Dietrich College Welcomes 2025-2026 Cohort of Scholars
Carnegie Mellon University welcomes its fifth cohort of Dietrich College Scholars this fall — an exemplary group of students pursuing doctorates in the humanities and social sciences.
The fellowship program, run jointly by associate deans Sharon Carver and Ayana Ledford, provides a pathway to success through financial support, opportunities to expand networks and professional development. It also offers incoming doctoral students an opportunity to develop relationships with graduate students across departments within Dietrich College.
“The Dietrich College Scholars’ energy, intelligence and imagination inspire me to continue helping them build a strong and inclusive community of excellence within Dietrich College,” said Carver, associate dean for educational affairs. “Through networking within and beyond the scholars’ cohort, we aim to help each individual to thrive during the doctoral years of their career journey, both personally and professionally.”
The program helps students transition to their new lives in Pittsburgh and connect with professional services and resources. As a group, the students get to know one another through shared meals, field trips, and both college and university events. Scholars from previous cohorts continue to participate in the program, offering support and guidance to their peers as they begin to navigate graduate work.
“Being a part of Dietrich Scholars can provide its participants with motivation and emotional support, all of which are essential for helping scholars navigate potential challenges. The relationships our scholars build by being a part of this cohort can help them remain focused and resilient, especially during moments of doubt or hardship,” said Ledford, associate dean for community impact and educational outreach.
The 2025-2026 Dietrich College Scholars cohort includes:
Qitong Feng
Feng is pursuing a Ph.D. in behavioral economics, jointly offered by Dietrich College’s Department of Social and Decision Sciences and the Tepper School of Business, with advisor Manasvini Singh. Her research focuses on the intersection of healthcare markets and clinician decision-making, particularly how these decisions interact with artificial intelligence. Feng holds a master’s degree in economics from Texas A&M University.
“I am excited to join a vibrant, interdisciplinary community that fosters meaningful connections and collaborations. I look forward to sharing ideas and learning from peers across diverse fields, which will enrich my research and support my growth as a scholar,” Feng said.
Diego Huerta Ocaña
Huerta Ocaña is pursuing a Ph.D. in statistics in the Department of Statistics & Data Science. He is interested in a variety of areas within the field and appreciates the breadth and many directions it offers. Huerta Ocaña holds a bachelor’s degree in data science from Universidad de las Américas Puebla.
“I look forward to connecting with peers from a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds, learning from their perspectives, and using these experiences to continue growing as a researcher,” Huerta Ocaña said.
Jaida Johnson
Johnson is pursuing a Ph.D. in the Department of History, and her advisor is Jay Aronson. Her research focuses on genocide studies and enforced disappearances in Guatemala. She examines how the victim's body becomes a liminal space between presence and absence, and how this space shapes the way victims are imagined, remembered, and represented in both historical narratives and contemporary memory. Johnson holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies and studio art from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.
“I’m looking forward to joining a strong interdisciplinary community of scholars. Being far from home, I appreciate the opportunity to build a sense of connection and belonging through shared intellectual exploration,” Johnson said.
Sofia Juliani
Juliani is pursuing a Ph.D. in neural computation at the Neuroscience Institute and rotating with Jana Kainerstorfer, a professor in the Biomedical Engineering Department. She is interested in non-invasive imaging of the brain to monitor and detect disease, as well as leveraging machine learning to analyze neural data. Juliani holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science and cognitive science from Rutgers University.
“I look forward to getting to know my peers in Dietrich College, learning from their experiences and expertises, and fostering interdisciplinary ideas,” Juliani said.
Landon C.L. Liu
Liu is pursuing a Ph.D. in the Department of Philosophy, and their advisor is Kevin Zollman. Liu’s interdisciplinary research interests reside at the intersection of language and choice. They are interested in how we share information, how the process is affected by the language faculty of the mind, and how we choose to reject or accept new information in social networks. Liu holds a bachelor’s degree in social science from the University of Ottawa and a master’s degree in cognitive science with a specialization in data science from Carleton University.
“I am very excited to meet other researchers in other fields and hope to learn things outside of my areas of formal training. I hope that it will be a pathway to meet many peers across the Dietrich departments,” Liu said.
Ísey Mous
Mous is pursuing a Ph.D. in the Department of Philosophy. Her research interests are in philosophy of science, social and formal epistemology, and game and decision theory. She holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy with a minor in psychology from the University of Groningen.
“I look forward to meeting and connecting with researchers from various disciplines as a Dietrich College Scholar. As someone with an interest in philosophy of science, I am especially interested in hearing what type of (philosophical) questions my colleagues in the sciences are grappling with,” Mous said.
Esha Mukherjee
Mukherjee is pursuing a Ph.D. in the Department of Languages, Cultures and Applied Linguistics, and her advisor is Khaled Al Masaeed. She is interested in Arabic language pedagogy, study abroad and learner identities. Mukherjee earned a bachelor’s degree in international affairs and Arabic studies from the George Washington University and a master’s degree in linguistics from Georgetown University.
“As a Dietrich Scholar, I’m looking forward to connecting with researchers from different fields. I’m excited to learn from and work with a rich community of scholars!” Mukherjee said.
Tochukwu Emmanuel Ngwu
Ngwu is pursuing a Ph.D. in rhetoric in the Department of English, and his advisor is James Wynn. His work revolves around genre studies, multimodal rhetoric, and the rhetoric of science, health and medicine. Ngwu studies emerging and established digital media genres and persuasive strategies that specialists and academics use to engage non-specialist audiences. He aims to contribute to efforts to disrupt the viral permeation of false myths and medical misinformation in public domains. Ngwu holds a bachelor’s degree in English and literary studies from the University of Nigeria and a master’s degree in writing, rhetoric and technical communication from James Madison University.
“I have always thrived within supportive communities and partnerships with like-minded individuals. Therefore, I look forward to connecting with fellow Dietrich Scholars to build mutual support systems that will potentially foster creative interdisciplinary collaborations and holistic success in our doctoral journeys. I also hope to creep out of my shell and make new friends from my cohort,” Ngwu said.
Indranil Nyamsuren
Nyamsuren is pursuing a Ph.D. in cognitive neuroscience in the Department of Psychology, and her advisor is Jonathan Tsay. She investigates how people learn, with the goal of applying research insights to develop accessible digital tools that nurture independent learners. She holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science and psychology from Minerva University, where she contributed to international education initiatives while living in six different countries.
“I am excited to start conversations about education and learning with my fellow scholars. As we start the next chapters of our own education, I hope to continually explore what effective learning means for each of us and use our reflections in my work,” Nyamsuren said.