Carina Vlaun, CAST Tech ‘21 is blazing her own path as a woman in STEM. Currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science with minors in Mathematics and Bioinformatics, Carina plans to earn her PhD and continue a career in research. 

Last summer, Carina worked on a research project in Dayton, Ohio in which she created a model to analyze the positive impact that the Dayton, Ohio Foodbank had on formerly incarcerated individuals who were re-entering back into the community. Currently, Carina is still partnered on this research project and plans on continuing helping undergraduate students who join the project for Summer 2025. 

During her time at CAST Tech, Carina took advantage of the opportunities provided such as internships, mentorship, and forming strong relationships with her teachers. Ultimately, through these experiences, Carina discovered her passion for computer science and decided to pursue her degree. Carina recognizes that although STEM is a male-dominated field, she is proving that women can thrive both academically and professionally in the STEM field.