Student Assistants

Ekin Arslan

Ekin Arslan is currently a Master's student at LMU, studying MSc Psychology: Learning Sciences, with a B.S. in Psychology from METU. Based in Munich, he is a passionate psychologist dedicated to unraveling the intricacies of the human mind. With a love for learning and adapting to the ever-changing phenomena in our world, he finds inspiration in collaborative teamwork and open communication.

Beyond psychology, his curiosity extends to the intersection of psychology, novel technologies, and politics. He strives to foster a deeper understanding of the human experience, combining my unique perspective with a commitment to promoting organizational achievement and resilience in individuals and communities while exploring how psychological insights can contribute to the advancements in quantum technologies, shape future solutions, and influence progressive policies.

Eden Castaneira Rios

Eden Castaneira Rios is a senior consultant for the United Nations developing and implementing technological solutions for human rights. He simultaneously works in the German private sector in business and IT consulting services, focusing on innovation and market exploration.

Currently pursuing a master’s degree (M.Sc.) in Politics and Technology, with his Actuarial Science background, he intends to be one bridge between technology, innovation, society, and business. His extensive experience spans international organizations, the private sector, and high-level roles within the Mexican government. This diverse background equips him with a multidisciplinary perspective, which he intends to apply to concrete Quantum promising technologies.

He is passionate about showcasing and driving innovative developments that make use of Quantum Science as enablers of the greater good. His research at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) is dedicated to building frameworks such as ESG and addressing societal questions to enable the development of responsible, efficient, and implementable Quantum Technologies.

Rowan Crawford

Rowan Crawford is a Political Science B.Sc. student at the Technical University of Munich. He currently works as a student research assistant at the Professorship for Public Policy, Governance and Innovative Technology and member of the Young Quantum Social Scientists.

Alongside his studies, he is involved in the leadership of the student initiative, MUNTUM, which aims to foster dialogue and an international perspective for students in Munich on current events in international relations and global questions of our time. He is also a member of the working group for economy, technology, and innovation in the U.S. Consulate Munich’s Youth Advisory Council, as well as head of University Policy at the HfP’s student council.

He is particularly interested in the international governance of emerging technologies as well as economic, global, and educational justice.

Elizabeth Emery

Elizabeth Emery started her MA in Responsibility in Science, Engineering and Technology at the TUM School of Social Sciences and Technology in October 2023. Before this, she completed a B.A. in Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics at the University of Oxford.

In her current studies, her focus is on responsibility of AI and other digital technologies, with a special interest in post-AI democracy, ethical development and deployment of algorithms, and regulation and governance of high-risk AI systems. In her undergraduate studies, she has also gained expertise in ethics, philosophy of cognitive science, social and moral psychology, and philosophy of mind.

Valeria Ariza Gómez

Valeria Ariza Gómez works as a student assistant at the Chair of Public Policy, Governance and Innovative Technology, she is a  M.Sc. candidate in Politics and Technology at the TUM School of Social Science and Technology and holds a Master’s degree in Public Management and Territorial Government from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana.

 

She worked at the departmental government of Atlántico in Colombia (2019-2022) developing public policy for groups of special constitutional protection. She is interested in the social impacts of digital transformation and its benefits for democracy. 

Alexander Orlov

Alexander Orlov is a double degree student of Quantum Science and Technology (TUM/LMU) and Political Science (TUM) and works as a student research assistant for the TUM Think Tank's Quantum Social Lab and the Chair of Public Policy, Governance and Innovative Technology.

He supports the lab and the chair in its various research, teaching and outreach activities with a special focus on the translation of scientific findings on innovative technologies into actionable insights. Before joining the team, he gained experience as an intern in globally operating strategy consultancies and as a student research assistant at Walther-Meißner-Institute and Tokyo Institute of Technology.

His research interests are the technological foundations, applications and societal implications of quantum technologies as well as artificial intelligence and decision theory.

LinkedIn

Nuria Quesada Pérez

My name is Nuria and I am currently working on my third semester of the Master program Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics at TUM. Before starting my adventure in Munich, I completed my bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering in Spain, where I come from.

I would describe myself as a positive and curious person that is always looking forward to meet new people and discover different places and cultures. That’s one of the reasons why I decided to continue my studies abroad and one of the motors that led me to join the Youth Quantum Scolarship. Im very excited to start this new adventure and get to know deeper the project and all my teammates.

 

Katalin Schneider

Katalin Schneider works as a student research assistant at the professorship of Public Policy, Governance and Innovative Technology as well as the Quantum Social Lab.

She studies political science with a focus on social and political data science at the TUM School of Social Science and Technology in her bachelor’s degree. During her studies she was able to gather significant experience abroad, studying for one semester at Sciences Po Paris and interning at the United Nations in Washington D.C. for which she was funded through the Carlo Schmid program.

She is particularly interested in using big data, machine-learning and quantum computing methods for political science research. 

LinkedIn

Aysenur Kocak

Aysenur Kocak is a master's student in Informatics at TUM and a student assistant at the Professorship for Public Policy, Governance, and Technology. Her research interests are natural language processing and computer vision.

Before TUM, she worked as a full-time software engineer for 3 years and contributed to the development of vehicle control and communication systems.

Aysenur has a bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering from Middle East Technical University (METU), Turkey.

 

Jerry Miller

Jerry Miller is an M.Sc. student in Politics & Technology at the Technical University of Munich, where he also serves as a student research assistant in the Quantum Social Lab within the TUM Think Tank. With an honours undergraduate degree from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, in the interdisciplinary Arts & Science Program, he specialised in psychology, neuroscience, and behaviour. His course focus was on the psychosocial implications of human-computer interaction and emerging technologies.

Before joining TUM, Jerry worked promoting STEM literacy and competency among high school students through his engagements with the nonprofit organisations Shad Canada and Elephant Thoughts. His current research interests lie in unlocking the potential of emerging technologies to benefit society at large, specifically with quantum technologies.