Genes in Space Alumni Earn Forbes 30 Under 30 Recognition
The city lights of North America appear under Earth's airglow and a starry night sky in this photograph from the International Space Station as it orbited 262 miles above Earth. Paired with the Genes in Space logo.
Media Credit: NASA
Finsam Samson and Selin Kocalar, former Genes in Space winners who launched projects to the space station, honored by Forbes
December 11, 2025
Two former Genes in Space™ student research competition winners have reached new heights, albeit this time on Earth. Finsam Samson, winner of the 2019 Genes in Space competition, and Selin Kocalar, winner in 2022, both launched genetics research projects to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the program’s mission to prepare the next generation of scientists.
Since their experiments were done on the ISS, these innovators have continued to push boundaries. Samson went on to Stanford University, while Kocalar pursued studies at MIT. Each partnered with like-minded visionaries to develop AI-driven business models that earned them a prestigious distinction from Forbes 30 Under 30 for 2026 (AI division), spotlighting their entrepreneurial impact.
Over the years, the Genes in Space program (founded by Boeing and miniPCR) has enabled more than a dozen student-led investigations onboard the ISS, resulting in multiple publications that advance biomedical research in microgravity and encourage students to think beyond Earth’s horizons. This Forbes recognition is testimony not only to the quality of scholars attracted to Genes in Space but also a springboard into careers in which these innovators continue to break barriers to benefit humanity.
We congratulate these two remarkable alumni on their achievements and look forward to seeing how future Genes in Space participants will continue to shape science and innovation.
