- October 27, 2021
Continuing our effort to highlight past interns, we want to spotlight Anjuli Jain Figueroa (Civil & Environmental Engineering, PhD Candidate) and her work with ICRISAT in the summer of 2016!
ICRISAT is an intergovernmental organization engaged in research for a food secure future. It has a mission to improve the livelihoods of farmers in rural areas by integrating scientific approaches. Anjuli’s work with them focused on identifying limitations on crop yield, and the best ways to increase yields. She traveled to Hyderabad during the summer of 2016 and was able to visit several ICRISAT sites, and meet with many different people, including ICRISAT personnel and local farmers.
“Going out to the field is useful for all MIT grads, to see how theory and practice diverge and how best to bridge that gap.” Anjuli explained. This was true for her as well. Although her research focused on large questions about food security for a growing population, she realized it was important to have an understanding of how this food was produced, something her trip to Hyderabad was very helpful in illuminating.
“Visiting India was quite an adventure.” Anjuli said of her experience. “I got to see India as it really is, not as I imagined it…and it’s much more beautiful and complex. Already this experience has shaped my work at MIT as I continue to share what I learned during my visit with others.”
Thank you Anjuli for your time with MIT-India, and good luck in all of your future endeavors!
For more intern stories, check out our 2021 Cohort.