Intern Policy Analysts

Rebecca Bullard

Major: International Affairs

Research Areas: Education Technology, Justice, Virtual Worlds, and Homeland Security.

Experience Statement: Rebecca is a 4th year International Affairs major and Public Policy minor. She is excited to be an OPAR intern this semester because it provides the opportunity to do research, which she has wanted to do since she came to Tech, with the job-like structure of an internship. She is also excited to see a practical example to the marriage of policy and government to science and technology that she learns about in her classes. Outside of OPAR, Rebecca is currently the Assistant Editor of the Erato literary journal and a member of the GT Mock Trial team. Additionally she spends her time singing as a member of the GT Chamber choir and volunteering on a political campaign, something she would like to pursue professionally after college.

Mike Donohue

Major: Public Policy

Research Areas: Energy, Agriculture, Quantum Computing

Experience Statement: Mike is a second-year student at Georgia Tech pursuing a major in Public Policy and a minor in International Affairs. He is really excited to be interning at OPAR this semester because of the experience it will give him within the world of science and technology policy. After receiving his undergraduate degree, Mike hopes to attend law school and then work as a prosecutor for a large city. On campus, Mike is involved in the Student Government Association, the Honor Advisory Council, and the Georgia Tech Mock Trial Team.

Wryen Meek

Major: Public Policy

Research Areas: Digital Decision Support Systems, Content aggregation in online social networks, Digital Government, and Information Security

Carrie Oliver

Major: Biomedical Engineering

Research Areas: Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, Health and Human Services, and Labor

Experience Statement: I have experience in a typical technical laboratory setting and am used to working with cell cultures and coulter counters. However, my internship at OPAR has offered a welcomed opportunity to broaden my scope of research into the field of public policy. Hopefully, my broaden research scope ,enhanced team skills, and understanding of the relationship between legislation and technolgy will be advantageous in my future pursuit of a career in the field of public health. Outside of OPAR , I am involved in the Student Center Concert Committee, Gamma Beta Mu Leadership Society, and a CEISMC mentor. In my leisure time, I indulge in my slight obsession with music.

Krystal Persaud

Major: Industrial Design

Research Areas: Natural resources and the environment, transportation, mapping/geographical information, and agricultural technology

Experience Statement: Krystal is a senior in the industrial design program here at Tech. As a design student, she is eager to learn more about the policy decisions made around high-technology products that we use everyday (but never think about). She believes designers, engineers, and public policy makers should have an open flow of communication. On campus she is involved with the Industrial Design Society of America (IDSA) chapter at Georgia Tech and Students Organizing for Sustainability (SOS). In her free time she enjoys leisure bike rides and decorating the OPAR computer lab.

Austin Steed

Major: International Affairs and Modern Languages

Research Areas: Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, Health IT, Identity Management

Experience Statement: Austin is currently a third year International Affairs and Modern Language student at Georgia Tech with a focus in Chinese. He is excited to have the opportunity to apply his classroom experience to meaningful research and learn more about the world of technology policy. On campus, he is involved with Delta Upsilon Fraternity and Amnesty International and enjoys practicing martial arts in his spare time.

Crystal Xu

Major: Economics and International Affairs