Samantha Pezzimenti, PhD

  • Assistant Professor
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Affiliated Programs

Education

  • PhD, Mathematics (2018)
    Bryn Mawr College (PA)
  • MA, Mathematics (2015)
    Bryn Mawr College (PA)
  • BS, Mathematics (2012)
    Ramapo College (NJ)

About Me

I earned my PhD in Mathematics from Bryn Mawr College in 2018, where my research focused on Legendrian knots and contact topology. I’m passionate about making mathematics accessible and engaging for all, and I’m especially interested in the intersections between mathematics and art.

I enjoy leading creative, hands-on outreach workshops that highlight the visual and playful side of math—exploring topics like the geometry of bubbles and the mathematics of coloring. My mathematical artwork has been exhibited at national conferences, and I was part of the collaborative team behind Mathemalchemy, a traveling art installation celebrating the beauty and creativity of mathematics.

In the classroom, I strive to create an environment where students feel empowered to take risks and learn through exploration. I encourage collaboration, curiosity, and the idea that mistakes are a vital part of the learning process.

Research Interests

My mathematical interests lie broadly in topology and knot theory. Imagine a tangled loop of string with its ends joined together—that’s a mathematical knot, and it opens the door to a rich world of intriguing problems and patterns. I’m especially passionate about working with undergraduate students on research projects, both in knot theory and in areas inspired by their own mathematical curiosities.

Publications

  • Kipe, M., Pezzimenti, S., Schauman, L., Ta, L., & Wong, W.H.T. (2025). Bounds on the mosaic number of Legendrian knots. Journal of Knot Theory and its Ramifications, forthcoming.
  • Pezzimenti, S., Meintel, T., & Shabon, A. (2025). Cubic knot mosaics. Involve, forthcoming.
  • Pezzimenti, S., & Pandey, A. (2022). Geography of Legendrian knot mosaics. Journal of Knot Theory and Its Ramifications. 31. 10.1142/S021821652250002X.
  • Pezzimenti, S., DiCicco, G., Kommoju, A., & Rajesh, D. (2021). Exploring and Extending the Impossible Card Location Trick. The College Mathematics Journal, 52(5), 356–363. https://doi.org/10.1080/07468342.2021.1967696

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

  • MAA
  • AWM

Awards

  • Early Career Teaching Award, EPaDel section of the MAA (2024)
  • D'Iorio Undergraduate Research Faculty Mentoring Award, Penn State Brandywine (2024)
  • Excellence in Teaching Award, Penn State Brandywine (2022)
  • McPherson Award for Excellence, Bryn Mawr College (2017)