Mirna Haffar

CDU/UCLA SummerSART 

Research intern June-September 2022 / June-September 2023

• Mentors: Dr. Kamrul Hasan and Dr Theodore C. Friedman
• Research Pillar: endocrinology and internal medicine
• Gender effects of E-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes compared to normal and high fat diets on fatty liver disease
• Acquired skills: Western Blots, Tissue sectioning, Histology staining, Triglyceride Assay, and Fatty acid Assays.
• Professionally presented and disseminated research data and results at multiple seminars and conferences, effectively communicating findings to diverse audiences.

UCR Brain Game Center

Research assistant September 2023 to current

• Orchestrated and conducted two key experiments: ROHS (Online Hearing Test) and PLFest (Vision Test Game). Administered the ROHS, an online hearing test with four conditions, using a challenging game to assess hearing limits. Managed PLFest, a vision test game comprising seven cognitive tasks, contributing to research on vision-related conditions.
• Led interdisciplinary teams, collaborating with psychologists, neuroscientists, and computer scientists under the guidance of Professor Aaron Seitz.
• Contributed to the public dissemination of tested procedures, impacting research on auditory processing deficits, vision loss, dyslexia, and autism.

UCR Biomaterials lab 

Neural Tissue Engineering Team - June 2024 to current

• Working in the Innovative Biomaterials Lab on neural tissue engineering projects under the guidance of Dr. Iman Noshadi.
• Collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to explore and develop biomaterials for neural tissue applications.
• Gaining hands-on experience in research methodologies, data analysis, and lab techniques in the field of neural engineering.

Best Buddies organization                                                                                                                                  

Volunteer/event coordinator- January 2019 to June 2022

• Collaborated with a team of aids and teachers to provide the best possible inclusive and supportive learning environment for all special needs students.
• Created smart education tools such as visual aids and accessible classroom displays to help foster learning for special needs students, as well as worked one on one with each special needs student.

Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center 

Intern Volunteer- March 2019 to Current

• Participated in multiple rotations throughout the hospital specializing in the departments of diabetes, pediatrics, urgent care, and emergency medicine.
• Assisted nursing staff with cart refills and patient needs, providing essentials like food, water, and blankets; guided patients through the hospital and answered questions, including verbal translation for Arabic-speaking patients.
• Shadowed physicians in various specialties as they were in practice and on their rounds checking on patients.

Syrian American Medical Council

Volunteer - January 2018 to current

• Advocated for the protection of hospitals, healthcare workers, and civilians in Syria; supported humanitarian access initiatives.
• Planned and managed fundraising events, handling logistics, marketing, and community outreach to support SAMS’s missions.
• Coordinated volunteer activities for medical missions, ensuring effective delivery of healthcare to Syrian refugees and underserved communities.