Alexandra “Alex” Martinez Lopez is a neuroscience PhD student at the University of Pennsylvania and an emerging leader at the intersection of science, innovation, and impact. As an executive board member of the Penn Biotech Group, she works to bridge the gap between academic research and the biotech industry, by creating opportunities for early-career scientists to become problem solvers through the Penn Healthcare Case Competition.

Alex is passionate about expanding access to opportunities in STEM-especially across Latin America. She is a founding member of InspiraSTEM, the first STEM conference in El Salvador led by internationally trained Salvadorian scientists, launching in July 2025 to empower Salvadorian university students through hands-on learning and mentorship. 

Before coming to Penn, Alex earned an Erasmus Mundus Master’s in Bioscience and Bioengineering Innovations for Precision Medicine in Spain and Switzerland, and a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from Wellesley College. At Penn, she investigates rare pediatric neurological diseases under the mentorship of Dr. Mariko Bennett, MD, PhD.