Mariana Silva

Mariana Silva is a Teaching Associate Professor at the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and CEO of PrairieLearn Inc. She holds a Ph.D. in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from UIUC (2009). Her research focuses on leveraging educational technologies, such as Large Language Models (LLMs), to enhance computer-based assessments and scalable teaching practices. Silva has taught over 11 courses to 9,000+ students, emphasizing innovations in STEM education. She has pioneered adaptive testing tools and randomized question generators to improve equity and accessibility in large-scale courses.

Education:

• Ph.D., Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, UIUC (2009)
• M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (2003)
• B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (2001)

Research Interests: Silva’s work centers on technology-driven education, including automated grading using LLMs, design of adaptive assessment systems, and fostering collaborative learning. She has developed tools like PrairieLearn to streamline teaching workflows while maintaining educational rigor.

Awards & Recognition:

• Scott H. Fisher Computer Science Teaching Award (2022)
• Rose Award for Teaching Excellence (2022)
• Multiple “List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent” (2009–2017)
• Engineering Council Outstanding Advising Award (2014–2019)

Labs & Teams: Co-founder of PrairieLearn Inc., which provides open-source platforms for STEM education. She collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to advance educational technologies and testing infrastructure.