Lauren Bandklayder is the Director of Strategic Engagement at the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center (PSFC), where she leads the Center’s strategic engagement, external relations, and institutional partnership efforts. She works with government, industry, academic, and international partners, as well as leadership and offices across MIT, to develop and strengthen relationships, identify opportunities for collaboration, and advance PSFC’s strategic priorities. Her work also includes leading high-profile visits and stakeholder engagements, as well as overseeing public-facing programs, tours, seminars, and events across the Center. Through this work, Lauren helps connect PSFC and its research with key audiences and partners in the U.S. and internationally.
Prior to joining MIT, she held research positions at the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in Bonn, Germany, and Northwestern University, where she earned her PhD in mathematics as an NSF Graduate Research Fellow.
Ph.D. Mathematics, Northwestern University, 2018
M.Ed. Teaching and Teacher Leadership, Harvard University, 2023
B.A. Mathematics, New York University, 2011