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Reina Riemann, Current Fellow
- Year
- 2009-2010
- From
- Venezuela/ Germany
- Sector
- High Tech- Software
- Location
- Venezuela
- Degree
-
2010 PhD, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
“Established electronic payment methods such as PayPal do not work with the local banking system [in Venezuela]. Only people with a bank account abroad can use it, leaving most Venezuelans out. Creating an electronic payment system would allow them to engage in commercial activities locally and potentially have access to global e-commerce activities such as e-Bay.”
Reina will develop a software tool to allow individuals to make small electronic peer-to-peer payments securely in order to simplify commercial transactions in Venezuela. Such an electronic payment system will allow Venezuelans to engage in commercial activities locally and gain access to global e-commerce activities. As a current MIT PhD student in Electrical Engineering who also holds a BA in mathematics from Columbia University, Reina has received strong academic preparation related to her project area. During an MIT externship with AllianceBernstein, Reina developed software tools and mathematical methods which are used by the investment firm in order to offset volatility around the yearly reconstitution. In addition, Reina has been a teaching assistant for mathematics and engineering courses at MIT; has served on the selection committee and as a math instructor for the MIT Women in Technology program; and has been involved in curriculum revision and course development with the MIT Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS). Reina was one of 125 Venezuelans awarded a GALILEO fellowship by Fulbright/LASPAU to fully fund her undergraduate studies abroad.
