Samantha Fineman
Samantha Fineman is a rising junior at University of Pennsylvania studying Biology with a minor in Statistics. She is motivated by the potential of data-driven research to improve patient outcomes and is particularly interested in pharmaceutical research and analytical approaches to improving health outcomes, especially among aging populations. After graduating from Penn, she plans to pursue a career at the intersection of biostatistics, epidemiology, and biomedical research.
As a member of the 2026 SUMR cohort, Fineman is contributing to two research projects focused on FDA policy, aging, and population health. Under the mentorship of Holly Fernandez Lynch, she is examining ethical considerations surrounding confirmatory drug trials following the FDA accelerated approval pathway. She also works with Hans-Peter Kohler on research investigating epigenetic aging and cognitive decline among older adults in Malawi using longitudinal biosocial data.
Outside of SUMR, Fineman conducts research in Penn’s Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics and has contributed to clinical and translational research projects at both Sarasota Memorial Hospital and Boston University.
At Penn, Fineman serves as a Project Lead for the Wharton Undergraduate Healthcare Club and as a Teaching Assistant for The Wharton School’s Health Care Management Department. She also volunteers with Save A Child’s Heart, supporting access to pediatric cardiac care in underserved communities.
In her spare time, she enjoys running, cooking, and traveling.