Three W&M Students to bring scientific expertise to policymaking in the commonwealth

Three graduate students have been selected as 2026 Commonwealth of Virginia Engineering and Science (COVES) Policy Fellows.

The following story originally appeared on the website for the W&M School of Computing, Data Sciences & Physics. - Ed.

Underscoring William & Mary's commitment to public service in its Year of Civic Leadership, three graduate students have been selected as 2026 Commonwealth of Virginia Engineering and Science (COVES) Policy Fellows, joining a statewide initiative aimed at ensuring policy is informed by accurate, impartial scientific and technical information.

Administered by the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine, the program provides scientists and engineers with the training and practical experience to be effective policy advisors.

The 12-week summer fellowship kicks off with a science policy bootcamp that introduces fellows to the fundamentals of science policy and communications. Fellows are then placed within Virginia's legislative and executive branches and nonprofit organizations based on their expertise and shared interests with their host offices. The fellows will serve the rest of the summer as a science advisor, conducting policy research and helping develop policy proposals.

Meet the fellows

The three William & Mary students selected for the 2026 COVES Fellowship bring a range of research expertise to the cohort.

Pankaj Niroula is a doctoral candidate in computer science. His research focuses on privacy-enhancing technologies, confidential computing, and applied cryptography - driven by a core conviction that privacy-by-default should be the path of least resistance for developers and organizations.

Niroula notes that while many people, especially older adults, are wary of technology, they often trust that their personal information is being handled responsibly.

"That gap between skepticism and misplaced trust is exactly what good policy can address, and it convinced me that technical solutions alone aren't enough; they need to be matched by informed policy," stated Niroula. "COVES seemed to be an opportunity to bring that technical perspective into Virginia's policymaking process and learn how policy decisions are actually made at the state level."

Niroula says privacy-by-default is especially important today as technologies like cloud computing and artificial intelligence - often launched with clear public benefits - can evolve into significant privacy blind spots, concentrating vast amounts of personal data in the hands of a few companies.

"The good news is that the technical tools to address this already exist - the challenge is making sure policy keeps pace," said Niroula. "Virginia has already taken meaningful steps on consumer data protection; I'd like to help build on that momentum."

Alejandro Velasco is a doctoral candidate in computer science working at the intersection of software engineering and artificial intelligence. His research studies how deep learning models reason about software artifacts, emphasizing the structural, semantic and behavioral properties of AI-generated code.

"I believe this expertise would help Virginia policymakers and stakeholders develop actionable approaches to mitigate potential risks associated with deploying deep learning innovations in high-criticality domains such as criminal justice, health care, and finance," stated Velasco.

Policy issues related to the responsible use of AI in criminal justice and social services is what he is most excited to work on, with a focus on trustworthiness, transparency and accountability.

"Government agencies are already deploying AI systems that influence decisions in risk assessment, policing, child welfare and access to public benefits, and these systems carry real consequences for people's rights and opportunities," explained Velasco. "My research in trustworthy AI, interpretability, and model reasoning aligns closely with these challenges, particularly the need to move beyond abstract ethical principles and toward concrete, enforceable standards that support the responsible adoption of AI in practice."

Velasco believes seeing the decision-making processes firsthand will help him better anticipate how scientific recommendations are interpreted and applied by institutions.

"This perspective will influence how I frame my future research in deep learning and alignment, pushing me to focus on solutions that are not only scientifically sound, but also realistic, actionable and aligned with public needs."

Lindsey Dillard is a graduate student at the W&M's Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & VIMS. Before pursuing her master's degree, Lindsey earned her B.S. in biology at William & Mary and spent a year working for the U.S. Forest Service in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest. She is currently studying the socioeconomic impacts of offshore wind development on commercial fishermen.

"I'm interested in how human-nature relationships can be improved and how conflicts can be resolved through policy and advocacy," said Dillard. "As a lifelong Virginian, I was excited at the opportunity to engage in state policies related to marine science through the COVES Fellowship."

Dillard said the fellowship will provide the knowledge and skills needed to support future policies and make meaningful changes that are backed by science.

"It's essential for scientists and engineers to be involved in policy making to provide accurate, non-biased, up-to-date information to important policy decisions," Dillard stated. "Many policies are developed by representatives who may not be experts in the field, making it even more important to have experts ensure that proposed legislation is safe and effective for constituents."

For Dillard, her passion for science and policy is deeply personal.

"Growing up on the water has been the inspiration for most of my research and career interests. I want to help preserve the same wonder for future generations."

Randy Ready, School of Computing, Data Sciences & Physics

• share by email
• share on Facebook
• share on X
• share on LinkedIn

• share by email
• share on Facebook
• share on X
• share on LinkedIn

Related Stories