Helen Wagner Coello, PhD

Helen Wagner Coello was born in Peru and raised in Miami, where she earned both her Bachelor's and Ph.D. from Florida International University (FIU). Her early research focused on genomics, bioinformatics, and citizen science, with an emphasis on mosquito monitoring in Miami-Dade County. During this time, she founded and led the Florida Aedes Genome Group (FLAGG) Research Internship, mentoring nearly 1,000 interdisciplinary undergraduate students over 11 semesters. Currently, Dr. Wagner Coello is a Postdoctoral Associate at the STEM Transformation Institute at FIU, where her research focuses on STEM education, specifically on the experiences and sense of belonging of undocumented and DACAmented students in higher education. She uses UndocuCrit Theory to examine how institutional factors shape student identity and success, with a strong commitment to amplifying the voices of underserved students. Passionate about mentorship, she actively creates inclusive communities that ensure diverse perspectives are valued and heard. In her current work, she is exploring research approaches that combine qualitative and quantitative data to provide a comprehensive understanding of student experiences and advocate for greater equity and access in educational spaces.