Announcing 2025 Kempner Post-Baccalaureate Scholars
Four outstanding recent college graduates join post-bac program to pursue intelligence research
The 2025 Kempner post-bac scholars are (clockwise from top left) Kyran Romero, Zoe Wu, Varun Reddy, and David Behery.
Cambridge, MA– The Kempner Institute for the Study of Natural and Artificial Intelligence at Harvard is pleased to announce the 2025 cohort of scholars awarded placement in the Kempner Institute Post-Baccalaureate Program. The 2025 post-bac scholars are David Behery, Varun Reddy, Kyran Romero, and Zoe Wu.
The Kempner’s post-bac training program was launched in 2023 in partnership with the Research Scholar Initiative (RSI) which is housed within the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS). The program supports students seeking advanced coursework and research opportunities in preparation for applying to Ph.D. programs in intelligence research.
All four recipients are recent college graduates pursuing research related to the study of intelligence in biological or artificial systems. Post-bac scholars receive two years of full funding and professional development opportunities, which include coursework and research mentorship.
Meet the 2025 Post-Bac Scholars
With my growing interest in understanding how we think, the Kempner can provide me with the skills and tools to use thoughtful modeling to test our understanding of what makes us the way we are.
David Behery ‘25, University of Illinois at Chicago, Kempner Institute Post-Bac Scholar
The Kempner’s interdisciplinary approach allows me to explore how AI can better reflect human values and decision-making. As I prepare for a Ph.D., I’m excited to build skills that will help me design tools that meaningfully support and empower my Indigenous community.
Kyran Romero ‘25, Stanford University, Kempner Institute Post-Bac Scholar
I chose to come to the Kempner post-bac program to gain greater research experience so I can go into a Ph.D. program with greater confidence. I’m excited to explore the variety of research topics out there and narrow my interests.
Zoe Wu ‘25, Harvard College, Kempner Institute Post-Bac Scholar
I believe that the interplay between the fields [of natural and artificial intelligence] will be very instrumental to shaping the future of intelligent systems, and I look forward to exploring that here.
Varun Reddy ‘25, University of Virginia, Kempner Institute Post-Bac Scholar
About the Kempner
The Kempner Institute seeks to understand the basis of intelligence in natural and artificial systems by recruiting and training future generations of researchers to study intelligence from biological, cognitive, engineering, and computational perspectives. Its bold premise is that the fields of natural and artificial intelligence are intimately interconnected; the next generation of artificial intelligence (AI) will require the same principles that our brains use for fast, flexible natural reasoning, and understanding how our brains compute and reason can be elucidated by theories developed for AI. Join the Kempner mailing list to learn more, and to receive updates and news.
PRESS CONTACT:
Deborah Apsel Lang | (617) 495-7993
