My research interests are in the realm of women’s health and prenatal and/or postpartum care. I am curious about how and why access to healthcare resources could be less attainable and available to certain minority or disadvantaged women populations. Along with this, I hope to understand which policies and programs can be implemented to dismantle barriers for these populations. During the year, I work with Dr. Emily F Gregory in the department of pediatrics at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia studying health after preterm birth. With the support of University Scholars, I am currently working on my independent research project looking at possible barriers for pregnant teenagers and young mothers in receiving healthcare resources. Outside of my research, I volunteer at Puentes De Salud and form part of Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Physical Health Advisory Board.

• Research Assistant to Dr. Emily F Gregory, Department of Pediatrics

Across five years of research experience, I have worked in various settings ranging from ophthalmology to patient safety and developmental medicine. My academic interests span broadly across child development and translational neuroscience, but I am most passionate about research at the intersection of early adversity and developmental psychopathology. In my future career, I hope to combine rigorous qualitative methods with advanced neuroimaging techniques to study the etiological heterogeneity of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders across the lifespan. 

Before transferring to Penn, I studied early childhood intervention under Dr. Philip Fisher in the Stress Neurobiology and Prevention (SNAP) Lab at the University of Oregon. At Penn, I research early socio-emotional development within parent-child interactions in the Emotion, Development, Environment, & Neurogenetics (EDEN) Lab under Dr. Rebecca Waller. Currently, I am assisting in developing a novel observational coding measure to characterize social affiliation in children and leading an independent project to investigate early affective displays as risk factors for callous-unemotional traits.

• Research Assistant in the Emotion, Development, Environment, & Neurogenetics (EDEN) Lab
• Research Assistant in the Stress Neurobiology and Prevention (SNAP) Lab (2019–2024)
• Vice President for Research and Innovation (VPRI) Undergraduate Fellow (2021)
• PMG Group Lead

My research interest lies in the neurological bases and development of anxiety disorders. Specifically, I am interested in the use of brain imaging, psychophysiology, and genetics to understand how pathological anxiety disorders operate in the brain. I have worked under Dr. Ayelet Ruscio in the Boundaries of Anxiety and Depression Lab since my freshman year at the University of Pennsylvania, assisting in various projects aimed at analyzing the differences, commonalities, and relationship between anxiety and depression. With the support of University Scholars, I am currently collaborating on a project designing a program to clean data from the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for the DSM-5 (ADIS-5). Outside of my research, I am involved with the Netter Center, I volunteer with Penn’s Project for Philosophy for the Young, and I do technical work for Bloomers Comedy.

• University Scholar
• Research Assistant to Dr. Ayelet Ruscio, Department of Psychology
• PMG Group Lead

My research interests primarily involve psychoanalysis, gender, and memory, which I synthesize with creative writing. Currently, I’m working on a short story collection in conversation with these themes, as well as class. For the upcoming year with University Scholars, I intend to support the project’s new stories, by researching thought processes and bodily disalienation. Previously, I’ve conducted a study on the effect of humor on learning and student engagement. In my free time, I enjoy coaching Speech for the Bronx High School of Science, producing theatre on campus, and acting as a cast member and Co-Head Writer of Mask and Wig, a musical sketch comedy group.

Sam studies the impact of social media algorithms on our trust in institutions (like the government). He is currently a research assistant for Dr. Metaxa at the Penn Human Computer Interaction Lab. He has a secondary research interest in computer science and the law, and is currently working with the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence to study this area. His independent work as a University Scholar examines the impact of education on the development of policy on emerging technologies. Beyond research, Sam works with college students to engage them with their local government on tech policy issues through the Paragon Fellowship, and serves as the operations director of the Penn SFORZA music group. In his free time, Sam likes to host dinner parties, hiking, photography, poker, and learning history---Ancient Egypt & Old English are among his favorite topics.

• University Scholar
• Research Assistant to Professor Metaxa Department of Computer and Information Science
• SNF Paideia Fellow
• PMG Group Lead

My research interests are in the realm of global macroeconomics, monetary policy, financial economics, and investment management. Specifically, I enjoy analyzing the financial underpinnings of both macroeconomic trends as well as fundamentals investing in businesses, all in the purpose of bringing together applied mathematics, financial economics, and behavioral economics together to improve investing success. I have worked in London for a global macro hedge fund as a trading intern analyzing rates and in New York at a derivatives hedge fund researching convertible bonds and portfolio management. In terms of independent research, I am currently looking into conducting an analysis of equity swaps markets and the advantage is poses to hedge funds when taking market neutral trading strategies, and quantifying their benefits and costs in the purpose of informing manager decision making. Outside of my research, I enjoy running, rowing (casually), watching soccer, and playing poker.

• University Scholar
• Summer Intern at Capstone Investment Advisors
• Summer Intern at Capula Investment Management