Mitra Panahi

Mitra Panahi is a PhD candidate majoring in technology at Purdue University. Her research examines how undergraduate students learn and make decisions in STEM education and how they develop professionally in technology environments. She focuses particularly on the use of generative AI and its role in professional learning, with attention to how emerging technologies shape students' educational and career development. Through her work, she seeks to better understand how to support learning while promoting equitable, inclusive, and human-centered educational experiences. Originally from Iran and a first-generation academic, Panahi earned her bachelor's degree in applied mathematics and her master's degree in industrial engineering there. She taught mathematics successfully for more than ten years before deciding to pursue her PhD with the goal of obtaining a faculty position. Her interdisciplinary background in education, system management, and technology informs her research and thesis. Panahi is a member of the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) and AWIS (Women and Engineering). She describes herself as a real academic person who values being honest and committed to hard work, remaining committed to her role and institution, respecting people, and enjoying helping others pursue their desires to complete their programs and find good jobs in the future.