Alumni Story: Neha Yasin  

Academy: Harris Academy Battersea

Current role: MSci Physics student at Imperial College London | Outreach Ambassador | Private Tutor

Tell us a bit about your background.
I went to Harris Academy Battersea for my A-Levels, where I earned myself 4 A*s before heading to Imperial College London to study Physics. I was part of the first-generation of my family to go on to higher education, so going to university was an important goal for me. While maths and science had always interested me, I realised by true passion for it through being curious and engaging in as many opportunities as I could outside of school. Those experiences allowed me to explore areas of science you don’t usually get to cover in school and ultimately led me to where I am today.

What path did you take after school?
I went on to study Physics at Imperial, which has been an incredible journey. It’s been hard work, but I’ve had the chance to learn some incredible things. However, some of my most meaningful experiences have come from outside my degree. Since I once attended outreach programs myself, I made sure to sign up to become a student ambassador for Imperial’s Recruitment and Outreach team. In this role, I’ve mentored, taught and helped run activities for younger students and it has been immensely rewarding to feel that you are making an impact on young people, whose position you were in not long ago.

I've also taken on some opportunities outside of university, including a consulting internship, tutoring students in maths and science, and being on the Advisory Board for Mind in London, where I’ve contributed to mental health strategies and campaigns. All of these combined have given me a vast repertoire of skills that I know I can go on to apply in any job I end up in.

What motivates and inspires you?
I’m passionate about making STEM more accessible and breaking down the idea that science is just about memorising a boring set of rules and equations. To me, it’s about curiosity, innovation, and revealing the inner workings of our world. I love hands-on environments where I can make real human connections. Seeing the impact of my work, no matter how big or small, keeps me motivated.

What are your current plans?
Right now, I’m focused on finishing my last few months of my MSci in Physics while continuing my work in outreach and engagement. I love the intersection of science, communication, and EDI, so I’m exploring career paths that bring all those interests together. Whether that’s in education, policy, charity, or something completely different, I want to keep working in roles similar to what I’ve been doing so far.

Do you have any advice for current students?
Say yes to opportunities, even if they scare you. Go looking for them if they don’t come to you. Some of my best experiences have come from stepping outside my comfort zone. Don’t be shy to ask questions, take all the help you can, to get yourself where you want to be. And don’t worry if you don’t know where that is yet, you have all the time in the world and there’s a hundred different ways to get there. It’s okay to try things and not like them but do try as much as you can. You never know what might unexpectedly be right up your alley.

 

Alumni Story: Luciana Lopes de Almeida 

Academy: Harris Academy Battersea (2016-2018)

Current role: Head of Web Development for Japanese Gallery Kensington LTD

Tell us a bit about your background.

I went to Harris Academy Battersea before heading to Queen Mary University of London, where I studied Creative Computing. I’ve always been fascinated by how technology and creativity come together, whether it’s through web development, software engineering, or even quantum computing. I love the challenge of solving problems and finding new ways to make technology more intuitive and engaging.

What path did you take after school?

I started out by exploring different areas of tech, which led me to my current role as a Web Developer at Japanese Gallery Kensington. My work focuses on user experience and Magento 2, helping to create seamless and engaging online platforms. Alongside the web development responsibilities, I have worked with graphic design, content creation, and helping to organise Japanese art events.

Before that, I completed a nine-week Tech Skills Bootcamp with QA Ltd, which gave me hands-on experience in Agile, DevOps, databases, and programming languages like Python and Java. During the training period, I also earned my Microsoft Azure (AZ-900) qualification.

One of my most exciting experiences was working as a Summer Researcher at the University of Surrey. I got to dive into the Quantum Game of Life, write and present a scientific report about it. It was a fascinating project that gave me a new perspective on how computing could evolve in the future.

What motivates and inspires you?

I love the feeling of solving a tough problem and seeing the impact of my work. Whether it’s optimising a website, improving user experience, or researching new tech concepts, I’m always looking for ways to make technology more accessible and efficient. I’m also inspired by the constant evolution of the tech industry. It is also exciting to think of how to merge the art and antiques industry with technological advances.

What are your current plans?

Right now, I’m focused on growing as a developer and expanding my expertise in UX, software engineering, and emerging technologies. I want to keep working on projects that challenge me creatively and technically, and I’m always on the lookout for opportunities to learn and innovate. I would like to also have a look at the game development industry in the future as this is something that also interests me.

Do you have any advice for current students?

Try everything. Tech is such a broad field, and you never know what might spark your interest. Don’t be afraid to take on new challenges, even if they seem intimidating at first. Some of the best learning

experiences come from stepping outside your comfort zone. And most importantly, enjoy the process. Curiosity and passion will take you further than you think.

 

Alumni Story: Gyalpo Aguirre 

Academy: Harris Academy Battersea (2016-2018)

Current role: AI @ MIT | Fulbright Scholar   

Tell us a bit about your background.
I attended Harris Academy Battersea, where I achieved five A*s, and then went on to study Artificial Intelligence and Decision Making at MIT. From a young age, I was always fascinated by how AI can change society-both the good and the bad. That curiosity took me down a path where I’ve explored everything from AI privacy to building AI-powered tools for education.

What path did you take after school?
At MIT, I had the chance to do more than just study. I worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, helping teach a class of over 200 students. Alongside that, I did some fascinating research at the MIT Media Lab, fine-tuning large language models to make sure they don’t leak information they shouldn’t.

I also ventured into the startup world- first as an engineer at Ramp, where I worked on creating financial products for private equity. Later, I co-founded a startup called Entiendo, an AI assistant aimed at helping teachers and students in Latin America. We were accepted into Neo’s Accelerator, received a $625K investment offer, and secured letters of intent from school chains with over 45,000 students.

What motivates and inspires you?
I’m genuinely inspired by the potential of AI to make a real difference. It’s one thing to build something cool with tech, but the real motivation comes from knowing that it can change lives. Whether it’s improving access to education, creating better financial systems, or tackling biases in AI, I want to work on projects that genuinely matter.

The startup space also excites me. There’s something about building something from scratch, seeing an idea grow, and knowing that you played a part in it that is incredibly rewarding. Plus, I love working on challenges that are difficult but worth solving.

What are your current plans?
At the moment, I’m continuing my work at MIT, balancing research and teaching. I’m really focused on the future of AI and how we can make sure it evolves responsibly ensuring it benefits everyone, not just a few.

Do you have any advice for current students?
Take risks, explore, and don’t be afraid to try things outside your comfort zone. Some of my most valuable lessons came from moments when I wasn’t sure what was next, but I took the leap anyway. Stay curious, things change fast in tech, and the best way to keep up is to stay learning, questioning, and experimenting. Finally, don’t feel like you need to have it all figured out. Sometimes, the best opportunities come from being open to whatever’s next.