The Bergel Institute — Fellowships
Meet the 2026-27 Fellows
A brief look at the research fields and programmatic visions of our current Fellows.
Our 2026 Fellows
Dr. Eirliani Abdul Rahman
Using AI to help protect children before trafficking networks strike.Dr. Abdul Rahman is building TRAPP, an AI-powered decision-support platform designed to help police and frontline organizations identify trafficking risks earlier, understand vulnerability patterns, and intervene before harm occurs. The pilot in Odisha, India will integrate case records, police data, socioeconomic indicators, heatmaps, and multilingual tools for officers on the ground.
Read MoreDr. Omolara Fatiregun
Helping job seekers discover possibilities beyond the opportunities they can already see.Dr. Fatiregun is developing the research and pilot-readiness roadmap for Compass by THRIVE, an AI-powered career coach designed to help people see clearer, broader, and more realistic pathways to work that can sustain a life. Her Fellowship will focus on where workforce guidance breaks down, what job seekers actually need, and which trusted institutions can help Compass reach the people it is meant to serve.
Read MoreAndy Schindling and Kate Murphy
Building a future where every child has a trained mentor who shows up and stays.Andy and Kate are working to turn mentorship from something informal and inconsistent into a trained, credentialed profession. Drawing from TCP Youth Empowerment's school-based mentoring model, they will develop the foundation for a mentor certification program including competencies, training standards, curriculum partners, and a first pilot cohort.
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