We welcome our 2026 Summer Research Fellows

The Project on Workforce welcomes Samantha Zemser, Gustavo Faúndez Osorio, Eman Manya, and Natasha Mendoza as summer research fellows. Samantha will analyze how Governors are advancing workforce program quality and accountability through new performance metrics, organizational structures, and state-level investments as part of our Governors & State Workforce Systems project. Gustavo, Eman, and Natasha will document the impact of healthcare-focused high schools on students' economic futures and healthcare talent shortages in communities across the country as part of our Healthcare Career & Technical Education project.

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Samantha Zemser

Samantha Zemser is a dual-degree MBA and Master in Public Administration candidate at the Wharton School and the Harvard Kennedy School. This summer, she is continuing her work as a research assistant with the Harvard Project on Workforce, analyzing how Governors are advancing workforce program quality and accountability through new performance metrics, organizational structures, and state-level investments

While in graduate school, Samantha has worked with the Future Forward Institute, as an Investment Associate at the impact investing firm Impact Engine. The previous summer, she was a Venture Capital Intern at Springbank Collective, where she evaluated early-stage companies and investment opportunities across healthcare, workforce, and consumer.

Prior to graduate school, Samantha began her career as a Consultant at Deloitte before joining Multiverse, where she held roles across admissions, partnerships, product marketing, and operations as an early member of the company's U.S. team.

Samantha was born and raised in New York City and earned her undergraduate degree from Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations.

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Gustavo Faúndez Osorio

Gustavo Faúndez is a researcher focused on the transition from high school to higher education and the workforce. This summer he joined the Harvard Project on Workforce as a Summer Research Fellow, where he is studying the opportunities and challenges of healthcare-focused high schools.

Prior to joining Harvard, Gustavo worked at Chile's Ministry of Education, where he contributed to the design and implementation of higher education admissions policies. He also co-founded a nonprofit that promoted college enrollment among students in underserved high schools, and conducted research on equitable access to higher education.

Gustavo recently graduated with a Master in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and will pursue a PhD in Education Policy and Program Evaluation at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

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Eman Manya

Eman Manya recently graduated from the Harvard Graduate School of Education with an Ed.M. in Education Leadership, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship. This summer, she joins the Harvard Project on Workforce as a Summer Research Fellow, contributing to research on healthcare-focused high schools and their role in expanding workforce pathways, improving educational opportunities, and addressing healthcare talent shortages.

Before Harvard, Eman spent over eight years teaching economics and business in Pakistan and the United States after beginning her career in strategy and marketing. At Harvard, she worked with Project Zero's Next Level Lab, where she conducted research on workforce learning pathways and experiential education programs.

Eman's interests lie at the intersection of workforce development, organizational learning, education, and strategy. She is particularly interested in how cross-sector partnerships and innovative learning models can create more equitable pathways from education to meaningful careers. She earned her BSc in Business Management from Queen Mary University of London.

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Natasha Mendoza

Natasha Mendoza is a recent graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where she earned a Master's in Education Policy and Analysis. She holds a B.S. in Biology from the University of Houston and earned her teaching certification through teachHOUSTON, also at the University of Houston.

Natasha taught AP Biology at a career and technical high school, where her work centered on preparing students for both college and career pathways. While at Harvard, Natasha worked with Chelsea Public Schools, focusing on teacher learning and development. 

This summer, she  joined the Harvard Project on Workforce as a Summer Research Fellow, contributing to research on healthcare-focused high schools. As a Summer Fellow, she is excited to explore the intersection of teacher development, career and technical education, and equitable access to workforce pathways.