Hi, I'm Sonya

I use data to uncover insights about healthcare.

Research data scientist, currently pursuing an MS in Data Science at Boston University. I build predictive models, wrangle millions of clinical records, and genuinely believe data science can make healthcare better for the people who need it most.

What I'm exploring now

Currently...

Updated May 2026

Deep in survival models. I've been studying the Anderson-Gill extension of the Cox model for recurrent events, along with joint frailty and shared frailty models. I used these to study recurrent exacerbations. The math is beautiful and the clinical applications are everywhere.

Part-time grad student life. Working toward my MS in Data Science at Boston University while continuing full-time research at Einstein. It's a lot, but I love it.

Reading everything from the VA research group. The work of Yan Xie, Taeyoung Choi, Ziyad Al-Aly, et al. on large-cohort post-COVID outcomes has been shaping how I address biases in observational studies.


About me

The short version

There is no single title that fully captures the scope of my work. I conduct research, perform data analysis, and build technical solutions, while remaining deeply engaged with the clinical aspects of healthcare. My role consistently bridges clinical research and data science, allowing me to translate complex healthcare data into insights that are both technically sound and clinically meaningful.

I am also a tutor, mentor, and lifelong learner. I have trained more than 90 researchers in data workflows and statistical methods and have developed educational resources to support reproducible and efficient research practices. My interest in continuous learning, particularly in emerging statistical and analytical approaches, has contributed to more than 20 peer-reviewed publications across a range of medical conditions and study designs.

I developed a passion for research since High school (The Manchester High School) where I was taught the fundamentals of scientific inquiry, this was further enhanced throughout undergraduate studies and my professional career. I am enjoying the learning process but have failed a lot more than I succeeded (Would I have it any other way? Honestly, yes but I am learning to fail forward).

Education

MS Data Science (In Progress)

Boston University · Expected 2027

BS Psychology, Magna Cum Laude

CUNY City College · 2021

Minor: Biology & Chemistry


Projects & Case Studies

How I think through problems

Machine Learning

Fine-tuning LLMs for clinical decision support

Developed and fine-tuned large language models to assist with complex diagnostic cases, outperforming baseline algorithms. Explored prompt engineering, RAG pipelines, and evaluation frameworks for clinical accuracy.

PythonLLM Fine-tuningRAGModel Evaluation
Data Engineering

Building research databases from millions of records

Extracted, cleaned, and transformed millions of unstructured healthcare records into structured SQL databases. Created analysis-ready datasets and custom queries used across multiple concurrent studies.

SQLPythonETL PipelinesData Cleaning
Research

Post-COVID pulmonary outcomes in the Bronx

Led a retrospective cohort study examining incidence rates and risk factors for pulmonary conditions up to 3 years post-COVID in an underserved urban population. First-author publication in Scientific Reports.

Cohort Study DesignStatistical AnalysisPythonSPSS

Publications · 23+ total peer-reviewed papers

First & co-first author papers

2026

Long-term impact of SARS-CoV-2 on recurrent COPD exacerbations

First Author · eBioMedicine · DOI

2025

Real-world clinical outcomes of CAR-T therapy from the Montefiore Health System in the Bronx

First Author · Ann Hematol · DOI

2025

Incidence rate and risk factors of pulmonary conditions three years post COVID-19 in Bronx, New York

First Author · Sci Rep · DOI

2025

SARS-CoV-2 infection increases long-term risk of pneumonia: an observational cohort study up to 46 months post-infection

Co-first Author · Clin Infect Dis · DOI

2025

Longer-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on asthma exacerbation

Co-first Author · J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract · DOI

View all 23+ publications on Google Scholar →

What I'm reading

Papers & groups shaping my thinking

Research Group

Yan Xie, Taeyoung Choi, Ziyad Al-Aly, et al.

I'm a big fan of thier work, especially their data analyses. Their large-cohort analyses on post-acute COVID outcomes have fundamentally shaped how I think about long-term disease burden and study design at scale. I especially admire how they control for biases. I learn something new every time I read their work.

Favorite Models

Anderson-Gill, joint frailty, and shared frailty models

My favorite models to date. I used the Anderson-Gill extension of Cox regression to study recurrent exacerbations, and I've been drawn to joint frailty and shared frailty models for the way they account for unobserved heterogeneity across patients.

Interest Area

LLMs in clinical decision support

Following the rapid evolution of how language models are being evaluated and deployed in clinical settings. Thinking about where they genuinely help vs. where the hype outruns the evidence.

Interest Area

Health equity in predictive modeling

The populations I study are often the ones most underrepresented in research. In research, there should always be a balance between generalizability and the need to address disparities.


Skills & Tools

What I work with

Python R SQL / MySQL SPSS Machine Learning LLM Fine-tuning RAG Prompt Engineering Survival Analysis Hyperparameter Tuning Epic Systems REDCap Google Cloud Platform IRB & Regulatory Team Training

Before research

Where I started

Before finding my way to research, I worked in customer service, tech support, and healthcare. Those roles taught me how to communicate clearly, troubleshoot under pressure, and build rapport with anyone. These experiences shaped how I approach collaboration and problem-solving today.

Medical Scribe, ScribeAmerica Tech Support, Hats & Ladders Customer Service, Collage.com Guest Advocate, Target Best Buy

Community

Giving back

Research Mentor

Albert Einstein College of Medicine · 2022–Present

Mentoring researchers learning the craft, from data workflows and statistical methods to navigating the research process.

College Mentor

UStrive · 2020–Present

Helping high school students navigate college applications, essays, and the process of getting there.

Scheduling Specialist

American Red Cross · 2021–2022

Managed volunteer shift scheduling and coordination for community programs.

Biology Tutor

The City Tutors · 2020

Tutored Intro to Biology students weekly across two semesters.


Beyond the lab

A few things that make me, me

What I listen to

Favorite classical pieces:

  • Pachelbel, Canon in D (my absolute favorite, especially the Brooklyn Duo version)
  • Yiruma, River Flows in You
  • Christopher Tin, Waloyo Yamoni
  • Beethoven

For a chill vibe:

  • Mali Music

I play the piano

I first played at 2 years old (taught by my dad). Currently on the hunt for a bass guitar.

My co-researcher, Oreo

Does not contribute to my publications but does provide moral support and the occasional keyboard interruption.

Oreo the cat