Summer 2026
Research Assistants and Interns
The 2026 CRSS Lab summer cohort of RAs and interns
Our RAs and interns are some of the best and brightest undergraduate and graduate students at Brown University. We are honored they have joined us. Please check out their bios.
Research Lab Supervisor
Morgan Boonshaft is a dedicated student-athlete at Brown University, where she is pursuing a double concentration in Business Economics and Political Science/International and Public Affairs. As a D1 cross-country and track athlete, she balances rigorous academics with an intense athletic schedule.
Her experiences include managing a $140,000 student-led endowment fund and creating voter education content for a leading media outlet in her hometown. Morgan is also the founder of Mighty Striders Running Club, a team that empowers children and teens with special needs through athletics.
Research Lab Supervisor/Project Manager
Kourtney recently graduated from Brown University with degrees in Statistics and International and Public Affairs. She has been actively involved in two student publications as an editor for the Brown Undergraduate Law Review and as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Black Star Journal. In addition to her academic pursuits, Kourtney is passionate about health law and policy as well as the evolution of right-wing extremism. She plans to attend law school soon after graduation.
Research Lab Supervisor
Verena Welch is a junior studying Health and Human Biology and International and Public Affairs. Verena is interested in the social determinants of health and international health policy, and plans to attend graduate school after graduation. She has worked in advocacy related to women’s health, reproductive justice, and infectious disease. In her free time, Verena enjoys listening to music, training with her club triathlon team, and language learning.
Asha is a rising junior concentrating in Astronomy & Astrophysics and Sociology. Her academic interests span planetary science, observational astronomy, and the social implications of scientific research. She is particularly interested in how scientific discoveries influence public discourse and collective decision-making. She joined the CRSS Lab to better understand the social dynamics behind protest movements and collective action. Outside of the lab, Asha is a co-captain of the Women’s Rugby Team, a member of the University Chamber Orchestra, and an academic coach for student-athletes.
Pavani Durbhakula is an undergraduate studying International Affairs and Public Health at Brown University. She is from the D.C. area and is interested in diplomacy, international development, and global health. Within the CRSS Lab, Pavani is excited to explore the intersection of law, politics, and civic engagement while working on the Mass Protest Project. At Brown, Pavani writes for the Brown Daily Herald and competes with the Model UN team. In her free time, she enjoys baking, photography, and dance.
Sarya Baran Kılıç is a rising sophmore from Istanbul, Turkey. She is currently undecided but plans to study Computer Science with a humanities focus at Brown University. Sarya is interested in social change, data analysis, cultural preservation, sustainable design and policies, human rights, and history. She has worked on various community involvement projects with an emphasis on Kurdish issues. In her free time, Sarya enjoys drawing, working on film projects, and cooking.
Asher Patel is a junior at Brown University studying Applied Mathematics–Economics and International Security. An Oklahoman, Asher seeks a career in public-service work, with particular interests in space policy and microeconomics. Outside of academics, he enjoys distance running and training in Kali.
Ellen is a rising sophomore from central Connecticut who is interested in all social sciences, but particularly that which concerns the design and distribution of space, as well as work which combines quantitative and qualitative research methods. Outside of school and work, Ellen writes and illustrates a Substack on “universal, cultural, and local phenomena,” runs, and does acapella.
Olivia Stacey is a senior at Brown University studying Gender & Sexuality Studies and English. She is particularly interested in research pertaining to women and gender in the economy, motherhood and maternity leave policies, and menstrual equity. She writes for The Brown Daily Herald, the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, and is an English tutor for local Providence high schoolers. Following graduation, Olivia hopes to pursue advanced study in women’s studies and work as an educator.
Fiona Li is a rising junior concentrating in Computer Science and Business Economics. She is interested in the intersection of technology and business, particularly how computational and analytical methods can be used to understand and improve complex systems.
Outside the classroom, Fiona is active in both technical and creative communities. She serves as Finance Chair of the Anime Video Game Ensemble, where she also performs as a violinist and pianist, and is a member of the executive board of Brown’s Computer Science Departmental Undergraduate Group (CS DUG). She is also a member of the Ursa Minors a cappella group and works as a teaching assistant for courses in computer systems and game theory.
Daniel Mun is a rising sophomore studying Behavioral Decision Sciences, Philosophy, and European Critical Thought. He is particularly interested in applying critical theory to human behavior in finance, art, and literature to quantify subjective experience. He is a copy editor for the Brown Political Review and is the Assistant Artistic Director for Hansori. Outside of academics, he enjoys writing philosophical narratives and opera.
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