As a Research and Evaluation Specialist, Mirna joined the Rice Office of STEM Engagement in November 2024. In this role, she is responsible for research design, data collection, and journal publications for various projects focused on STEM education. Before joining R-STEM, she worked as a researcher for the George R. Brown School of Engineering at Rice University and a structural engineer in the energy industry. Her research is driven by a commitment to creating equitable STEM education opportunities, focusing on supporting women and first-generation students. Mirna holds a B.S. and M.S. in Structural Engineering and earned her doctorate in STEM Education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.