As a coastal geomorphologist, Mayra Román-Rivera‘s research focuses on understanding changes that occur in the coast over time, how they change landscapes, how they affect communities and people, and if these changes can be mitigated. She has done research on coasts, including Puerto Rico, Cape Cod, North Carolina, and South Carolina. She participates in community outreach and citizen science programs that help people become better prepared for changes, as she believes it’s a scientist’s responsibility to do so.

Her publications include Two Years and Two Hurricanes Later: Did the Dunes Recover? and Assessing Natural and Mechanical Dune Performance in a Post-Hurricane Environment. This year, The Office of Undergraduate Research awarded her with Faculty Research Assistance Funding and she is affiliated with professional organizations such as the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education.