Watch the 60‑minute seminar session with Aishwarya Kuruttukulam and Dr. Shuangshuang Du (watch video here with NetID).
OCS convened two Yale‑trained scholars now leading mission‑driven initiatives to illuminate how advanced STEM training translates into social‑impact careers. On October 24, 2025, Aishwarya Kuruttukulam (Senior Manager – Ecosystem Engagement, Climate Haven) and Shuangshuang Du (Scientific Programs Manager, ISSCR) shared insider perspectives on building purpose‑focused careers outside academia and industry.
During this session, the speakers explored:
- Inside the non‑profit landscape: how organizations like Climate Haven and the International Society for Stem Cell Research drive change through programming, partnerships, and policy engagement.
- Leveraging STEM expertise for impact: translating research, data analysis, and project‑management skills into community building, conference curation, and capital deployment.
- Essential “non‑professional” skills: communication, stakeholder alignment, and cross‑cultural teamwork that power success in global, mission‑driven settings.
Aishwarya Kuruttukulam, Senior Manager – Ecosystem Engagement, Climate Haven
Aishwarya supports the Climate Haven community through partnerships, investor and mentor networks, programming, and capital deployment. Previously, she served as Environmental Innovation Fellow at the Yale Center for Business and Environment and the Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking at Yale. She holds a Master’s in International and Development Economics from Yale University and has consulted for the state government in India on the technological transformation of traditional industries.
Shuangshuang Du, Scientific Programs Manager, ISSCR
Shuangshuang Du holds a PhD in tissue stem cell research and oversees the development of scientific programs for the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR). She will share her journey from academia to managing global conferences, and the critical skills that make her work impactful, including cross-functional collaboration and project management.
This event was co-hosted by Qi Yan and Hao Xie, McDougal Fellows at the Office of Career Strategy.
