Hello! I'm Sam
In addition to my research activity, I enjoy supervising students in biomedical research topics and teaching mathematics. I am active in numerous associations, and currently serve as a board member for the Society of Mathematical Biology and a Science Policy Fellow for the Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics. In my spare time, I compete in equestrian competitions and am on the board of directors for New Life Center for Thoroughbreds.

Samantha Erwin, PhD
Applied Mathematics, Computational Biology, Infectious Diseases
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Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge, TN 37831
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EXPERIENCE
Sept. 2019-Present
Research & Development Associate Staff Member
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Scientist in the Computing and Computational Sciences directorate working in the Biomedical Systems Engineering and Computing group. The group uses artificial intelligence and supercomputing to solve the nation’s leading health initiatives.
I am actively recruiting undergraduates and early graduate students to participate in summer internships using artificial intelligence and machine learning for biomedical projects.
July 2017-August 2019
Postdoctoral Research Scholar
North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine
Based in Cristina Lanzas’s lab in the Population Health and Pathobiology Department. I developed mathematical models of molecular mechanisms in C. difficile infection and of antibiotic resistance using nonlinear mixed effect models.
2017-2018
Visiting Graduate Student
Biocomplexity Institute of Virginia Tech
I collaborated with bench-top scientist in the Nutritional Immunology and Molecular Medicine Laboratory (NIMML) to understand the effects in an HIV and HPV coinfection. I also participated in laboratory work to gain experience in experimental protocols.
EDUCATION
May 2017
Ph.D. Mathematics
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Dissertation Topic: “Mathematical models of immune responses to infectious diseases
June 2013
M.S. Mathematics
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Thesis Topic: “Modeling of Passive Chilled Beams for use in Efficient Control of Indoor-Air Environments”
May 2011
B.S. Mathematics
Murray State University
RECREATION
RECENT NEWS
[Jan 2020]
Awarded the SIAM Science Policy Fellowship for 2020 & 2021
[Dec 2019]
Named one of Murray State University’s Top 22 Under 40 Young Alumni
[Sept 2019]
Started work at Oak Ridge National Laboratory
[May 2019]
Winner of best poster at the NC State Postdoctoral Research Symposium.
[May 2019]
Appointed Chair of the Membership Committee for the Society of Mathematical Biology.
[April 2019]
Accepted to attend the University of Michigan NextProf Science Workshop
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
S Erwin, LM Childs, SM Ciupe. Mathematical model of broadly reactive plasma cell production Scientific Reports, 10(1), 1-12, 2020.
S Erwin, DM Foster, ME Jacob, MG Papich, C Lanzas. Mathematical mechanistic modeling the effects of fluoroquinolones on antimicrobial susceptibility of enteric bacteria. PLOS One, 15(1): e0228138. 2020.
C Lanzas, K Davies, S Erwin, D Dawson. On modelling environmentally-transmitted pathogens. Interface Focus, 10(1), 2019.