Breaking Barriers in STEM

Samantha Amadio connects science to care, research to rehabilitation, and mentoring to opportunity for women in STEM. She grew up in Staten Island and always gravitated to math and science. 

“Ever since I was a kid, I always loved science and math—they were my strong suit in school,” she said. 

Physical therapy became personal early on. Her brother has special needs and she spent her childhood around physical therapists, which meant a lot to her, as she was able to see herself practicing in that field.

Amadio earned a biology degree and then a doctorate in physical therapy at Sacred Heart University. In graduate school she chose neurology instead of the more common orthopedics path. 

“That made me a bit of a minority among my classmates,” she said. “But I had wonderful professors, all women, who were neurologic physical therapists that helped me build the confidence to follow that path.”

Today she is a research physical therapist at the Biomechanics Research for the Advancement of Veteran Outcomes Lab at the Department of Veterans Affairs in New York City. She works with engineers and research scientists to collect functional outcome measures and to run 3D motion capture. 

The goal is to translate biomechanics into better mobility and quality of life for veterans with limb loss. A recent study focused on transfemoral limb loss. 

“I provide and coach a rehabilitation program designed to help participants walk with a specific type of prosthetic foot,” she said.

Amadio also leads outreach. With Alexis Petropoulos, she runs BRAVO for STEM: Leveling the Equation for Young Women. They visit middle and high schools and bring prosthetic devices and 3D printed anatomical models into the classroom. 

“We present to young girls about what it looks like to work in a STEM field,” she said. “Having tangible items makes it real.”

Inside the lab she mentors interns. Amadio grounds them in anatomy, marker placement for motion capture, and the planes of movement used in gait analysis. She pairs those lessons with case studies so students can connect data to patient challenges. 

“There is often a disconnect between lab work and what happens in the clinic,” Amadio said. “My goal is to help bridge that gap.”
 

An intern’s view

Judy Pavel studies at Rutgers in New Brunswick. She is earning an undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering with a planned graduation in 2026. At the VA Gait Lab she helps organize data from completed studies and assists with motion capture sessions. 

“Every day is a little different,” she said. “At first I learned the motion capture system and how to process data with Visual3D. Now I am organizing past study datasets. It changes week by week.”

Pavel first thought about becoming a doctor, then realized she preferred engineering. 
“I really do like math and science,” she said. 

In high school she took a STEM class with capstone projects and joined a Sunday Girls Who Code course at a local community college. At home she read Popular Mechanics and Popular Science that her older brother received. 

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“I do not think I heard the word STEM until high school,” she said. “But I always enjoyed reading about new technology and how things were created.”

She found the BRAVO internship by asking for a biomechanics research role outside Rutgers’ usual focus. A faculty contact connected her to the VA lab. Funding through the Narrows Institute covered the first eight weeks. When it ended, she stayed. 

“I started in May and the funded part was eight weeks,” Pavel said. “I am still here as a VA volunteer because I am learning so much, and it feels good to give back to veterans in my own way.”

The work has clarified what research looks like from the inside. 

“I have learned what research actually is,” she said. “A day or two of data collection and then months of processing. It can get tedious, but it is worth it when you get results.”

Another key piece is a weekly lecture series with Petropoulos on how to do research. The sessions cover framing questions, reviewing literature, evaluating sources, and shaping a proposal. 

“School does not always teach you what research really is,” Pavel said. “I learned how to look for the right papers, decide if they are legitimate, break them down into parts we can understand, and use that to write a proposal. It is very valuable to have outside of school.”

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“It is very special that I get time with the doctors here,” she said, in regards to the access she has to mentors. “They are doing really interesting work, and everyone has been kind. I was nervous at first, but there was nothing to be afraid of.”
 

Why mentorship matters

Amadio remembers how unclear STEM paths felt in high school. Most guidance centered on getting into college, not on understanding careers. 

“It is important for interns to have mentors so they can see there is a place for them in this field,” she said. “Even if they are one of a few who take that path, they should know it is possible.”

Pavel relies on two female mentors in the biomedical engineering department at Rutgers for academic planning and everyday decisions. 

“They have more experience than I do, and more connections,” she said. “Sometimes you need guidance from someone who has been there.”

Pavel also helped rebuild the community on campus by relaunching the ASME student chapter and serving as vice president. The chapter hosts CAD competitions and study break nights during midterms. 

“ASME looks really good on a résumé,” she said. “Even being a member connects you to other mechanical engineers.”

Looking ahead, Pavel is exploring opportunities to land. Prosthetics interests her, as does research and development at a medical device company. The plan is to keep sampling areas through internships. The common worry remains finding a job that fits her training. 

“It is a fair worry for a lot of students,” she said. “Will I get a job, and will it be in the field I studied?”
 

Staying the course

Amadio notes that women make up much of physical therapy, but sports and orthopedics still skew male. Her advice is straightforward, which is to find mentors, trust your interests and keep going even if you feel like an outsider. This message to her younger self still stands. 

“Be confident in your choices and do not look to others for confirmation,” she said. “There are opportunities out there. You can find them or someone can help you find them. If you push outside voices away, you can do more than you expected.”

From as student's perspective, Pavel recommends looking for access, asking for chances, and learning by doing. 

“In classes you sit, take notes, and take an exam,” she said. “You might forget the information quickly. You really learn when you do something, which is what internships give you.”

Together, mentor and mentee show how a lab can become a place where biomechanics meets lived experience, where research turns into motion, and where future engineers can see themselves growing into the work.

Video by ASME’s Video Production Team. Article by Aida M. Toro.