Growing up Mariana had always enjoyed playing with Play Dough and Legos which allowed her to make whatever she imaged. These toys were not only the building blocks of her creations as a kid but also the building blocks of channeling creativity and problem solving. Because of these skills she wanted to become an engineer to create new products and ideas that help others. Mariana’s passion for STEM grew in high school as she took AP classes in chemistry, math, and physics, as well as learning valuable skills in CAD, Microsoft Office, Photoshop, and Illustrator.

Now, Mariana is a Junior pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering at The Ohio State University. She is part of STEM Scholars, a program for high achieving students in STEM majors which focuses on personal and professional development . In her first two years in the program, Mariana has held positions such as Service Committee Leader, Teaching Assistant, and First Year Mentor. This group has allowed her to meet and collaborate with new people who share similar interests and goals. 

In her second year, she started working at  Ohio State’s Nanotech lab facility as a student assistant. As a part of the laboratory staff, Mariana has learned about the machines and processes used in nanofabrication. She enjoys being in the lab environment and being able to learn about topics outside of her degree.

Aside from school, Mariana partakes in artistic activities such as painting and drawing. She also enjoys watching Korean Dramas and cooking with her family.