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147 changes: 147 additions & 0 deletions _data/mentors.yml
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -2094,3 +2094,150 @@
- website: https://linkinedin.com/srinivasuluparanduru
- website: https://dev.to/srinivasuluparanduru
- github: https://github.com/srinivasuluparanduru

- name: Aria Wright
disabled: false
matched: false
sort: 500
num_mentee: 1
hours: 2
type: both
index: 92
location: Boston
position: Build Engineer, RAI Institute
bio: |
I'm a newly minted build engineer and have experience in software and robotics for 4 years. I've worked for extremely small startups and large-scale biotech companies. My background is eclectic, ranging from devops and data engineering to underwater vehicles and AR/VR.
image: |
assets/images/mentors/aria_wright.jpeg
languages: English
availability: [5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11]
skills:
experience: 2-4 Years
years: 4
mentee: |
Someone who has had a similarly eclectic career path or who is looking to grow from junior/mid-level to senior engineer
areas:
- Fullstack Developer
- Backend Developer
- Data Engineering
- Machine Learning
- DevOps
languages: Python, Java, C++, C
focus:
- Grow from beginner to mid-level
extra: |
robotics, software engineering, finding the right kind of software job, resume review/technical interviews, queerness in tech, etc
network:
- linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aria-andromeda

- name: Airah Yusuff
disabled: false
matched: false
sort: 500
num_mentee: 0
hours: 1
type: ad-hoc
index: 93
location: London, UK
position: Cloud Engineer, Trainline
bio: |
I currently work as a Cloud Platform Engineer, where I focus on leveraging cloud technologies, automation tools, and DevOps practices to build systems and tooling that help developers worry less about how to continuously deploy and monitor their applications in production.
Prior to transitioning fully into cloud engineering, I worked as a Software Engineer for about four years across startup and consulting environments, gaining hands-on experience in frontend and backend development using technologies such as JavaScript/TypeScript, Node.js, and Java.
As a mentor, I aim to support engineers who want to transition into cloud roles, strengthen their understanding of cloud fundamentals, and build confidence working with AWS, automation, and CI/CD practices.
Outside of work, I am a fourth-year AWS Community Builder, a Lead at Women Coding Community, and I regularly document my cloud journey and new learnings through technical articles on my blog.
image: |
assets/images/mentors/airah_yusuff.jpeg
languages: English, Yoruba
availability: [6, 7, 8, 9, 10]
skills:
experience: 4-5 Years
years: 5
mentee: |
I'm looking to work with mentees who want to:
1) transition into cloud roles
2) strengthen their knowledge of cloud and AWS fundamentals
3) join the AWS Community Builders program and get support with their applications
4) know more about the UK Global Talent visa and whether it might be a right fit for them

I’m still growing as a mentor myself, but I’m committed to doing my best to support mentees and share what I’ve learned along the way.
areas:
- DevOps
- Site Reliability Engineering
- Security
- Network Engineering
languages: ''
focus:
- Change specialisation within IT
- Switch career to IT
extra: |
AWS Fundamentals
Transitioning into Cloud/DevOps Roles
AWS Community Builders Program
CV Reviews for Junior cloud roles
UK Global Talent Visa discussions
network:
- linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khairah-yusuff/
- github: https://github.com/khairahscorner
- website: https://khairahscorner.hashnode.dev

- name: Michelle Victora
disabled: false
matched: false
sort: 500
num_mentee: 0
hours: 1
type: ad-hoc
index: 94
location: Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
position: Software Engineer, RAI Institute
bio: |
I'm a robotics software engineer with a PhD in quantum physics and 5 years of industry experience. I've worked at Aliro Quantum Technologies (quantum networking), RightHand Robotics (warehouse automation), and currently at a robotics AI institute developing execution code and platforms to support on-robot policy learning.
Technical expertise: Quantum optics, quantum networks, Python, ROS 2, Lightweight Communications and Marshalling (LCM), hierarchical state machines, motion planning algorithms, hardware-software integration. Experience spans from experimental quantum optics to robotic manipulation and motion planning.
Notable projects: Reduced production motion planning failures 50% through algorithmic improvements; developed grasping algorithms with >10x damage reduction validated through A/B testing on customer sites; architected ROS 2 Control hardware interfaces enabling diffusion policy execution on robotic hardware, translated C++ executor to Python, enabling additional features to support RL policy deployment, built metrics evaluation pipeline for sim->sim->real policy evaluation.
I'm particularly interested in helping mentees with: transitioning from research/academia to industry (and back), gathering requirements for production systems, technical interview preparation, and navigating early-to-mid career growth in robotics/AI.
image: |
assets/images/mentors/michelle_victora.jpeg
languages: English
availability: [5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11]
skills:
experience: 5-7 Years
years: 7
mentee: |
I'm looking for a mentee who's interested in growing into new areas (research -> engineering or back, physics -> robotics, or anything related), or just growing from a beginner to a mid-career engineer.
areas:
- Backend Developer
- Machine Learning
- Distributed Systems
- Data Engineering
languages: Python
focus:
- Grow from beginner to mid-level
extra: |
Career Transitions & Growth:

*Navigating career pivots (quantum physics → robotics, research → production)
*Growing from junior to mid-level engineer
*Dealing with imposter syndrome when changing domains
*Deciding between startup vs research lab

Technical Interview Preparation:

*Coding interview strategies and practice (algorithms, data structures)
*System design discussions (component-level architecture)
*Behavioral interviews
*Talking about your work effectively in interviews

Software Development:

*Writing production-quality code (vs research code)
*Working with hardware-software integration

Robotics-Specific:

*ROS 2 development and best practices
*Writing executors and motion planning algorithms
*Working with research teams as an engineer
network:
- linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-victora-a3a49851/
- instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michellevictora/,
- facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mvictora
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