Club History
The Duke Advanced Degree Consulting Club (DACC) was founded in September of 2012 by Jainil Shah, an engineering student seeking to provide resources and foster the skills of advanced degree students interested in the field of consulting.
Since then we have:
Launched our own pro-bono consulting program to solve business problems in 51 engagements across 25 diverse markets and 18 innovative products, saving our clients $3M in consulting fees.
Hosted multiple nation-wide case competitions with UNC-Chapel Hill and the Consulting Club at Texas Medical Center (The Southeast Healthcare Case Competition, formerly Duke-UNC-TMC Competition), attracting hundreds of students from over 30 institutions worldwide!
Hosted guest speakers and alumni from top consulting firms in case interview workshops and interview prep workshops, providing networking opportunities with firm representatives.
DACC is now the premier and largest graduate consulting club on Duke’s campus!
What We Do
Our structure supports comprehensive growth for our members across consulting-relevant areas. We provide a well-rounded experience by combining practical project work, targeted skill development, industry engagement, and a competitive environment for practice.
Our Executive Team
Co-President: Naren Mehta
6th-year PhD Candidate in Immunology
Naren is a Ph.D. candidate in Immunology at Duke University, where he studies the genetic and epigenetic causes of T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases. Before graduate school, he conducted research to enhance T cell immunotherapies for cancer. He is passionate about leveraging functional genomics to uncover new therapeutic targets for autoimmune diseases and translating scientific discoveries into clinical impact. He is a recipient of the NIH’s NRSA predoctoral fellowship (F31) and holds an MSc in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, weightlifting, and exploring new foods.
Co-President: Siyao Wang
6th-year PhD Candidate in Cell Biology
Siyao is a PhD candidate in the Department of Cell Biology. She uses zebrafish as model to study the impact of the interactions between nutrient utilization and innate immunity on the development and survival of organisms. In her free time, Siyao is an avid orchid grower and collector who also loves traveling and spending time with her two cats, Sesame and Cookie.
Pro Bono Director: Gracie Kreissler
2nd-year MEMS Candidate
Gracie is a second-year master’s student in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, earning a certificate in aerospace research. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she investigated microcavitation as a potential mechanism behind traumatic brain injury. She now works part-time with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and her advisor, Dr. Chris Douglas, using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to study how carbon-free fuels like hydrogen mix with natural gas in gas turbines. In her free time, Gracie enjoys calisthenics, running, reading, and long, thoughtful walks with friends.
Operations Director: Lakshay Malhotra
2nd-year MEM Candidate
Lakshay is a graduate student in the Masters of Engineering Management program at Duke and a former Software Engineer at Oracle Health. With four years of experience at Oracle Health, Lakshay led the vulnerability management initiative, resolving and auditing vulnerabilities for the platform team. He is passionate about Technology and how it’s intersection with strategy and consulting can create a positive impact across industries. As a sports enthusiast, Lakshay has played eight different sports and most recently represented Duke twice at NCTTA divisionals table tennis competitions.
Training Director: Rae Wang
2nd-year BME Master’s Student
Rae is a Master’s student in Biomedical Engineering at Duke University, passionate about medical device innovation and healthcare consulting. She has worked on projects integrating engineering, human-centered design, and business strategy to develop healthcare solutions for stroke rehabilitation. She also gained experience in regulatory affairs, AI applications, and iOS development through her internship at the California Department of Public Health. Outside of work, Rae enjoys traveling and practicing Chinese martial arts.
Case Competitions Director: Hrshita Gowda
BME PhD Candidate
Hrshita is a Ph.D. candidate in Biomedical Engineering at Duke university, specializing in machine learning towards drug discovery and delivery. She also serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Duke Microbiome startup facilitating the logistics of organizing and conducting informational seminars for careers outside of academia. Prior to her PhD at Duke, she worked in the biopharmaceutical industry over a period of 4 years.
Alumni Relations Director: Clara Marin-Carballo
2nd-year PhD Candidate in Population Health Sciences
Clara Marin is a second-year PhD student in the Population Health Sciences Department at Duke University. Her research focuses on the financing of health systems worldwide, aiming to identify the best strategies for delivering high-quality care while optimizing costs. Before starting her doctoral studies, Clara worked as a physician in Spain and contributed to global health policy initiatives. Outside of academia, she enjoys running and reading.
Associate Director of Operations – Communications: Emma Heckenberg
5th-year PhD Candidate in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
Emma is a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology at Duke University, where she investigates how enteroviruses drive acute liver failure which leads to mortality in children. Before graduate school, Emma researched how Epstein–Barr virus shaped B-cell maturation. Driven by her interests in translational host–pathogen interactions and novel therapeutic development, Emma aims to turn bench discoveries into bedside impact. She earned a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Business from Drexel University. Outside the lab, you’ll find Emma playing with her dog, out on a run, buried in a book, gaming, or exercising her green thumb.
Associate Director of Operations – Events: Ashley Rhodes
2nd-year BME Master’s Student
Ashley is Master’s student in Biomedical Engineering with a focus on medical technology design. Her research background includes developing novel drug delivery mechanisms for chemotherapy in bladder cancer and creating rehabilitation devices to improve gait patterns in stroke patients. She is currently working on a device to improve hydrocephalus treatment and provide patients and physicians with better clinical insights. Alongside her technical work, Ashley is passionate about medical technology startups and bridging the gap between engineering design and patient use. In her free time Ashley loves traveling, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
