Helen Wagner Coello

Dr. Helen Wagner Urpi Coello is a Postdoctoral Associate at the STEM Transformation Institute. She earned her PhD at Florida International University, focused on using citizen science as a gateway for mosquito monitoring in Miami-Dade County households. Her extensive research background encompasses genomics, landscape ecology, and pedagogy. Previously, Helen led a highly successful research internship program that used citizen science called the Florida Aedes aegypti Genome Group (FLAGG), providing invaluable experience to nearly 1,000 undergraduate students from 2018 to 2022. She was recognized for her program in the 2022 CDC - Southeastern Centre of Excellence in Vector Borne Diseases newsletter. Committed to student success, Helen is driven to continue advocating for accessible education, community-building, and confidence-building initiatives.