The path to pursuing a passion

PHOTO: Ana Ebrahimi has pursued her love for STEM, turning it into a beneficial career.

By Ava C. Giovannettone

BlueDevilHUB.com Staff––

Ana Ebrahimi received her Ph.D. in Mechanical engineering in 2018 and is now working in science policy for the National Institute of Health. She is passionate about justice issues, and bringing science into more government policies.

Ebrahimi attended Davis High and graduated in 2008. Although Ebrahimi didn’t exactly know what she wanted to do after high school while at DHS, she did have some ideas. She had always loved math and science and knew she wanted to be some type of engineer.

Ebrahimi shared her love for math with her mother, as well as her interest in engineering with her father, who was a civil engineer for the Department of California Transportation.

Another manifestation of her passion for science was gymnastics. As she grew older, she learned about how much physics and math were involved in her sport. “I loved learning how to manipulate your body to change your performance,” she said.

In high school, Ebrahimi had the idea that she would teach when she grew up and went into college thinking the same. 

In college, she took multiple teaching courses but realized in grad school that she didn’t want to be a professor. Instead, Ebrahimi found a passion in grad school for justice issues and is now making sure resources are accessible to all. 

Currently, she works in the “Neurological Disorders and Stroke” department of the National Institute of Health, where she helps distribute grants to biomedical researchers around the country.