Sophia Merlino

Hi everyone! My name is Sophia, and I’m so excited to be a research mentor for incoming students at Penn. I can’t wait to share the experiences I’ve gained throughout my academic journey and help you get started on your own path in research.

I’ve been fortunate to explore a wide range of research areas during my time here. One of my most meaningful roles has been in the Emergency Department at Penn Medicine, where I’ve worked directly with patients in the ER while contributing to ongoing clinical research for multiple PIs. This experience taught me how research can have an immediate and powerful impact on patient care. I’m also involved in clinical drug trial studies in Penn Medicine's Cardiovascular Department, particularly for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a genetic heart condition. It’s been fascinating to see how pharmaceutical companies and hospitals around the world collaborate to test innovative new treatments. Being part of this work has given me insight into both the scientific and global aspects of healthcare research. Beyond clinical research, I’ve had hands-on lab experience, including dissecting fruit flies to study their reproductive biology, and conducting independent research on stents used in heart procedures. Most recently, I’ve been working in a lab which develops novel methods for restoring brain function after injury, using stem cell biology, neural tissue engineering, and neural interface technologies. I’m excited to be part of research that aims to improve outcomes for patients with brain-related pathologies while advancing our understanding of neural repair. Altogether, I truly love exploring different types of research, from wet lab to clinical trials and biomedical innovation

In addition to my science-related interests, I’m minoring in Italian Studies, which has opened up opportunities to explore research in the humanities as well. Penn’s Italian Department is incredibly active, and I’d be happy to help connect anyone interested in language, culture, or interdisciplinary research. No matter what field you’re curious about, I’m here to help you navigate the incredible research landscape at Penn. 

• Research Assistant For the Chen Lab at Penn Medicine (2025-present)
• Clinical Research Assistant for Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine Cardiovascular Department (2023 – present)
• Research Coordinator for Penn Medicine Academic Associates Program (2024 –2025)
• Independent research designing, 3D printing, and testing stents for Coronary Artery Angioplasty Procedure (2024)
• Brown University National Undergraduate Research Conference Attendee (2025)
• Independent Research Published to Penn Science Undergraduate Research Journal (2025)
• Published 2 cDNA analyses to National Center of Biotechnology Information (August 2022)