Program Strategist, Research Mentorship and Student Impact
Chrystal (she/they) is an academic and researcher who is passionate about establishing equitable access to STEM higher education. Her role as a Future of Higher Education (FHE) Postdoctoral Fellow with Berkeley Discovery is centered on providing meaningful entrepreneurial and research experiences to undergraduate students. In parallel with her research work in vibration-based structural health monitoring, Chrystal is studying the best practices for building community and student self-confidence in STEM academia, through the mechanisms of mentorship and pedagogy.
Program Strategist, Research Partnerships and Student Leadership Development
Minerva Teli (she/her) earned her PhD in Environmental Engineering, where she developed nanosensors for water contaminant detection. In her current research she explores system-level assessments of water sensing and treatment technologies to evaluate their performance, sustainability, and impact on water accessibility. As a Future of Higher Education Postdoctoral Fellow with Berkeley Discovery, Minerva leads efforts to strengthen undergraduate and graduate research opportunities in STEM, building programs that connect students with campus resources and external partners...
Mia joined the Berkeley Discovery team as Program Coordinator in August 2025. She specializes in workflow automation and data analytics. She also provides communications, assessment, program development, and event support. She’s a recent Berkeley graduate (Data Science ‘24!), and supported both Berkeley Changemaker and the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Office as a student assistant. Mia is thrilled to continue working at Cal, and she’s excited to contribute to programs that enhanced her own education. When she’s not working, you can find Mia weightlifting, reading, or...
