Mariel Pfeifer

Mariel Pfeifer is an Assistant Professor of Biology and Faculty Instructor at the University of Mississippi. She leads the Pfeifer Lab and specializes in STEM education research focusing on equitable practices for students with disabilities, particularly ADHD and Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD). Her work bridges disability studies and undergraduate STEM pedagogy, emphasizing self-advocacy and accommodation strategies in academic settings.

Education: B.S. Microbiology (University of Wyoming, 2013); Ph.D. Plant Biology (University of Georgia, 2021).

Research Interests:

• Development of inclusive STEM educational practices
• Self-advocacy models for students with invisible disabilities
• Impact of active learning environments on neurodivergent learners
• Accommodation implementation in university settings

Recent Trends in Publications: Transition from mycological research (e.g., Magnaporthe oryzae biology) to focused studies on disability advocacy in STEM education. Recent work examines science researcher identity formation and qualitative research methods for early-career scholars.

Labs/Teams: Pfiefer Lab explores educational equity and disability inclusion in STEM through collaborative interdisciplinary projects.