MicroCapital offers an intensive, remote microfinance internship program. Since 2003, our interns have emerged from the program with a level of knowledge that is unparalleled among new entrants to the field. Our interns have entered full-time positions in many top microfinance organizations. Benefits to interns include direct interaction with senior management and the opportunity to make a visible contribution to a vibrant organization. Academic credit can sometimes be arranged for interns, as can complimentary admission to some industry events. Past interns have included both students and accomplished professionals. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis for the following two positions:
Research Associate: This position focuses on research of current events in microfinance and involve writing five stories per week of the type that appear on our home page. Interns have leeway to direct a significant portion of their work toward areas of personal interest (e.g., savings, microinsurance or a particular region of the world). Native English and excellent writing skills are required.
Webmaster Associate: This position involves maintaining and developing our websites. A technical background is required.
All internships are uncompensated. The minimum time commitment is 15 hours per week for a minimum of 15 weeks. The daily schedule is flexible. All positions are carried out online and thus can be completed from anywhere in the world.
If you wish to apply, copy and paste your resume and a cover letter into our contact form. Please specify the number of hours you are available to work and the dates the you propose to begin and end the internship.
All internships require the achievement of demanding daily goals. Due to the large number of applications received, we are not able to respond to all applicants. Please excuse this inconvenience.
2023 INTERNS
-
- Pranav Agarwal – Research Associate
Pranav joined MicroCapital as a rising junior at the Academy for Math, Science and Engineering in the US state of New Jersey. He has a strong interest in finance and a sincere desire to contribute to the mission of empowering individuals through microfinance. Specifically, he is interested in exploring the intersection between economics, international relations and technology, and their role in bridging the gap of social and income inequality. During his leisure hours, he plays basketball, passionately supports the Boston Celtics and immerses himself in mythological literature.
- Rohan Kumar Agarwal – Research Associate
Rohan joined MicroCapital from Dubai, UAE. With a keen interest in economics and mathematics, his ambition is to delve into the fields of social science and research. He has gained valuable insights into the corporate world through internships and research programs, and has published one research paper to date. Beyond numbers and statistics, he also plays table tennis at a national level, is an astute investor, and enjoys watching sports and movies.
- Ben Barba – Research Associate
Ben joined MicroCapital having recently earned a bachelor’s degree in management with a concentration in finance from Boston College’s Carroll School of Management. He has a strong interest in sustainable investing, green technology and geopolitical analysis. During his time with MicroCapital, he hopes to further his understanding of microfinance and sustainable development. In his free time, he enjoys watching films, reading non-fiction and listening to podcasts.
- Rohit Dayanand – Research Associate
Rohit joined MicroCapital from the US city of Cupertino, California. He has a strong interest in fintech and social impact. He seeks to discover how microfinance can impact economic growth, particularly through incentivizing the development of technological infrastructure. In his free time, he loves to sample every Indian restaurant within a 50-mile radius of where he lives.
- Aarya Dhru – Research Associate
Aarya joined MicroCapital as a rising second-year student pursuing a concentration in Fintech and Data Science at Northeastern University in the US state of Massachusetts. She is interested in learning more about microfinance in low-income communities, developments in the fintech industry and the field of economics. During her free time, she runs a business and technology competition aimed at improving small businesses’ digital footprint. She also likes to paint, travel and stay physically active.
- Pranav Agarwal – Research Associate
- Anaya Jhaveri – Research Associate
Anaya entered the program as a junior pursuing dual degrees in quantitative economics (BS/BA) and international studies (BA) at the University of Miami. As an international student, Anaya aspires to work for the UN or as a diplomat serving her home country, India. Anaya serves as the print editor for The Miami Hurricane – a student-run newspaper. She also serves as vice diversity chair for Alpha Kappa Psi for the Beta Pi Chapter at the University of Miami. She looks forward to using her knowledge of quantitative economics and finance – and her experience as a writer and editor – to craft stories focused on microfinance.
- Hawra Moochhala – Research Associate
Hawra joined MicroCapital as junior at Bard College in the US state of New York. She is from Karachi, Pakistan, which is where she became interested in public policy and development economics. Through her internship, she aspires to gain greater insight into the world of microfinance and the role it plays in uplifting communities in rural and urban slums in terms of public health, literacy and gender equality. Having grown up in a “developing” nation, I was exposed to these challenges being faced by many communities, which in the long run impact the economic productivity of current and future generations. Outside of the world of economics, she is a part of the women’s track team at Bard, loves traveling and enjoys watching old rom-coms!
- Vaughn Rajah – Research Associate
Vaughn joined MicroCapital as a master’s degree candidate, due to begin studying in London, England, in the fall of 2023. He is interested in the ability of microfinance to drive societal change, and he aims to gain insight into the role microfinance can play in building climate resilience, particularly in the Global South. In graduate school, Vaughn intends to pursue economic policy and green finance. In his free time, he enjoys reading, writing, outdoor activity and watching football.
- James Stevenson – Research Associate
James began his time at MicroCapital while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, history and mathematics from the US-based University of Michigan. He completed an honors history thesis on the payoff of the national debt in the early US. He is particularly interested in the ways that microfinance institutions interact and deal with governments, both domestic and foreign. In his free time, he enjoys playing the piano, reading and running long-distance.
2022 INTERNS
-
- Hasnat Aslam – Research Associate
Hasnat joined MicroCapital while studying in Lahore, Pakistan. He is intrigued by the ability of microfinance to provide returns for both social engineers and profit-seeking investors. He aims to gain insights into the ability of microfinance to impact diverse facets of society, particularly in South Asia. In college, Hasnat intends to pursue economics and political science. His free time is dominated by reading Russian literature and playing football.
- Ben Greissman – Research Associate
Ben joined MicroCapital as a rising senior at Boston University studying international development and environment. He has a strong interest in sustainability and is hoping to learn how microfinance can be used to promote sustainable development around the world. In his free time, he enjoys playing baseball on Boston University’s club team. He also enjoys community outreach and coaches a local high school varsity baseball team in the US city of Brookline, Massachusetts. UPDATE: Ben accepted a position as a research and analyst fellow at US-based Sustainable Capital Advisors in 2022.
- Sheen Gupta – Research Associate
Sheen joined MicroCapital from Hyderabad, India, with a keen interest in economics as well as finance, mathematics, management and psychology. She enjoys research and writing and hopes to expand her knowledge about the intersection between economics and social impact. She is the founder and head of her school’s financial literacy club and newspaper. Her other interests include traveling, art, classical dance and music. UPDATE: In 2022, Sheen was accepted to study at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
- Hasnat Aslam – Research Associate
- Nithin Naren – Research Associate
Nithin joined MicroCapital as a rising sophomore at the University of Chicago in the US state of Illinois, studying economics and computer science. He is an Eagle Scout and has played competitive chess for the majority of his life. He hopes to discover how financial literacy can be disseminated more widely within low-income communities as well as the relationship it holds with microfinance. When he is not studying or following the market, he’s either in the gym or solving puzzles. Nithin is also an avid Atlanta sports fan and enjoys watching and debating all types of sports.
- Saulius Ramanauskas – Research Associate
Saulius joined MicroCapital having recently earned a bacheor’s degree in international relations and development at LCC International University in Klaipeda, Lithuania. Primarily interested in development economics, he came to admire microfinance as an elegant and non-paternalistic tool for advancing development and dedicated his bachelor’s thesis to the impact of microfinance on poverty. He plans to pursue a master’s degree in economics and wishes to try out research-focused work, the internship at MicroCapital being his first step. In his free time, he enjoys learning languages (fluent in four, working on five others), reading and listening to music. UPDATE: In 2022, Saulius began a position as a treasury specialist at the Lithuania office of the global firm Citco Fund Services.
- Renata Samedova – Research Associate
Renata is from Baku, Azerbaijan. After researching possible areas of study, she resolved that finance and business analytics suited her most. She has a passion for math and physics, which has led to her strong interest in the processes of calculating, analysing, comparing and drawing conclusions – typical tasks of a financier. She enjoys working on projects that require creative and unconventional approaches. During her internship at MicroCapital, she hopes to improve her writing skills and deepen her knowledge in microfinance while providing people with the most up-to-date news in this area. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, watching movies, and reading books and scientific articles about psychology in English and German.
2021 INTERNS
-
- Arin Atluri – Research Associate
Arin joined MicroCapital while studying in the US state of New York. With an eye toward pursuing a degree in either finance or economics, he hopes to gain a better understanding of microfinance to learn how it can counter rising wealth disparities on the international level. In addition, he is interested in understanding how the microfinance industry can promote financial literacy in low- and middle-income countries. During his free time, he enjoys playing basketball, gaming and competitive tennis.
- Sai Bommineni – Research Associate
Sai joined MicroCapital from the US state of Texas. He previously had experience as an intern at Samatva Wealth Management and serving as president of his school’s finance club. He hopes to get a better understanding of microfinance to help him in his pursuit of a degree in finance and a career in private equity. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, gaming, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
- Arin Atluri – Research Associate
- Zachary DeLuca – Research Associate
Zach entered the program shortly after graduating from Lehigh University with a degree in finance and minor in psychology. During his time at MicroCapital he hopes to expand his knowledge of the impact that microfinance and impact investing have on individual communities. His goal is to build upon his writing skills to become a more well-rounded professional. During his free time, he enjoys spending time with friends, investing, and building financial models. UPDATE: In 2022, Zach joined the finance department of Ross Stores.
- Divya Deshmukh – Research Associate
Divya joined MicroCapital from Dubai with plans to pursue a degree combining finance and artificial intelligence. Coming from a small town in India, she has experienced the monumental change brought about by microfinance and is looking forward to contributing to it in her own small way. She hopes to increase her knowledge about the world of finance and to learn how advancements in technology can further push the boundaries of microfinance. In her free time, she enjoys playing the drums, reading, scuba diving, running, and baking for friends and family.
- Sophie Fiala – Research Associate
Sophie joined MicroCapital with studying in Ontario, Canada, with plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in commerce in college and then a career with social impact. As a member of the MicroCapital team, she is interested in learning how microfinance can empower women in developing economies and further her understanding of sustainable infrastructure investment. In her spare time, Sophie enjoys playing field hockey, baking and spending time with friends.
- Tejas Gumudavelly – Research Associate
Tejas joined MicroCapital as a freshman at the University of Michigan Stephen M Ross School of Business, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration with minors in computer science and mathematics. Tejas previously interned at Ford Motor Company on its data analytics team and launched a club teaching students the fundamentals of investing. He hopes to understand more about microfinance to combine his interests in finance and public policy. He also enjoys playing basketball, football and tennis, as well as spending time with family and friends.
- Eha Joshi – Research Associate
In 2020, Eha graduated from Bates College in the US state of Maine with a bachelor’s degree in economics and English. She previously worked at Solidarity Center, an international labor organization based in Washington DC, researching methods for strengthening trade unions. She is interested in learning more about economic development, microfinance and other social enterprises. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and bike riding.
- Teo Lin-Bianco – Research Associate
Teo Lin-Bianco joined MicroCapital at the end of his first year at the University of California, Berkeley, in the US state of California. He has always been interested in the finance sector and is thrilled to expand his breadth of knowledge at MicroCapital. With a degree in environmental economics and policy, he hopes to earn an MBA and pursue work in public service and business sustainability. In his free time, Teo is an avid knitter, baker and reader; he loves the outdoors and being active whenever he can.
- Steffi Ong – Research Associate
Steffi joined MicroCapital as a junior at Boston University in the US state of Massachusetts, while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in international economics and a minor in Middle Eastern studies. She previously worked at Invesco, where she gained hands-on experience with real estate investment management. She is interested in learning more about development economics and microfinance. In her free time, you can catch her walking her dogs, trying out new soup recipes, as well as visiting new restaurants.
- Harriet Ritchie – Research Associate
Harriet joined MicroCapital as a senior at Convent High School in the US state of California. She is interested in gaining research experience to prepare for college and understand how microfinance can empower impoverished women. Her goal is to help educate girls in developing countries, and she is interested in pursuing a college major in economics. At school, she runs short sprints for her track and field team and loves learning about development in her global politics class. In her free time, she enjoys jogging, surfing, baking and spending time with her dog.
- Aakansha Shenoy – Research Associate
Shortly after joining MicroCapital, Aakansha received word that she had passed the exam to become a Chartered Accountant in India. She previously earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Thakur College of Science and Commerce, Mumbai. Meanwhile she has been volunteering with an NGO educating homeless children. Through the internship at MicroCapital, she hopes to learn more about microfinance and further hone her writing skills. In her spare time, she enjoys cycling, traveling, reading, playing the flute and listening to music.
- Bradley Shulman – Research Associate
Brad entered the program as a junior at Boston University in the US state of Massachusetts, majoring in economics and mathematics with minors in computer science and environmental analysis. Despite growing up in New York City, he is an avid Philadelphia sports fan. He also loves playing basketball, reading nonfiction and following trends in politics. He has a growing interest in how microfinance can help solve issues relating to poverty in developing countries.
- Adhya Singh – Research Associate
Adhya joined MicroCapital as a senior at Johns Creek High School in the US State of Georgia. She is passionate about issues that impact people in low socioeconomic strata, especially women. In college, she plans to major in either economics or finance, so she can analyze and apply economic and financial solutions to help her community as well as the rest of the world. In her free time, Adhya loves to read, listen to podcasts, play the violin and hike nature trails.
2020 INTERNS
-
- Will Boudreau – Research Associate
Will joined MicroCapital as a second-semester senior working on a degree in economics with a minor in political science at Boston University in the US state of Massachusetts. He is interested in refining his research abilities for post-graduate employment and learning more about how microfinance can assist impoverished regions. At school, he is a rower on the Division 1 men’s rowing team, a member of the Bloomfield Leadership Academy, and the team representative for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. With the little time he leaves free during the week, he enjoys reading, spending time with friends and playing basketball.
- Kate Finster – Research Associate
Kate began working with MicroCapital as a rising senior pursuing an economics degree with a minor in art history at Scripps College in the US city of Claremont, California. She is interested in honing her writing and research skills in order to prepare for her senior thesis, as well as to learn more about the potential for sustainable growth in the microfinance sector. Kate has worked as a in her college’s Institutional Advancement department and Office of Student Engagement, has interned for various arts-based non-profits, and is the Event Chair of the Scripps Economics Society. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, traveling, painting, swimming, and spending time with friends and family.
- Kiersten Greene – Research Associate
Kiersten began working with MicroCapital as a senior at the University of South Carolina, pursuing a degree in public relations. A native of the US state of South Carolina, she grew up traveling to Columbia for Gamecocks football games. Kiersten’s involvement in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications has included work for the alumni magazine Intercom. While working on articles for the magazine, she interviewed a lead photographer for Getty Images, Win McNamee. Kiersten also completed a business management internship at Enterprise Holdings, where she worked to improve sales numbers and customer service processes.
- Andrew Janni – Research Associate
Andrew Janni joined MicroCapital after his sophomore year at the Tippie College of Business at the US-based University of Iowa, where he is studying accounting and economics, with a minor in informatics. As a member of the MicroCapital team he is eager to polish his writing and research skills and learn about risk and financial advisory services in the development finance industry. At school, Andrew works as a resident assistant and keeps himself busy as an active participant in the university’s honors program and pitch competitions put on by the school’s entrepreneurial center. In his spare time, he enjoys cycling, listening to and making music, and watching Star Wars.
- Nathan Kiplagat – Research Associate
Nathan joined MicroCapital as a rising junior pursuing a degree in economics and international relations with a minor in finance at Tufts University in the US state of Massachusetts. Growing up in Nairobi, Kenya, he recognized the positive impact microfinance could have on low-income countries in general and the role it could play in alleviating poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa in particular. Furthermore, he is excited about the skills he will develop as a member of the MicroCapital team, namely stronger research, writing and analytical skills. At school, he is a member of the Tufts Financial Group and the International Club, and he spends a lot of his free time watching and playing soccer with his friends. In the future, he hopes to pursue a career in finance before eventually moving back to his home country, Kenya, to take on a managerial role in international development.
- Will Boudreau – Research Associate
-
-
- Simrun Kothari – Research Associate
Simrun joined MicroCapital as a junior at Brooklyn Technical High School in the US state of New York. She has completed an internship at Grameen Bank and also founded a club that holds fundraisers and issues loans to small-business owners through Kiva. Simrun looks forward to expanding her knowledge of microfinance and poverty alleviation with an eye toward a college major in finance and public policy. In her free time, she enjoys reading about the finance world and spending time with her family.
- Jessica McLeod – Research Associate
Jessica joined MicroCapital as a rising senior at US-based Haverford College, pursuing an economics degree with a minor in Spanish. She is interested in economic initiatives that promote financial inclusion, encourage sustainable growth and contribute to alleviating economic inequalities. She worked as a Lending Program Intern at the Women’s Opportunity Resource Center, a nonprofit that promotes economic empowerment for women and their families, and also has been an active member of the Haverford College Microfinance Club. Aside from her academic interests, she enjoys traveling, hiking, reading and playing tennis. UPDATE: Jessica accepted an analyst position at Charles River Associates in 2021.
- Chee Meng Ng – Research Associate
Chee Meng joined MicroCapital while he was a first-year undergraduate at the London School of Economics and Political Science in the UK, where he is pursuing an economics degree. Through his studies, he has become interested in development economics and microfinance. In his free time, Chee Meng plays frisbee and cue sports. In the future, he hopes to enter a career in finance, with a focus on sustainable and impact investing.
- Romil Pandey – Research Associate
Romil joined MicroCapital as a junior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Mathematics with a minor in International Relations at Boston University in the US state of Massachusetts. She strives to refine her writing, research and analytical skills with the goal of working in international economic development. At college, she is the captain of a nationally competitive Bollywood-fusion dance team BU Jalwa and the Director of Political Affairs of Leading Women of Tomorrow – BU Chapter. In her free time, she enjoys being a cinephile and traveler. UPDATE: In 2022, Romil accepted an offer of admission to the master’s degree program in international and development economics at Yale University in the US state of Connecticut.
- Madigan Ruch – Research Associate
Madigan joined MicroCapital as a senior at the University of Toronto Schools in Canada and will be majoring in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at University College London thereafter. She is drawn to microfinance for its potential to support ethical and economically viable solutions to global issues. Through working on the MicroCapital team, Madigan hopes to further understand how microfinance can impact vulnerable groups – specifically women – in impoverished communities. In her spare time, Madigan enjoys reading, watching movies with friends, and walking her dog, Ferris.
- Simrun Kothari – Research Associate
-
2019 INTERNS
-
- Eugene DeCosse – Research Associate
Eugene joined MicroCapital as a rising second-year undergraduate at the University of Chicago in the US state of Illinois, where he is working toward a BA in political science and a minor in statistics. He grew up in Japan and is fluent in Japanese. This background led him to an interest in a career related to international politics and development. He is looking forward to learning more about the possibilities microfinance holds for the empowerment of impoverished communities in the developing world. At school, he is a part of both the education research group Block58 and the Maroon newspaper. In his free time, he enjoys swimming and photography.
- Anna Gravois – Research Associate
Anna joined MicroCapital as a recent Santa Clara University graduate with a degree in Communication, French and Sustainability. Growing up in a household of Belarusian and Cajun-French influences, she has always been curious about world cultures. Through her education, this curiosity evolved into a desire to create a positive impact on a local and global scale. Anna’s exposure to microfinance through a gender studies course showed her the ways that impact investing can empower individuals in underdeveloped communities. Through this internship, she hopes to achieve a better understanding of microfinance in order to create opportunities for disadvantaged individuals in the future. She also hopes to convince the Game of Thrones creators to film a sequel.
- Daena McClintock – Research Associate
Daena entered the program as a rising senior within the Commonwealth Honors College at the US-based University of Massachusetts Amherst, while studying finance and economics. Studying in Barcelona, Spain, allowed him to travel throughout Europe and experience many different cultures. Having grown up in the small seaside town of Duxbury, Massachusetts, he enjoys spending time by the ocean, surfing with friends or simply reading a book by the beach. Having already interned in global operations, venture capital and equity research, Daena is looking for a relatively unorthodox career path within the financial services industry. He plans to write his honors thesis about microfinance, focussing on the impact of microloans in developing economies. He also plans to complete a hands-on internship with a microfinance institution in a developing country.
- Eugene DeCosse – Research Associate
-
- Soham Mehta – Research Associate
Soham joined MicroCapital as a rising senior at the BASIS Chandler high school in the US state of Arizona. He is passionate about social entrepreneurship and looks forward to leveraging his previous involvement in microfinance organizations. Through this internship, he seeks to improve his understanding of methods for addressing poverty in the developing world using innovative market-based techniques. Soham hopes to study economics and data science in college. His goal is to research institutions and market design in order to better understand income inequality and combat global poverty.
- Natasha Nath – Research Associate
Natasha joined MicroCapital as a sophomore at Colgate University, a US-based liberal arts institution, majoring in economics with a double minor in Asian studies and Latin American studies. Natasha is motivated to learn more about how investment creates opportunity for disadvantaged populations, especially in developing countries. Moving forward, she expects to pursue an international career that allows her to invest in and otherwise support underdeveloped communities.
- Tiannah Steele – Research Associate
Tiannah entered the program as a third-year student at the US-based University of Virginia, majoring in Politics and Foreign Affairs (International Relations). She joined the MicroCapital team because of her interest in international business and finance, especially regarding the participation of and effects on the Global South. Her dream career would include traveling and learning about the culture and politics that influence countries’ approaches to international politics, business, public service and humanitarian work as well as the opportunity to influence policies and populations to resolve economic problems.
- Shuyang Sun – Research Associate
Shuyang joined MicroCapital as a first-year master student in finance at Sciencespo Paris in France. With a multidisciplinary background in Eurasian affairs and finance, she seeks to contribute social value by improving accessibility to financial services. She hopes to learn more about microcredit, microinsurance and other forms of financial inclusion. Besides her professional interests, Shuyang enjoys doing farmwork, exploring beer culture and collecting stamps.
- Soham Mehta – Research Associate
-
2018 INTERNS
Michelle Fleming – Research Associate
Michelle joined MicroCapital following a year teaching English in Korea. Having a passion for international development and finance, she double majored in international business and finance at the US-based University of South Carolina. Her studies there sparked her interest in economic development, and she plans to go to Switzerland in 2019 to begin working toward a master’s degree in international finance at the Geneva Business School. In her free time, Michelle enjoys traveling, skiing, reading and studying languages. UPDATE: As of 2020, Michelle is an ESG analyst for the risk-management firm OTCFin.
Anuhya Tadepalli – Research Associate
Anuhya joined MicroCapital as a freshman at US-based Cornell University, preparing for a career in business. She is driven by a passion to promote self-reliance and entrepreneurship among disadvantaged women and youth through microfinance. Apart from her academic pursuits, Anuhya runs a nonprofit organization, Chess for a Cause, which organizes chess sessions in senior communities to promote brain health.
Erik McDonald – Research Associate
Erik entered the program as a recent graduate from US-based Brigham Young University – Idaho, where he graduated with a degree in International Studies. He learned about microfinance in courses he took on social innovation and international development and is excited for the opportunity to learn more about the field as a researcher at MicroCapital. He enjoys listening to and playing rock, indie, blues and music from all over Latin America. He is passionate about languages and fluently speaks Spanish, Portuguese and Mayan. He loves traveling through rural Mexico and plans to start a microfinance institution in the Yucatan region, where he lived and volunteered for two years.
Nicholas Galimberti – Research Associate
Nicholas arrived at MicroCapital as a second-year undergraduate student pursuing degrees in Economics and Finance at the University of Miami in the US. He is strongly attracted to learning more about microfinance because the topic can reveal much about the development of under-served capital markets around the world. Having served as an assistant at his university’s Economics Department, Nicholas aspires to apply his enthusiasm of economics during his time at MicroCapital. Nicholas is also a die-hard soccer fan and plays the sport in his spare time.
2017 INTERNS
Aleks Marceau – Research Associate
In pursuit of gaining experience in a dynamic financial field, Aleks joined MicroCapital as a rising junior at Bates College studying economics, Spanish and mathematics. The microfinance sector piqued Aleks’ interest as an opportunity to expand on his prior research while contributing to the growth of a concept with the potential to aid low-income countries. Having worked most recently with a tech start-up, he seeks to combine his analytical and investment-based background with his Spanish degree to shed more light on microfinance developments in Latin America. Originally from the US city of Boston and writing in the state of Maine, Aleks also play for the Bates men’s soccer team and is an avid supporter of the English soccer club Tottenham Hotspur. UPDATE: As of 2018, Aleks has secured a summer analyst position at Barclay’s, a UK-based bank.
Christian Chartier – Research Associate
Christian took to MicroCapital on his search for common ground between his global health studies and his love for finance. He joined the team as a first-year medical student at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, where he has won a place in the Honours Investment Management program at McGill’s business school. Working as a pro bono consultant in his hometown pushed him to craft solutions to challenges pertaining to efficiency, compliance and supply chains. He hopes to bring this perspective to the table during his time with MicroCapital. Christian is also an avid ping-ponger looking for his next opponent (conquest).
Ryan Gauthier – Research Associate
An ardent enthusiast of international development, Ryan joined MicroCapital to expand his academic and professional experience in emerging markets and microfinance. After spending time living, working and studying in Tokyo, Japan, and Shanghai, China, Ryan spent a semester researching economic growth in modern Cambodia. While at Boston University in the US state of Massachusetts, he served as president of two nonprofit organizations supporting development in Asia and Africa. In his spare time, Ryan can be found competitively swimming, hiking or exploring areas of the world both near and far from home.
Chloe Miao – Research Associate
Chloe joined MicroCapital as a a rising junior pursuing her undergraduate degree in Economics and Comparative Literature at US-based Brown University. She grew up in Nanjing, China, and her interest in microfinance grows from her passion for nonprofit work in general and international development in particular. At Brown, she served as the mentorship coordinator of China Care Brown, a student-run NGO dedicated to raising awareness of and fundraising for Chinese adoptees in Rhode Island area. She speaks Chinese, English and French, and in her spare time she enjoys reading, writing and traveling.
Colin Mulligan – Research Associate
Colin joined the MicroCapital team to foster his interests in development economics and quantitative finance. Although he will conduct his research in his (horridly humid) home state of New Jersey, Colin studies Mathematics and Economics at Pomona College in the US state of California. When he is not training for Cross Country and Track and Field, Colin enjoys playing Spikeball, Super Smash Bros. Melee and ping pong.
Jacob O’Driscoll – Research Associate
Jacob became involved with MicroCapital as a second-year Economics and International Development student at Canada’s McGill University. He believes microfinance is an innovative instrument of sustainable development with the potential to empower the disenfranchised worldwide. Jacob’s academic fields of interest are international trade, public policy and economic forecasting. (He hopes someday to build a model that’ll stump Vegas odds makers.) In his free time, Jacob enjoys reading, running and playing basketball.
Matthew O’Neill – Research Associate Matthew joined MicroCapital while working as a researcher at US-based technology startup Wonder. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Finance at DePaul University in the US state of Illinois and became interested in microfinance after studying the work of Robert Shiller. In the past, he has lived and worked in various US cities, farming organic coffee, teaching English and working as a tax professional. In his spare time, Matthew enjoys competitive cycling, volunteering with local farmers’ markets and reading 19th-century Russian literature.
Phoebe Rorke – Research Associate
Phoebe joined MicroCapital as a junior pursuing her undergraduate degree in Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University. She is from the US state of Massachusetts and first became interested in microfinance after taking a class on international humanitarian aid and relief efforts. In her spare time, Phoebe enjoys playing volleyball, traveling and going to the beach. She is very interested in pursuing a career within corporate social responsibility or human resources.
Sascha Strobl – Research Associate
Sascha joined MicroCapital as a grad student pursuing his master’s degree in financial engineering at Claremont Graduate University in the US state of California. He is from Austria and has taught finance in Azerbaijan, Finland and China. While in his undergraduate program in Germany, he was the co-founder and treasurer of the NGO Fazer Pensar, which seeks to improve employment opportunities for impoverished kids in Brazil through musical education. In his leisure time, Sascha enjoys badminton, table tennis and reading.
2016 INTERNS
Petra Barbu – Research Associate
Petra joined MicroCapital as an economics student at Northwestern University in the US state of Illinois. She is the marketing ambassador for LEND, a nonprofit microfinance organization that works in Evanston and the Chicago area. She has worked as a research associate for Higher Ground, a start up working towards establishing internet in developing countries, among other missions, and is the 2016-17 News Editor for North by Northwestern, a university newspaper. She hopes to pursue a career in microfinance or social impact consulting.
Michelle Dold – Research Associate
Michelle holds a degree in International Development Studies with a minor in Spanish language from the University of California, Los Angeles. Prior to joining MicroCapital, Michelle worked as a research analyst for California Common Sense, a nonprofit dedicated to government transparency and data-driven policy analysis. She also worked for two summers in the finance and real estate division of the international law firm Dechert LLP, specializing in securitized loan transactions. She believes in the potential of microfinance to enable communities to create meaningful and sustainable economic development. UPDATE: As of 2016, Michelle is working as a technical assistance associate at Incofin Investment Management, an impact-investing firm in based in Belgium.
Sharanya Madhavan – Research Associate
Sharanya joined MicroCapital while working as a financial risk analyst at an insurance firm. She graduated from Columbia University with a master’s degree in Operations Research & Financial Applications. While in her undergraduate program in India, she was the co-founder of the student chapter of the NGO My India, which sought to create employment opportunities for rural women and a market for their products. In the future, she would like to work in the field of international development, particularly in microfinance or impact investing. Sharanya enjoys reading and travelling in her spare time.
2015 INTERNS
Victor Mugo – Research Associate
Victor joined MicroCapital while pursuing an undergraduate degree in actuarial science at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. He has previously interned with the Commercial bank of Africa, which was an early mover in mobile-phone banking. In addition, he serves as the Financial Director of Tamara group and a board member to Grace and Peace Foundation. His previous experience has fueled his interest in microfinance and how it can be used to eliminate poverty and realise the UN’s Millennium Development Goals. In the future he hopes to improve lives in developing nations via nano-investment. In his spare time, victor enjoys travelling, playing lawn tennis and writing.
Arielle Hye In Oh – Research Associate
Arielle joined MicroCapital while in her third year at Yonsei University in South Korea, double-majoring in International Relations and Economics. Although ethnically Korean, Arielle has lived in the Philippines since she was two years old, only returning to Korea to pursue undergraduate coursework. Having grown up in a country where economic problems are significant and much policy reform is still needed, Arielle has the desire to continuously learn more about the economic problems in developing countries and the ways in which these issues can be alleviated. She believes microfinance can play a key factor in this development, under the right circumstances. Until this is achieved, she will continue learning, studying and trying to help people laugh the sorrows of the world away, one joyful moment at a time.
Arpita Sarkar – Research Associate
Arpita joined MicroCapital as a graduate student at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy concentrating in International Monetary Theory and Policy, International Business Relations and International Political Economy. She is qualified to practice law in India, as she is enrolled with the Bar Council of India. Prior to graduate school, she worked as an Associate with the Banking & Finance department at Luthra & Luthra Law Offices based in Mumbai, India, where her work focused primarily on rendering advisory and legal assistance in structuring, drafting and negotiating documents for cross-border finance, structured finance, construction finance, project finance, debt restructuring and security sharing arrangements. Arpita’s specific interest areas at The Fletcher School are informal finance and financial inclusion. Her other interests include traveling, photography and painting. UPDATE: As of 2017, Arpita is working as a finance and markets global practice consultant for the World Bank Group.
Meredith Steih – Research Associate
Meredith joined MicroCapital as a rising senior in the Honors Program at the University of Michigan, where she was majoring in International Studies with a Political Economy and Development concentration, Arabic, and Middle Eastern & North African Studies. Meredith has previously worked as an Emergency Services Intern at ACCESS, serving low-income, immigrant and refugee clients in both English and Arabic. She is passionate about the social effects of economic development in developing nations and believes that microfinance has the ability to substantially improve livelihoods for people all over the world. Meredith speaks English, Arabic and Spanish fluently and is intermediate in German. She enjoys traveling, cooking and yoga. UPDATE: As of 2016, Meredith was an Americorps VISTA Leader for the National Network for Arab American Communities.
Matt Cerf – Research Associate
Born in the US city of Seattle, Washington, Matt joined MicroCapital while in his third year at the University of San Diego, double-majoring in International Relations and Business-Economics with a minor in Spanish. His passion for microcredit evolved from extensive work with grassroots community development organizations in the Dominican Republic and Peru. He has spent 18 months in Latin America, including time studying in Buenos Aires, Argentina; working as a mobile journalist for the CEA Study Abroad Blog; and helping to implement a microcredit program for the NGO WAVES for Development in Lobitos, Peru. In his spare time he likes to surf, climb, play basketball and continue his search for the best fish tacos in the San Diego area.
Jacob Ferguson – Research Associate
Jacob joined MicroCapital as a fourth-year undergraduate student at Northern Illinois University in the US state of Illinois, where he is majoring in Operations Management and Information Systems. Prior to joining MicroCapital, Jacob held internships with various social enterprises, primarily in marketing and communications roles. He truly believes that microfinance is an idea whose time has come. Upon graduation, he will be serving as a City Year Chicago Corps Member. In his spare time, he loves to travel and exercise, and he always has a taste for trying new foods.
Julia Marín Morales – Research Associate
Julia began studying microfinance in 2013 at Wesleyan University in the US state of Connecticut. She became convinced that this financial tool can play a role in providing new opportunities for people in developing countries. In 2014, she was selected to intern at US-based NGO FINCA International, assisting the New Business Development Team in fundraising and project development. As of 2015, she is studying toward a master’s degree in Microfinance for Entrepreneurship at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain. She would like to specialise in savings products and cost-effective delivery channels. She is also planning to start an internship with FONPRODE, the Spanish Agency Cooperation Fund, focusing on microfinance investments and grants. In the future, she is eager to travel and discover innovative ways to increase financial inclusion in developing countries.
Jeff Pierce – Research Associate
Jeff joined MicroCapital while in his second year at Bentley University in the US state of Massachusetts. He is majoring in economics & finance with minors in mathematics and public policy. He has a passion for development economics and believes that microfinance is a fantastic way to help the growing economies of the world lift people out of poverty. In his spare time, Jeff enjoys tutoring other students, reading and playing soccer. In the future, he hopes to travel the world as much as possible.
Caroline Zhu – Research Associate
Caroline entered the program while working as a marketing specialist at a renewable energy company. She graduated from the United States’ University of Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in economics and environmental science. She first became interested in microfinance while volunteering in Costa Rica. Through her internship, Caroline hopes to grow her knowledge of the microfinance industry in preparation for a career in international development.
Simon Pfanner – Research Associate
Simon Pfanner joined MicroCapital after holding positions as an analyst for Sberbank Switzerland and a health economist for the Reproductive And Child Health Alliance, an NGO in Cambodia. During his time in Cambodia, he became increasingly interested in microfinance as a tool to lift families out of poverty. By working for MicroCapital, Simon is hoping to expand his knowledge of microfinance and build a platform for a career in finance and development economics. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business and Management and a master’s degree in Political Economy from the University of Sussex in the UK. He speaks English, French and German, and he is learning Spanish. UPDATE: In 2016, Simon was hired as an associate consultant for Veran Performance, a human-resources consultancy based in the UK.
LATE-2014 INTERNS
Emily Teleposky – Research Associate
Emily joined MicroCapital while pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Business and Political Economy at US-based New York University. While studying in London for a year, Emily worked with a nonprofit that focuses on providing equal opportunities for Londoners to live healthy lifestyles. This piqued her interest in creating level playing fields in many facets of life, including financial inclusion. While working with MicroCapital, she is taking the semester to study in Shanghai, China. In the future, she is interested in working in microfinance as it moves toward reaching its potential.
Ananya Tiwari – Research Associate
Ananya is an attorney specializing in insurance law. Her background involves work in the legal departments of a Manhattan insurance carrier and a risk management firm working across the US. Prior to graduating with a Juris Doctor in May 2012, she concentrated her legal studies around traditional insurance, microinsurance and small business incorporation. Ananya holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Pittsburgh, which is located in the US state of Pennsylvania. She has traveled to Austria, Hong Kong, mainland China, Mongolia and Russia to conduct research and compete in various interscholastic arbitration competitions. She has a strong interest in microinsurance and hopes to become more involved in that field. In her free time, Ananya enjoys traveling, hiking, reading and writing. UPDATE: As of 2020, Ananya is the Manager – Professional Risks for Proclaim of Australia.
MID-2014 INTERNS
Alíz Crowley – Research Associate
Alíz’s background in investment and commercial banking primarily involves complex structured and project finance transactions and advisory assignments on behalf of European governments. She has also worked in transaction structuring and restructuring, corporate banking, credit analysis, syndicated lending and corporate finance. Alíz holds a master’s degree in economics and another in European studies and international relations. In the future, she would like to be involved in international development, particularly in the fields of microfinance and social entrepreneurship. To support this goal, Alíz will be undertaking postgraduate studies in international development at the London School of Economics. In her spare time, Alíz loves to travel, take photographs, blog, exercise and cook. Alíz speaks English, Hungarian, German and is learning Arabic.
Hope Gitangu – Research Associate
Hope is a trainee actuary and has interests in microfinance and research analysis relating to the economies of emerging and frontier markets. She has worked at Actuarial Services East Africa (ACTSERV) focusing on investment analysis and actuarial valuations. With a passion for building innovative solutions to poverty, she seeks to be involved in the realization of Kenya’s Vision 2030 as well as poverty eradication in developing countries. During her free time, she enjoys cooking, traveling and reading. This year, Hope expects to complete her degree in actuarial science from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Kenya.
Ben Krupp – Research Associate
Ben joined MicroCapital while pursuing an undergraduate degree in economics at Washington University in St. Louis, in the US state of Missouri. He is particularly interested in Spanish language, education and sustainable development. In the past, he has lived and worked in both Ecuador and Costa Rica, teaching English, working at an eco-lodge and helping to implement small-scale community development projects. In St. Louis, Ben is a leader of a youth tutoring organization predominantly for first-generation Latino middle school students and has worked on a consulting project with the Boeing Company through the Washington University business school. In his free time, Ben enjoys good food, travel and playing ultimate Frisbee.
Sarah Luo – Research Associate
Sarah joined MicroCapital while pursuing bachelor’s degrees in finance and business analytics at the Rutgers Business School in the US state of New Jersey. While at university, she helped found several initiatives, including a microfinance-inspired tech startup for young entrepreneurs and a project on homelessness. Her experience with underprivileged groups in both the United States and Taiwan has enhanced her interest in microfinance and sustainable economic growth. Sarah is looking to build a foundation for working in the microfinance sector, particularly in the developing world. While working with MicroCapital, she is also assisting a professor at National Taiwan University publish a book on social impact leadership and development aid. In her spare time, she mentors young teenagers, and she enjoys reading and blogging about social justice and personal faith.
EARLY-2014 INTERNSJuan Blanco – Research Associate Chikondano Faith Chisala – Research Associate Meraj Husain – Research Associate Tejas Jain – Research Associate A’kos Szebeni – Research Associate LATE-2013 INTERNSMegan McGowan – Research Associate Adrija Vaiciulionis – Research Associate MID-2013 INTERNSMichael Averell – Research Associate Meghan Gillis – Research Associate Anesa Kratovac – Research Associate Ernie Wulff – Research Associate EARLY-2013 INTERNSSam Allmendinger – Research Associate Nicole Boyd – Research Associate Brian LeBlanc – Research Associate LATE-2012 INTERNSSarah Benali – Research Associate Makai McClintock – Research Associate Chioma Okwudiafor – Research Associate Lena Phillips – Research Associate Jennifer Young – Research Associate MID-2012 INTERNSBrett Cohen – Research Associate Jaime Fellers – Research Associate Mihaela Grindeanu – Research Associate Webster Hughes – Research Associate Amy Samudre – Research Associate EARLY-2012 INTERNSNatalie Baer – Research Associate Amira Berrada – Research Associate Brendan Millan – Research Associate Charlotte Newman – Research Associate Jeff Patterson – Research Associate Courtney Snelling – Research Associate LATE-2011 INTERNSKristha Abores – Research Associate Emilia Akonom – Research Associate Ariana Malushi – Research Associate MID-2011 INTERNSAshim Kar – Research Associate Carol Kim – Research Associate Nisha Koul – Research Associate Rohan Trivedi – Research Associate EARLY-2011 INTERNSJacqueline Foelster – Research Associate Julie Moksim – Research Associate Alexandra Pattee – Research Associate Medha Ravi – Research Associate
|