Mariana is currently working as a Research Analyst at Miller Research. She holds a BA (Hons) in Applied Social Sciences from Robert Gordon University and an MSc in Social Work, qualifications that combine strong research skills with practical knowledge of social care settings. Mariana has experience working in the criminal justice and residential care sectors and brings that experience to multidisciplinary evaluations and policy work, with particular interests in justice, child- and family-focused services, and sustainable practice. 

She has contributed and continues to contribute to a range of projects, including the review of Parent Wellbeing (Edge of Care and Reunification); White Paper consultation on Housing Adequacy/Fair Rents; qualitative research with children and families’ professionals; evaluation of the Diamond Reforms to Higher Education;  Joint Inspection Team (JIT) Evaluation; Welsh Justice Research Programme; public consultation analysis for  ‘Guidance to Support Trans Children and Young People in Education’ and the Best Start Evaluation: Midwifery Continuity of Carer (MCoC) research. Her work focuses on theory-driven research, mixed methods and programme evaluation to examine inequalities, service delivery and policy effectiveness. 

During her undergraduate degree Mariana explored how place-based stigma affects low-income communities and community justice and activist efforts; during her postgraduate studies she examined how child poverty is conceptualised in social work discourse and argued for poverty-informed, trauma-aware practice.

Outside Miller Research Mariana enjoys travelling, anything true-crime related, Pilates and Zumba!