B.S., Architecture and Urbanism, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil

M.S., Lighting, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute;

Ph.D., Multidisciplinary Science, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Mariana Figueiro, Ph.D., is Light and Health Program Director at the Lighting Research Center (LRC) and Professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She conducts research on the effect of light on human health, circadian photobiology, and lighting for older adults. Figueiro holds a bachelor’s in architectural engineering from the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil, and a master’s in lighting and a doctorate in multidisciplinary science from Rensselaer. Her master’s and Ph.D. dissertation research focused on the area of human circadian response to light. Figueiro is the recipient of the 2007 NYSTAR James D. Watson Award, the 2008 Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award, and the 2010 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute James M. Tien ’66 Early Career Award for Faculty. She is the author of numerous scientific articles in her field of research, along with the AARP-sponsored publication, Lighting the Way: a Key to Independence, which provides guidelines for the design of lighting to meet the needs of older adults. In addition, Figueiro has developed a 24-hour lighting design plan to help improve sleep quality in older adults and has conducted groundbreaking research in the use of lighting to improve postural stability among older populations.