Virat is a Ph.D. student in the Public Policy and Management program at the University of Southern California. He received his Bachelor's in Biomedical Engineering from VIT University, India in 2015; and his M.S. in the same from the University of Southern California in 2017. He worked in the medical device industry for 3 years before starting his PhD journey. His doctoral research is focused on Behavioral Health Policies, Self-Monitoring Technology, Preventative Care and COVID-19 policies. Virat strongly believes that his mentors and professors played an equally important role in his journey. He wants to share his learnings and help the aspirants of graduate school navigate the application process. In his spare time, he enjoys road trips, beach volleyball, exploring cafes and restaurants, and listening to policy podcasts.