Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

We collect several types of information to provide and improve our services:

Personal Information

• Name and email address
• Age and demographic information
• Application essays and responses
• Educational background and experience
• Contact information

Usage Information

• Platform interaction and activity logs
• Device and browser information
• IP addresses and location data
• Session duration and pages visited

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Processing and evaluating fellowship applications
• Providing AI-assisted application review and scoring
• Communicating about your application status
• Improving our platform and services
• Sending important updates and notifications
• Conducting research and analytics to enhance user experience
• Detecting and preventing fraud

3. AI and Data Processing

TechAscend uses artificial intelligence to assist in evaluating applications. Your essay responses and application materials may be processed by AI systems (OpenAI GPT-4, Google Gemini) to provide objective scoring and feedback. All AI processing is done with strict privacy controls, and your data is never used to train public AI models.

4. Information Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

• With Reviewers: Application information is shared with authorized reviewers for evaluation
• Service Providers: Third-party services that help us operate the platform (hosting, email, analytics)
• Legal Requirements: When required by law or to protect our rights
• With Your Consent: Any other sharing will be done with your explicit permission

5. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information, including encryption, secure authentication, regular security audits, and restricted access controls. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Your Rights

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal data
• Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and data
• Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications
• Data Portability: Receive your data in a portable format

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services and comply with legal obligations. Application data is typically retained for 5 years for statistical and historical purposes, after which it may be anonymized or deleted.

8. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, analyze usage patterns, and remember your preferences. You can control cookie settings through your browser, though some features may not function properly if cookies are disabled.

9. Children's Privacy

TechAscend is intended for users 18 years and older. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 18. If we become aware of such data collection, we will delete it immediately.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes via email or platform notifications. Your continued use of TechAscend after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, please contact us at privacy@techascend.com