About Indigo Research team

Indigo Research brings together a passionate community of scholars and educators united by a shared mission: making rigorous academic research accessible to students everywhere. We founded Indigo to inspire and transform the academic journeys of the next generation, offering flexible online and in-person high school research programs that empower students across the globe to explore their curiosity and achieve meaningful scholarly outcomes.

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Gabe Gladstein

Gabe Gladstein

Master of Music, New England Conservatory of Music
Bachelor's Degree in Government, Harvard University

Gabe created Indigo Research in 2019 after finding that students were searching for, but could not find – an accessible way to dig deeply into their academic passions with guidance from experts. Since then, Indigo Research has assisted over 700 students in 25+ disciplines, guided by over 200 mentors from many of the top 30 universities in the world. Originally Gabe applied to Harvard as a high school senior; deferred, then rejected. Developed a scholarly interest in Chinese Politics as a freshman at Tufts University. Gabe authored a 25-page research paper, highlighted as his top Common App activity. Reapplied as a transfer student to Harvard, and was accepted after submitting the research paper with his application.

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General Manager

General Manager

Master of Public Policy, Harvard University
B.A. in Economics., Fergusson College

Mo, a graduate of Harvard Kennedy School in Business, Government, and Education Policy, has extensive experience in education and professional development. As Head of Crimson Community, Mo managed 60+ monthly sessions for 1,500+ high school students. At Boston Consulting Group, Mo contributed to the Education, Employment, and Welfare Practice. Mo also worked as Director of Partnerships, collaborating with administrators from Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and 120+ U.S. colleges. With Teach For All via Teach For India, Mo served as a Teacher Trainer, Curriculum Coach, and Facilitator, shaping future educators. Mo specializes in creating innovative programs that empower students and educators globally.

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Joani Etskovitz

Curriculum Lead

Joani Etskovitz

Curriculum Lead

Doctor of Philosophy, Harvard University
Master's Degree in English Literature, University of Oxford
Master's Degree in British and European History, University of Oxford
Bachelor's Degree in English Language and Literature, Princeton University

Joani’s teaching and curriculum design experiences are capacious. At Harvard, they range from her year teaching the University’s iconic “HUM 10” introduction to the humanities—for which she wrote the final exam and was recognized for her “distinction in teaching”—to the two Junior Tutorials that she designed for the English Department. Beyond her classroom teaching, Joani has supervised numerous senior theses and served as the Founding Director of the English Department’s program for professional development in the humanities. Prior to her studies at Harvard, Joani assisted courses offered by KCL and UNC Chapel Hill in London, mentored researchers learning English as a second language at Princeton, and helped design and lead education and outreach initiatives at the Bodleian Library, Cotsen Library, and Library of Congress.

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Amber Schaub

Head of Operations

Amber Schaub

Head of Operations

Master of Arts, Teachers College, Columbia University

Amber, a graduate of Teachers College, Columbia University in International Education Development, is an accomplished leader in education. As the former Director of Pre-College at The School of The New York Times, she oversaw programs for 1,500+ students annually, managing 400+ professors, Pulitzer Prize winners, and NYT staff. At The New York Academy of Sciences, she led global STEM mentoring initiatives across 30+ countries, partnering with top scientists and educators. Amber directed 700+ courses for over 14,000 students annually at The New York Botanical Garden, fostering lifelong learning. Her expertise lies in creating transformative educational programs connecting students with world-class mentors.

Smiling woman with glasses, nose ring, and dark wavy hair wearing a blue patterned top.

Urvashi Sharma

Head of IRIS Program

Urvashi Sharma

Head of IRIS Program

Master of Arts in English, Miranda House, University of Delhi

Urvashi is the former Program Lead at Ashoka University’s Young Scholars Programme, where she scaled and curated nine interdisciplinary academic tracks across policy, STEM, and the social sciences. With nearly a decade of experience in curriculum design, academic leadership, and educator training across institutions such as Teach For India, Generation India, and leading EdTech organizations, she brings deep expertise to her work. She is passionate about democratizing access to quality education and helping young scholars turn their curiosity into meaningful academic inquiry.

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Alisa Arinovich

Head of Marketing

Alisa Arinovich

Head of Marketing

Master's Degree in International Management, Business School RANEPA
Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration, Lomonosov Moscow State University

As a Marketing Lead at Indigo Research Alisa oversees the marketing strategy and communications efforts. With 10+ years of experience in the EdTech industry, she has a deep understanding of both enterprise and startup environments. Driven by her passion for education, Alisa is dedicated to using her expertise to open up the world of learning to students everywhere and improve access to education.

Senior Academic Advisor &
Director of Partnerships

Senior Academic Advisor & Director of Partnerships

M.S. in Project Management, Northeastern University
B.S. in Statistics and Mathematics, University of Toronto

With a strong foundation in both STEM and business, Alex combines data-driven thinking with strategic academic planning to support students in building meaningful research journeys. Throughout his career, Alex has helped over 450 students across a wide range of subjects explore their research interests, clarify their academic goals, and develop personalized research roadmaps. Alex specializes in providing structured guidance and practical suggestions on research pathways, helping students identify potential research field and academic directions. Passionate about student development, Alex is dedicated to translating each student’s strengths into clear, achievable plans and supporting them in preparing for competitive university admissions in the US and UK.

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Arria Lakha

Senior Academic Advisor

Senior Academic Advisor

Bachelor's Degree in International Relations & Education Studies, Brown University

As a student at Brown University, Arria conducted human rights research abroad and has since supported students in translating their academic interests into meaningful, real-world work. Arria has nearly a decade of experience advising students and leading enrichment programs, helping students design independent research and community-based projects. Several of these projects have received international recognition. As an admissions consultant, Arria has supported students in gaining admission to the world’s leading universities, including Stanford, Cornell, Brown, Oxford, and other top institutions globally.

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Prasad Devadiga

Operations Manager

Prasad Devadiga

Operations Manager

BS in Information Technology, University of Mumbai

Prasad is an Operations and Project Management professional with over seven years of experience in the EdTech industry. He currently leads Operations, working across student and mentor support, escalations, systems, reporting, process improvement, and cross-functional coordination. Over the course of his career, Prasad has managed 1,200+ live sessions each month, maintained a 99% technical success rate, and led teams of 60+ people, with a strong focus on improving learner experience, NPS, and customer satisfaction.

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Tanay Srivastav

Sales Development Representative

Tanay Srivastav

Sales Development Representative

BA in Economics, Occidental College

Tanay, a graduate of Occidental College in Economics and Cognitive Science, is dedicated to helping students take their very first steps toward independent research. At Indigo Research, Tanay manages inbound sales development and operations across North America and Asia, serving as an approachable first point of contact for students and families exploring the program. He guides families through early questions, coordinates consultation calls, and streamlines the intake experience so that getting started feels simple, clear, and supportive. Having completed the International Baccalaureate in India and his undergraduate studies in the United States, Tanay brings a global perspective to welcoming students into academic mentorship.

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Saumya Iyer

Marketing Executive

Marketing Executive

MBA in Communication Management, Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication
Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting, R. A. Podar College of Commerce & Economics

Saumya is a marketing professional with experience across education, communications, and community engagement. She began her career as a Teach For India Fellow, working closely with students and families before moving into education-focused marketing. At Indigo, Saumya supports marketing strategy, campaigns, content, and audience engagement, helping communicate the value of academic research in a clear and accessible way. Her work combines education, storytelling, and brand-building to connect students and families with meaningful research opportunities.

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Alisa Huang

Marketing Executive

Marketing Executive

Master of Science, The University of Hong Kong
Bachelor’s Degree in Music Business, New York University

Alisa is a marketing professional with experience across education, entertainment, brand development, and digital marketing. Before joining Indigo Research, she worked on marketing and social media initiatives in New York, including brand strategy, content development, audience growth, and campaign execution. At Indigo, Alisa supports marketing strategy and execution across campaigns, content, and social media. Her background in both marketing and student mentorship allows her to combine creative brand-building with an understanding of the student journey, helping Indigo connect with students and families in a relevant and engaging way.

Young woman with long dark hair wearing a black top, looking confidently forward.

Young woman with long dark hair wearing a black top, looking confidently forward.

Yamini Joshi

In-Person Program Lead

In-Person Program Lead

Bachelor's Degree in Economics, St. Xavier’s University

Yamini holds a Bachelor's Degree in Economics with a minor in Statistics from St. Xavier’s University, Mumbai. Drawing from years of training in the performing arts, she translates the discipline of the stage into the operational rigor required in the startup ecosystem. In 2021, Yamini co-founded a media-tech platform dedicated to innovation and education in the arts. She then transitioned into the EdTech sector as a Program Manager and Strategist at Horizon Research. With a proven track record in stakeholder management and global recruitment, she has onboarded 50+ Ivy League PhD mentors and supported the execution of 500+ student research projects.

Young woman with long dark hair wearing a black top, looking confidently forward.

Young woman with long dark hair wearing a black top, looking confidently forward.

Shrishti Sen

Curriculum Associate

Curriculum Associate

Master’s in Lifelong Learning & Extension, University of Delhi
Bachelor’s in Literature of English, Ambedkar University

Shrishti holds a Master’s in Lifelong Learning and Extension, specializing in learning design, curriculum development, pedagogy, and andragogy. At Indigo, Shrishti designs curriculum across programs and works closely with mentors in reviewing and revising content they have developed. She also focuses on a student’s end-to-end journey in an Indigo program, from what they learn to how they receive feedback. Her interests lie in designing high-impact, low-effort learning programs.

Young woman with long dark hair wearing a black top, looking confidently forward.

Young woman with long dark hair wearing a black top, looking confidently forward.

Xander Hoang

Student Success Manager

Student Success Manager

Master of Education in Community Development & Action, Vanderbilt University
B.A. in English, Vietnam University of Commerce

Xander is a community development and education professional with 10+ years of experience across community development, international education, and youth empowerment. As a Fulbright Scholar, he earned his Master of Education in Community Development & Action from Vanderbilt University, where he focused on participatory approaches to community change, leadership development, and inclusive development. Xander has worked across educational institutions, international organizations, and civil society organizations. Xander specializes in designing learner-centered programs, facilitating leadership development, and creating supportive environments where young people can take ownership of their learning and contribute to meaningful social change.

Meet our Indigo team

Smiling man with curly hair, glasses, mustache, and white button-up shirt on black background.

Gabe Gladstein

Gabe Gladstein

Master of Music, New England Conservatory of Music
Bachelor's Degree in Government, Harvard University

Gabe created Indigo Research in 2019 after finding that students were searching for, but could not find – an accessible way to dig deeply into their academic passions with guidance from experts. Since then, Indigo Research has assisted over 700 students in 25+ disciplines, guided by over 200 mentors from many of the top 30 universities in the world. Originally Gabe applied to Harvard as a high school senior; deferred, then rejected. Developed a scholarly interest in Chinese Politics as a freshman at Tufts University. Gabe authored a 25-page research paper, highlighted as his top Common App activity. Reapplied as a transfer student to Harvard, and was accepted after submitting the research paper with his application.

Smiling woman with long wavy light brown hair and light skin, wearing a brown top.

Joani Etskovitz

Curriculum Lead

Joani Etskovitz

Curriculum Lead

Doctor of Philosophy, Harvard University
Master's Degree in English Literature, University of Oxford
Master's Degree in British and European History, University of Oxford
Bachelor's Degree in English Language and Literature, Princeton University

Joani’s teaching and curriculum design experiences are capacious. At Harvard, they range from her year teaching the University’s iconic “HUM 10” introduction to the humanities—for which she wrote the final exam and was recognized for her “distinction in teaching”—to the two Junior Tutorials that she designed for the English Department. Beyond her classroom teaching, Joani has supervised numerous senior theses and served as the Founding Director of the English Department’s program for professional development in the humanities. Prior to her studies at Harvard, Joani assisted courses offered by KCL and UNC Chapel Hill in London, mentored researchers learning English as a second language at Princeton, and helped design and lead education and outreach initiatives at the Bodleian Library, Cotsen Library, and Library of Congress.

Smiling woman with short brown hair, glasses, dark green top, and modern circular pendant necklace.

Amber Schaub

Head of Academic Operations

Amber Schaub

Head of Academic Operations

Master of Arts, Teachers College, Columbia University

Amber, a graduate of Teachers College, Columbia University in International Education Development, is an accomplished leader in education. As the former Director of Pre-College at The School of The New York Times, she oversaw programs for 1,500+ students annually, managing 400+ professors, Pulitzer Prize winners, and NYT staff. At The New York Academy of Sciences, she led global STEM mentoring initiatives across 30+ countries, partnering with top scientists and educators. Amber directed 700+ courses for over 14,000 students annually at The New York Botanical Garden, fostering lifelong learning. Her expertise lies in creating transformative educational programs connecting students with world-class mentors.

Smiling woman with glasses, nose ring, and dark wavy hair wearing a blue patterned top.

Urvashi Sharma

Head of IRIS Program

Urvashi Sharma

Head of IRIS Program

Master of Arts in English, Miranda House, University of Delhi

Urvashi is the former Program Lead at Ashoka University’s Young Scholars Programme, where she scaled and curated nine interdisciplinary academic tracks across policy, STEM, and the social sciences. With nearly a decade of experience in curriculum design, academic leadership, and educator training across institutions such as Teach For India, Generation India, and leading EdTech organizations, she brings deep expertise to her work. She is passionate about democratizing access to quality education and helping young scholars turn their curiosity into meaningful academic inquiry.

Smiling woman with short blonde hair wearing a black and white striped shirt.

Alisa Arinovich

Head of Marketing

Alisa Arinovich

Head of Marketing

Master's Degree in International Management, Business School RANEPA
Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration, Lomonosov Moscow State University

As a Marketing Lead at Indigo Research Alisa oversees the marketing strategy and communications efforts. With 10+ years of experience in the EdTech industry, she has a deep understanding of both enterprise and startup environments. Driven by her passion for education, Alisa is dedicated to using her expertise to open up the world of learning to students everywhere and improve access to education.

Senior Academic Advisor & Director of Partnerships

Senior Academic Advisor & Director of Partnerships

M.S. in Project Management, Northeastern University
B.S. in Statistics and Mathematics, University of Toronto

With a strong foundation in both STEM and business, Alex combines data-driven thinking with strategic academic planning to support students in building meaningful research journeys. Throughout his career, Alex has helped over 450 students across a wide range of subjects explore their research interests, clarify their academic goals, and develop personalized research roadmaps. Alex specializes in providing structured guidance and practical suggestions on research pathways, helping students identify potential research field and academic directions. Passionate about student development, Alex is dedicated to translating each student’s strengths into clear, achievable plans and supporting them in preparing for competitive university admissions in the US and UK.

Smiling woman with long curly dark hair and a nose ring wearing a white top.

Arria Lakha

Senior Academic Advisor

Senior Academic Advisor

Bachelor's Degree in International Relations & Education Studies, Brown University

As a student at Brown University, Arria conducted human rights research abroad and has since supported students in translating their academic interests into meaningful, real-world work. Arria has nearly a decade of experience advising students and leading enrichment programs, helping students design independent research and community-based projects. Several of these projects have received international recognition. As an admissions consultant, Arria has supported students in gaining admission to the world’s leading universities, including Stanford, Cornell, Brown, Oxford, and other top institutions globally.

Smiling young woman with long dark hair wearing a black top and gold necklace on a transparent background.

Hiu Lam Leung

Senior Academic Advisor

Senior Academic Advisor

Bachelor's Degree in Psychology at University of East Anglia

Throughout her career, Lam has supported over 60 students in achieving impressive admissions results to top US and UK universities, including Oxford, Cambridge, UPenn, Berkeley, UCLA, Carnegie Mellon, LSE, Imperial, KCL and more! Her research focuses on Metacognitive Development in children. As a Senior Academic Advisor, Lam passionate about guiding students on their research journey and tailoring solid university admissions strategies.

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Gabriela Davita Amelia

Senior Marketing Associate

Gabriela Davita Amelia

Senior Marketing Associate

B.A. in English, Harvard University

A graduate of Harvard, Chris has been a professional college counselor for nearly 7 years, and his students have gained admission to some of the best colleges in America, including the Ivy League and other top institutions such as MIT, Northwestern, Duke, Johns Hopkins, UC Berkeley, and UCLA. Chris has built a demonstrated track record of ensuring that every element of his students’ applications are as strong as possible. With Indigo, Chris has matched numerous students with top research mentors and helped them plan for the completion of publishable projects. Chris’s guidance has led to students, with their mentors, publishing in top journals, including the IEEE, Convergence, the IJHSR, Curieux, the JSR, and many many more. In addition, Chris’s experience as an admissions strategist has helped him reveal to families why research is looked upon so favorably in modern admissions offices, invaluable information that he shares regularly in Indigo webinars.

Smiling woman with glasses and shoulder-length black hair wearing a dark jacket and floral top.

Saumya Iyer

Marketing Associate

Marketing Associate

B.A. in English, Harvard University

A graduate of Harvard, Chris has been a professional college counselor for nearly 7 years, and his students have gained admission to some of the best colleges in America, including the Ivy League and other top institutions such as MIT, Northwestern, Duke, Johns Hopkins, UC Berkeley, and UCLA. Chris has built a demonstrated track record of ensuring that every element of his students’ applications are as strong as possible. With Indigo, Chris has matched numerous students with top research mentors and helped them plan for the completion of publishable projects. Chris’s guidance has led to students, with their mentors, publishing in top journals, including the IEEE, Convergence, the IJHSR, Curieux, the JSR, and many many more. In addition, Chris’s experience as an admissions strategist has helped him reveal to families why research is looked upon so favorably in modern admissions offices, invaluable information that he shares regularly in Indigo webinars.

Smiling woman with long dark hair wearing a red top and black cardigan on a white background.

Alisa Huang

Social Media Manager & Content Creator

Social Media Manager & Content Creator

B.A. in English, Harvard University

A graduate of Harvard, Chris has been a professional college counselor for nearly 7 years, and his students have gained admission to some of the best colleges in America, including the Ivy League and other top institutions such as MIT, Northwestern, Duke, Johns Hopkins, UC Berkeley, and UCLA. Chris has built a demonstrated track record of ensuring that every element of his students’ applications are as strong as possible. With Indigo, Chris has matched numerous students with top research mentors and helped them plan for the completion of publishable projects. Chris’s guidance has led to students, with their mentors, publishing in top journals, including the IEEE, Convergence, the IJHSR, Curieux, the JSR, and many many more. In addition, Chris’s experience as an admissions strategist has helped him reveal to families why research is looked upon so favorably in modern admissions offices, invaluable information that he shares regularly in Indigo webinars.

Young woman with long dark hair wearing a black top, looking confidently forward.

Yamini Joshi

In-Person Program Lead

In-Person Program Lead

Bachelor's Degree in Economics, St. Xavier’s University

Yamini holds a Bachelor's Degree in Economics with a minor in Statistics from St. Xavier’s University, Mumbai. Drawing from years of training in the performing arts, she translates the discipline of the stage into the operational rigor required in the startup ecosystem. In 2021, Yamini co-founded a media-tech platform dedicated to innovation and education in the arts. She then transitioned into the EdTech sector as a Program Manager and Strategist at Horizon Research. With a proven track record in stakeholder management and global recruitment, she has onboarded 50+ Ivy League PhD mentors and supported the execution of 500+ student research projects.

Smiling young woman with long dark hair wearing a white blouse and a gold necklace.

Tania Bagwan

Operations Coordinator

Operations Coordinator

Master of Journalism, University of British Columbia

As an Operations Coordinator at Indigo Research, Tania supports the delivery of Indigo’s global research programs by coordinating workflows, managing stakeholder communications, and strengthening internal systems across distributed teams. With a background in journalism, communication and operations management, and experience across education, media, and nonprofit environments, she brings a strong focus on clarity, process optimization, and execution. Tania plays a key role in enabling Indigo’s programs, faculty, and partners to operate efficiently and deliver high-quality outcomes at scale.