istanbul subway stations!
Christine Amalraj (CAS’29) is originally from outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is studying Neuroscience and Psychology to become a pediatric neuropsychologist. She aims to create a nonprofit that helps children become passionate about STEM. She is involved with Girls Who Code, Mind and Brain Society, UPE, and Pep Band at BU.
Yonathan Bracha (CGS’29) is originally from Miami, Florida, and is planning to study Finance and Business Analytics. He has pursued co-founding a digital venture in the past, and enjoys working in fast-paced, collaborative environments. In the future, he is interested in pursuing MBB consulting or continuing to build his own venture.
Bianca Cadet (Sargent’29) is originally from Nassau, The Bahamas, and is studying Behavior and Health. She has a background in crafting and design, which she hopes to combine with her psychology and innovation education to address the rise of digital burnout among her generation. She wants to pursue a career in physical therapy, using a holistic approach to help others navigate the physical and mental detours of life.
Leslie Cruz Urquilla (CAS’29) is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, California, and is studying Political Science and International Relations, minoring in Spanish. She is involved with Alianza Latina, Phi Alpha Delta, and is a Posse Scholar at BU. She is passionate about public service, hoping to become a lawyer in government and contribute to meaningful, equitable positive change.
William Dakare (ENG’29) is originally from Queens, New York, and is studying Mechanical Engineering. He is interested in application-specific robots such as medical and agro robots, as well as bio-inspired soft robots. After graduating, he hopes to join a robotics lab, and eventually join a R&D or process improvement team at a manufacturing or research-driven company.
Hannah Gilchrest (COM’29) is originally from Lubbock, Texas, and is studying Public Relations, minoring in Economics. She is involved with Kilachand Honors College, BU’s International Literacy Program, PRSSA Unleashed, and WTBU. In the future, she hopes to attend law school, or work as an NIL agent and sports representative to help athletes navigate the transition from high school to collegiate and professional sports.
Davyn Gottfried (CAS’29) is originally from Avon, Connecticut, and is studying Economics. She enjoys singing, hiking, and spending time with her friends and family. After graduating, her goal is to go to dental school.
Ava Himmelsbach (CAS’29) is originally from New York, and is yet to declare her major. She is interested in a wide range of disciplines, including mathematics, finance, technology, and architecture. This semester, she plans to study the trade-off between sustainability and affordability within these fields.
Harvey Khurana (Questrom’29) is studying Business Administration and Management. He speaks six languages, and he enjoys learning about different cultures and global market. He aims to pursue a career in investment banking or asset management and eventually transition into venture capital to help build and scale high-impact ideas.
Bingqing Liu (CAS’29) is originally from Qingdao, China, and is planning to study Hospitality Administration. He is passionate about hospitality, film, music, and physics. He hopes to use interdisciplinary approaches to find unconventional solutions to problems, bridging different perspectives across disciplines and backgrounds.
Jasmine Pantrattanamongkol (Questrom’29) is originally from Bangkok, Thailand, and is studying Finance. She hopes to incorporate her creative skills into new product innovation. She wants to create products that make communities safer, particularly targeting issues of SA.
Evie Passero (CAS’29) is studying Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, particularly within public health and medicine. On campus, she is part of the Triathlon Team and BU’s Filipino Student Association. She aims to pursue a career in healthcare in the future, focusing on women’s health.
Taral Patel (CAS’29) is originally from Hong Kong, and is studying Cell Biology, Molecular Biology & Genetics, minoring in Business. She is passionate about sustainable healthcare and business, and enjoys upcycling waste into crafts and crocheting. She aims to enhance healthcare accessibility and sustainability by contributing to advancements in stem cell and personalized therapies.
Ana Rodriguez (ENG’29) is originally from Mexico, and is studying Mechanical Engineering. On campus, she is involved in Mars Rover Club and BURPG, and she loves Total Drama and Percy Jackson. After graduating, she plans to go to grad school to work in the space industry, developing technology with a positive impact on the environment.
Siya Setty (Sargent’29) is originally from Lexington, Massachusetts, and is studying Human Physiology, minoring in Public Health. She enjoys reading, playing the guitar, singing, and exploring Boston with friends. In the future, she hopes to become a doctor and work with marginalized and underserved populations around the world.
Adhiti Tandle (CAS’29) is originally from Chennai, India, and is studying Physics, minoring in Data Science. She is passionate about dancing, and she is a member of BU Jalwa. She hopes to pursue research in experimental physics and translate STEM into meaningful social impact.
Mohamed Yusuf (CAS’29) is originally from Portland, Maine, and is studying Chemistry, minoring in Nanoscience. He is involved with the Chemistry Fraternity and Alpha Chi Sigma on campus. He is interested in science, films, and he is always on top of new engineering/science developments.
Sky Zhang (ENG’29) is studying Biomedical Engineering. He leads IRB-approved interventional clinical studies focused on patient outcomes at Massachusetts General Hospital, and an AI-driven immunotherapy discovery initiative in Alzheimer’s Disease research. He is accomplished in rowing, and enjoys creating 2D animation projects on YouTube.
Christina Zheng (Questrom’29) is originally from New York City, and is studying Business Administration, concentrating in Finance and Management. She enjoys spending her weekends roaming bookstores with friends. She enjoys going to flea markets to collect unique earrings.
