As an EDC researcher, Ariana Riccio Arista’s work focuses primarily on transitions to employment and higher education for autistic adolescents and young adults. Her research relates to improving resources and programming for autistic youth by using participatory research design, which employs the autistic community as co-creators of research products. By including autistic voices and expertise in all her work, Riccio aims to create curriculum, transition supports, and pre-employment campus programming to mitigate the gap in services that autistic individuals experience in post-secondary settings.

Her ongoing projects include:
-       NSF IUSE Engaging Autistic STEM Undergraduates in Creating Supportive Learning Environments (PI)
-       Making Mentors: Enhancing Access to STEM Careers for Autistic Youth through Mentorship Programs in Makerspace (co-PI)
-       NASA’s Neurodiversity Network (N3): Creating Inclusive Informal Learning Opportunities Across the Spectrum
-       Evaluation: Promoting Engagement in Informal STEM Learning as a Path to Employment for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Ariana holds a PhD in developmental psychology from the Graduate Center of The City University of New York (CUNY) and a BS in biology and community health from Tufts University.