Samantha Serna-Pemberthy

Pronouns: She/Her

Languages: English, Spanish

 

Biographical Sketch:

Hi, I’m Samantha Serna-Pemberthy, but you can call me Sam! I’m a dedicated Bioengineering student at Northeastern University with a passion for research, design, and leadership. My experience spans across cutting-edge biomedical research and creative digital content development, allowing me to bridge the gap between science and communication.

 

In the lab, I have worked on fibrin-thrombin gel degradation for 3D cancer models as an Undergraduate Research Assistant at the TUMOR Lab. Additionally, I contributed to NASA-funded Alzheimer’s disease research at Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s Lemere Lab, where I am a co-author on a paper in preparation for submission. If you’re interested, the paper will be titled: “ApoE Genotype-Dependent Changes in Mice with Alzheimer’s Disease Mutations Exposed to GCRsim and Gamma Irradiation.”

 

Beyond research, I lead branding and social media initiatives for organizations such as the Association of Latino Professionals for America Northeastern University (ALPFA NU), Latin American Student Organization (LASO), PODER, and Sigma Xi The Scientific Research Honor Society NU Chapter. Now, at Research Girl, Inc., I manage social media content and digital design, helping to amplify the organization’s mission of scientific outreach and mentorship. I’m so excited to be a part of such an amazing organization!

 

As a first-generation Colombian-American student, I’m deeply committed to increasing access to STEM opportunities and building communities where underrepresented students feel seen, supported, and inspired.

 

I’m driven by curiosity, collaboration, and a desire to make a meaningful impact, and I hope to one day work at the intersection of biomedical research and innovation—specifically in the field of regenerative medicine, where I can contribute to growing or 3D-printing tissues and organs to help address the organ transplant shortage and improve patient outcomes.

 

Awards & Honors:

• Spring 2025 PEAK Experience Ascent Award – Northeastern University ($1,500)

  • Awarded for research on fibrin-thrombin gel degradation in glioma models, analyzing spheroid growth, cytokine expression, and testing proteolytic inhibitors to enhance gel stability for 3D cancer and drug delivery models.

• Generational Health Scholarship by Digital Ready

• Brigham and Women’s Hospital Student Success Jobs Program (SSJP) Scholarship

 

Selected Works:

• Co-author on a NASA-funded Alzheimer’s research paper (In preparation for submission): “ApoE Genotype-Dependent Changes in Mice with Alzheimer’s Disease Mutations Exposed to GCRsim and Gamma Irradiation.”