Degree: Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with Specialization in Biochemistry 
Research Professor: Professor Jill Venton

Biography

Samuel grew up in Hawassa, Ethiopia until he moved to the U.S. and resided in Alexandria, VA in 2013.  He attended T.C. Williams High School. The fact that Samuel has only been in the U.S. a few short years makes his success at UVA, and in general, that much more remarkable. Despite the myriad changes and challenges Samuel faced as his family resettled in northern Virginia, he graduated at the top of his class at T.C. Williams High School and received a full scholarship to the University of Virginia. He will be graduating from UVA with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (Specialization in Biochemistry) with ACS Certification and High Distinction.           

Samuel got to know Professor Venton in her Analytical Chemistry Laboratory class, and he was attracted by her research program (Analytical Neurochemistry) which was in line with his aspirations. Venton lab is focused on the development of sensing and sampling techniques for the detection of new molecules in the brain. They aim to study the real-time release of many different neurotransmitters simultaneously to better understand healthy and diseased functioning of the brain. Samuel’s project in the Venton lab has a focus on electrochemical detection of Adenosine and ATP at carbon-fiber microelectrode (CFME) using Fast-Scan Cyclic Voltammetry (FSCV) and surfactant modification to promote selectivity. Adenosine and ATP are indispensable extracellular signaling molecules that are implicated in many disorders including neurodegenerative diseases. Given that the current techniques to measure the concentrations of Adenosine and ATP have slow time response, his project aims to develop a rapid analytical technique to discriminate and quantitate both Adenosine and ATP in real time. Samuel has successfully characterized the detection of Adenosine and ATP, and he is working on discriminating them. 

An Echols scholar, Raven Scholar, and NSCS Scholar, Samuel is a member of the American Medical Student Association; Ethiopian-Eritrean Student Association (EESA at UVA); OneWay Intervarsity Christian Fellowship; Peer Advising Program in the Office of African American Affairs (OAAA) at UVA; and was a Madison House volunteer for Medical Services at UVA Hospital among many others. Outside of the lab, Samuel enjoys listening to Contemporary Christian songs, reading books (especially the Bible), running, playing soccer, playing piano, and learning new languages (he speaks English, Spanish, Amharic, Sidamic and a little French). He has been a small group leader at OneWay Intervarsity Christian Fellowship for the last three years where he plans and leads small group meetings and bonding activities. He has also been a peer advisor for the last two years; he serves as a mentor and advisor to six entering class of first-year and transfer students. Following graduation, Samuel will be doing a research internship (SRIP) at UVA School of Medicine, and eventually, he will be pursuing MD-PhD.