Samson Sam W.

Smith
2153 NE Weidler St. Portland, OR 97232 (503) 560-3085 samss@pdx.edu

Education
MS, Biology, Portland State University, Portland, OR, 2012. GPA: 3.88/4.0 Credit hours: 72 BS, Biology, summa cum laude, chemistry minor, Washburn University, Topeka, KS, 2009. Biology honors, Presidents List for almost all enrolled semesters. GPA: 3.87/4.0 Credits hours: 135 GED, Spokane Falls Community College, Spokane, WA, 1996. Degree: G.E.D., 1996

Teaching Experience
GTA, BI 337 Cell Biology Laboratory, PSU Professor: Todd Rosenstiel / Jeffrey Singer Fall 2009, Winter 2010, Fall 2010, Winter 2011, Fall 2011, Winter 2012 Taught weekly labs, graded assignments, authored both the weekly quizzes and practical exams. Proctored midterm exams and final exam for lecture. Graded and recorded midterm and final exam scores. Coached students to improve lab and writing skills. Led weekly teaching meetings. GTA, BI 235 Microbiology Laboratory, PSU Professor: Radu Popa Spring 2011 Prepared media and cultures during non-class days. Taught weekly labs, graded assignments, authored quizzes and practical exam. Mentored students which included answering inquiries in-class, through email and during office hours. GTA, BI 253 Principles of Biology Laboratory, PSU Professor: Randy Zelick, Radu Popa Spring 2010, Spring 2012, Summer 2012 Taught weekly labs, graded assignments, authored quizzes. Actively participated in weekly lab meetings offering suggested corrections to lab materials and supported new TAs with advice and mentorship.

Instructor, Lab Skills Workshop, PSU June 2010, Jan. 2012 Co-created and taught this hand-on workshop aimed at pre-med and pre-veterinary students as well as general beginners to the college laboratory environment. Developed

the course in collaboration with a colleague to introduce basic laboratory techniques such as sterile technique, microscope and pipet usage, and graphing. Coordinated with PSU lab supply to verify availability of rooms and supplies. Teacher, RolyPoly Science, Mater Dei Catholic School, Topeka, KS. Aug. - Nov. 2006. After-school program for 2nd-4th graders. Instructed students on basic scientific principles and reasoning by creating and leading experiments with terrestrial isopods.

Research & Laboratory Experience

In the lab of PI: Suzanne Estes, PhD, Portland State University. Graduate student, Sept. 2009 - Present. Studying the role of reactive oxygen species as mediators of life history tradeoffs in Caenorhabditis elegans. Actively sought out and troubleshooted novel methods of experimentation. Designed experiments from planning through execution and final analysis. Paid lab assistant, June 2009 - Sept. 2009. Assisted graduate students and PI with lab tasks and light experimentation. Worked with several individuals to satisfy various experimentspecific requirements. Volunteer lab assistant, Winter 2009. Prepared media, performed general lab tasks and ordering. In the lab of PI: John C. Mullican, PhD, Washburn University. K-INBRE-funded undergraduate researcher, Summer 2008. Continued sampling of targeted water supply to re-obtain positive Naegleria fowleri samples and performed genetic analysis of samples. K-INBRE-funded undergraduate researcher, Summer 2006. Conducted research to determine the presence of pathogenic amoeboflagellate, N. fowleri, in northeastern Kansas recreational waterways. Volunteer Lab Assistant, Spring 2006 and until leaving Washburn University. Research focus: Maintained stock cultures of N. fowleri, produced agar media using sterile technique, poured and inoculated plates, cleaned lab glassware and performed other laboratory duties as assigned.

Community and Civic Service

Judge, Intel Northwest Science Expo, Portland State University. March 2012. Judge, Beaverton-Hillsboro Science Expo, January 2011. Judge, Oregon Junior Academy of Sciences, February 2010. Room Monitor and Registration Attendant, Evolution 2010. Technology Consultant, Equity Foundation, Speakeasy Casino: A Night to Get Lucky! March 2010.

Office Assistant, Topeka AIDS Project. 2004-2009. Runner Guide, Topeka Organ Donor Memorial Run for Life, Topeka, KS. March 2007. Campaign Worker, Tiffany Muller for Topeka City Councilwoman. April 2005. Alternative Spring Break, Berkeley Marina, Berkeley, CA. Shoreline cleanup and maintenance of adventure playground facilities. March 2005.

Honors and Awards

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Commendation Award at the Masters Level, PSU, June 2012. Presidents Award for Outstanding University Service, PSU, June 2012. Boone Graduate Student Excellence in Teaching Award, PSU, 2011-12 school year. Second Place Poster Award. Graduate Symposium, Effect of Oxidative Stress on Somatic Nuclear Mutation Rate and Aging in Caenorhabditis elegans, Portland State University, October 2010. John C. Johnson First Prize Poster Presentation Award. TriBeta Biological Honor Society District Convention, Environmental isolation of Naegleria fowleri in Northeast Kansas, March 2007. Freshman Chemistry Award. Washburn University, May 2006. Volunteer of the Year. Topeka AIDS Project, May 2005. Presidents Honor Roll. Most enrolled semesters, Washburn University.

Leadership
Vice President, Biology Investigation and Outreach (Biology Club). 2010-11. President, TriBeta Biological Honor Society, Washburn University. 2008-09 Student Senator, Washburn Student Government Association, Allocations, and Internal Finance Committees. 2007-08. Treasurer, TriBeta Biological Honor Society, Washburn University. 2007-08. Communications Director, Washburn Chemistry Club. 2006-07.

Publications
Estes, S., Smith, S. Effects of Reactive Oxygen Species on Life History Traits in Caenorhabditis elegans. In preparation. Estes, S., Coleman-Hulbert, A., Hicks, K., de Haan, G., Martha, S., Knapp, J., Smith, S., et al. (2011). Natural variation in life history and aging phenotypes is associated with mitochondrial DNA deletion frequency in Caenorhabditis briggsae. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 11(1), 11.

Relevant Skills
Demonstrated excellence in goal/outcomes-based learning. Edited (primary editor) the currently used cell biology lab manual at PSU. Reworked this manual to remove lessons which took time but did not result in useful or relevant skills related to our class goals and/or integrated new objectives into existing labs through slight modification. Familiar with teaching techniques such as repeated measures and scaffolding to build student proficiency in desired skills. Mac/PC computers, basic SQL & VBScript, advanced skills in MS Office Suite, website construction (asp & php), Adobe Creative Suite, Fireworks & Dreamweaver (including

integrated dynamic Access or mySQL backend databases). Experience with course maintenance and content production for online dissemination on Blackboard & D2L systems, Google, and other online services.

Presentations
Poster: A little stress is good for you! A test of ROS as mediators of life-history tradeoffs in C. elegans, Samson W. Smith, Suzanne Estes. Portland State University. Presented at: Sigma Xi Regional Meeting, Portland State University. April 2012 Graduate Student Symposium, Portland State University. October 2011. Poster: Effect of Oxidative Stress on Somatic Nuclear Mutation Rate and Aging in C. elegans, Samson W. Smith, Suzanne Estes. Portland State University. Presented at: Evolution 2010, Portland, OR. June 2010. Graduate Student Symposium, Portland State University, Portland, OR. October 2010. Poster: Environmental Isolation of Naegleria fowleri in Northeast Kansas, Samson W. Smith, John C. Mullican. Washburn University. Presented at: TriBeta Biological Honor Society National Convention, Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY. June 2008. Kansas Academy of Science, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS. April 2007. Apeiron Review, Washburn University, April 2007. TriBeta Biological Honor Society District Convention, Hastings College, Marquette, NE. March 2007. K-INBRE State Symposium, Kansas City, KS. January 2007.

Memberships and Appointments

Biology Investigation and Outreach, Biology Club, 2010-present. Washburn Alumni Association, Washburn University, 2006-present. Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, 2007-2009. TriBeta Biological Honor Society, Washburn University, 2006-2009. Sagamore Mens Academic Honor Society, Washburn University, 2007-2009. Washburn Biology Club, Washburn University, 2005-2009. Washburn Chemistry Club, Washburn University, 2005-2009. American Chemical Society, 2006-2008. Appointment, IT Committee, Topeka AIDS Project, 2006.

Research grants

Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research G20100315152928, May 2010. Reactive Oxygen Species: Implications for Somatic Nuclear Mutation Rates and Aging. Funded $1,000. K-INBRE Program of the National Center for Research Resources. Environmental Isolation of Naegleria fowleri in Kansas. Summer Scholar Program, 2008. Funded $3,000.