Yakira Mirabito is a PhD candidate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley. In the Cognition and Computation in Design (Co-Design) Lab, advised by Kosa Goucher-Lambert, she studies decision-making and organizational behavior within engineering design. She holds a BS in Materials Science and Engineering from Northwestern University and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley. Yakira’s work has earned her numerous fellowships and awards. Notably, she has been funded by UC Berkeley’s Chancellor’s fellowship, NSF GRFP, and NSF InFEWS. Her contributions have been recognized by organizations such as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.
Beyond her academic achievements, Yakira is a passionate leader and advocate within the first-generation and low-income (FGLI) college student community. Her dedication to creating a sense of belonging for the FGLI community has earned her the Dean’s Award for Inclusive Excellence and a RISE! Leader Award. When she’s not immersed in her work, Yakira enjoys skiing and visiting art galleries.