Dr. Mojdeh Mardani

Senior Lecturer in Electronics

Work: +44 (0) 7513709107

Diversity and Inclusion Lead

I joined the Dyson Institute in February 2022 as a Senior Lecturer in Electronics, while also serving as the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Lead and the Learning and Teaching Lead for Staff Development. In these roles, I provide guidance and expertise in refining and enhancing the institution’s teaching and learning strategy. With over 17 years of experience teaching Electronics and Electrical Engineering courses at universities in the US, I bring a diverse pedagogical background across multiple instructional modalities.

As a proactive and dedicated educator, I am driven by an unwavering passion for teaching, mentoring, and fostering student engagement. I am deeply committed to supporting students from all backgrounds, particularly through efforts to empower underrepresented populations, including women and neurodivergent individuals. As a professionally trained academic mentor and advisor, I am well-versed in student success strategies, recruitment, outreach, and retention, which enables me to guide learners effectively throughout their academic journeys. My dedication to excellence has been recognized through numerous accolades, including Outstanding Faculty Awards, recognition for Excellence in Academic Advising, Outstanding Student Organization Faculty Advisor, and a Research Achievement Award.

In my role as the Institute’s EDI Lead, I am developing the institution’s EDI strategy and ensuring its integration and implementation within the context of Engineering Higher Education. Over the past decade, I have played a key role in creating strategies and initiatives to empower women and other underrepresented groups in Engineering and Science.

Before beginning my career in Higher Education, I worked as a Design Electronics Engineer and collaborated with Oracle products, developing tailored academic applications and supporting systems to meet the specific needs of educational institutions.

My multilingual background and experiences of living and working in different parts of the world give me a global perspective on fostering equity and inclusion in workplaces with diverse cultural and educational contexts. These experiences enhance my ability to develop strategies, lead research initiatives, and create inclusive educational environments.

The Dyson Institute is a pioneer in innovative Higher Education, integrating academic excellence with industrial experience to enable students to transcend boundaries and tackle global challenges. I am passionate about motivating and nurturing future engineers to cultivate creativity, curiosity, and analytical thinking, essential traits for future leaders and solution-seekers that align closely with my teaching philosophy.
With extensive experience in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (EDI) within Higher Education, I support Dyson’s mission to embrace diverse identities, abilities, backgrounds, and experiences. The Institute’s higher percentage of female engineers compared to institutions across the UK, US, and Europe reflects its strong commitment to redefining inclusivity in engineering—a vision I strive to help make the norm rather than the exception.

Qualifications

Ph.D. in Educational Foundations and Research
Master’s Degree in Electronics and Electrical Engineering
Bachelor’s Degree in Electronics and Electrical Engineering

Electrical Circuits and Machines
Digital Systems and Computer Architecture
Electronics Manufacturing and Assembly

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Research

I am a researcher with a Ph.D. in Educational Foundations and Research, specializing in pedagogical research with a focus on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) strategies and implementation. My work includes extensive experience conducting research to inform education and EDI policy, as well as designing, implementing, and evaluating strategic initiatives in academic settings. This involves producing data-driven policy reports and briefs while ensuring adherence to research ethics and standards.

My research explores the experiences of women and other underrepresented minority groups in STEM fields, particularly in engineering, examining how their professional and personal experiences influence motivation, perceived success, and sense of belonging in academic and professional environments. I have contributed to advancing diversity and inclusion in higher education and STEM through publications, conference presentations, training programs, and speaking engagements.

I have examined the Influence of Allies and Allyship, Discrimination, and Microaggressions on Motivation, Self-Determinate, and Perceived Success among Underrepresented Minority population, including Women in STEM particular emphasis on the field of Engineering.

Publications

M. Mardani, "Leadership Excellence: Promoting Allyship and Neurodiversity in the Workplace," presented at the IGPP 3rd National Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in Workplace Conference, London, U.K., Nov. 2024.
M. Mardani, "From Classroom to Career: Unlocking the Power of Neurodiversity in Engineering," presented at the IEEE PELS FEPPCON, Geneva, Switzerland, Sept. 2024.
M. Mardani and R. H. Stupnisky, "Allyship, From the Viewpoint of Underrepresented-Minority Faculty: Testing the Impact on Motivation and Workplace Relatedness," presented at the American Educational Research Association Conference, Philadelphia, PA, Apr. 11–14, 2024.
M. Mardani, "Examining the Impact of Allies and Allyship on Inclusion and Diversity," presented at the IGPP 2nd National Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in Workplace Conference, London, U.K., Mar. 2024.
M. Mardani, M. Salahuddin, and R. H. Stupnisky, "Examining underrepresented minority STEM faculty members’ motivation for research," *Interdisciplinary Educational Psychology*, vol. 3, no. 1, p. 4, 2023.
M. Mardani and R. H. Stupnisky, "Influence of Workplace Microaggressions on Engineering Female Faculty Motivation to do Research," *International Conference on Gender Research*, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 168–176, Ulster University, Northern Ireland, Apr. 21–26, 2023.
M. Mardani and R. H. Stupnisky, "Examining the Influence of Microaggressions on Underrepresented Minority STEM Faculty Members’ Motivation for Research," presented at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Conference, Chicago, IL, Apr. 13–16, 2023.
M. Mardani and R. H. Stupnisky, "*Underrepresented Minority STEM Faculty Members’ Motivation for Research: A Multi-Group Structural Equation Model Predicting Success,*" presented at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Conference, San Diego, CA, Apr. 22–25, 2022.
R. H. Stupnisky, C. Chang, M. Omojiba, A. Amida, V. Clinton-Lisell, M. J. Herbert, J. A. Jaeger, and M. Mardani, "University Faculty Motivation for Teaching and Research: A Systematic Literature Review," presented at the American Educational Research Association Conference, San Diego, CA, Apr. 22–25, 2022.
M. Mardani, "You’re in My Way: Discrimination of Women in Academia," presented at the Society of Women Engineers Annual Conference, National SWE Conference, Los Angeles, CA, Oct. 2021.
M. Mardani and R. H. Stupnisky, "Examining Underrepresented Minority STEM Faculty Members’ Motivation for Research," presented at the American Educational Research Association Conference, Apr. 2021.
M. Mardani, "Women in Science: Cultural Norms and Need for Change," presented at Red River Women’s Studies Conference, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, Nov. 2013.
M. Mardani, "Women Education in the Middle East," presented at National Women’s History Month Panel, Women Center, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, Oct. 2012.