Ashli Polanco is a Graduate Coach at InGenius Prep. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from MIT, and her PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. While at MIT, she conducted undergraduate research at Harvard Medical School and in the Cancer Program at the Broad Institute. These early experiences sparked her passion for research and education, ultimately laying the foundation for the work she does today.
Ashli’s academic and professional path includes a wide range of roles in science, engineering, and education. After graduating from MIT, she joined the Technology Development Team at the Broad Institute as a Process Development Associate. During graduate school, she completed internships at Bristol Myers Squibb and Takeda and was selected as an ORISE Fellow with the U.S. Army’s Natick Soldier Research Center. After completing her PhD, she became a Senior Engineer at Biogen, where she worked in Product and Technology Development.
Alongside her research career, Ashli co-founded and served as executive director for an educational nonprofit for four years that focused on mentorship and outreach, deepening her commitment to helping students thrive. Ashli now lives in Puerto Rico with her husband and two young children, whom she homeschools. She enjoys working as a counselor to high school students preparing for and applying to college, especially those interested in STEM, healthcare, and interdisciplinary fields. Having received support herself during the college application process, she’s passionate about giving that same guidance to others. She understands the importance of early opportunities, and views hands-on experiences as essential when it to shaping academic and career goals.
As a Graduate Coach, Ashli’s mentoring style is encouraging, thoughtful, and goal-oriented. She helps students build confidence, stay focused, and feel genuinely excited about what lies ahead.
