8 questions for Dr. Andre Samuel of Citizen Science Lab

Wearing the requisite white lab coat and safety goggles, Pittsburgh scientist Andre Samuel encourages children from high-risk backgrounds to embrace discovery through STEAM-based (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) learning as director of The Citizen Science Lab, part of the Energy Innovation Center in the Hill District.

One special weekend last month, Samuel headed to the White House, where he ditched his lab coat for a tuxedo to receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

Samuel received the award for his continued involvement as a BMe Community leader and volunteer, contributing more than 500 hours to teaching and mentoring youth. BMe Community, a national nonprofit that provides recognition, funding and networking opportunities for black men who are building sustainable economic programs in their cities, named Samuel a role model, part of the first group of 10 black men from Pittsburgh with that honor.

Kidsburgh asked Samuel for the inside scoop on Pittsburgh’s only community biotech lab, what got him interested in science and what his family thinks about his unapologetic geekiness.

Let’s talk about your trip to the White House with BMe Community.

It was an amazing experience! We walked the streets of D.C. to the White House, a hundred or so black male role models from all across the country, dressed in suits. We caught a lot of attention and had people that just started walking with us, cheering us on. Sadly, we did not make it into the White House. Just as we were entering the security checkpoint, there was an intruder on the grounds. Secret Service swarmed everywhere with weapons drawn and the White House went into full lockdown. They did send the staff to our hotel and gave the awards to us later that night in one of the ballrooms. President Obama sent representatives from his administration.

You’re kidding! Were you disappointed?

While it was a disappointment, the great thing about the brothers in BMe Community is that we are very resilient and no one was angry or upset about the ceremony being moved. We just rolled with the punches like we always do and we’re very happy to be recognized either way.

Tell us about a day in The Citizen Science Lab.

It really depends on what the topic for that day is. Participants will do DNA transformations one day, make batteries out of mud on another day or isolate DNA from their own cheeks. We have a ton of experiments to do with our students and are always working on new ones.

The CSL conducts programming all year. We do weekend workshops, host various schools and community organizations during the academic year and hold a number of summer camps (both public and private) during the summer. We also offer memberships for individuals who wish to work on their own projects. We are open to everyone— from middle- and high-school students to parents and educators, undergraduate and graduate students, professionals and DIY scientists.

Anything special coming up?

This summer we are recruiting for a drug design and molecular modeling intensive for high school students in the Hill District (July 5th through Aug. 3rd). They will learn wet lab and computational methods that are widely used in searching for new drugs as treatments for diseases— the same skills I picked up while working on my doctorate! We are specifically looking for new antibiotic compounds, a continuation of my doctoral work [at Duquesne University]. This work fills an important space in the pharmaceutical industry as companies focus research more on long-term treatments than on cures, and it shows one of the many options available if you would choose to go into biomedical research.

How did you get your start in science?

I always had a natural interest in science. I think it was my natural desire to just learn how things worked. I was lucky enough to grow up in Washington, D.C., where the Smithsonian was a regular part of my growing up.

What are some examples of your super geekiness? 

I guess one example is how I always try to explain the science behind something my family and I are watching on TV. They always get that look on their faces like, “Oh here we go, he’s breaking down the biology of something again …”

How do you view Pittsburgh in terms of fostering and promoting STEAM education?

I think Pittsburgh has a lot to offer as far as informal, out-of-school-time STEAM experiences. The problem is many of these assets are not accessible to the youth who need it in the neighborhoods that need it. Even then, transportation to these programs is limited and expensive. We have so many schools and organizations that want to participate but don’t have reliable transportation, so they can’t. We are hoping to get some funding one day to allow us to solve that transportation problem.

What do you like to do outside of the STEAM world?

I spend most of my time with my wife, son and daughter. My wife and I are foodies, so we like to take the family out to eat. I live an active lifestyle and enjoy indoor rock climbing, bike riding and working out, but I also like comic books and video games. I am a huge Walking Dead fan! I read the comic, watch the show and I own a very nice collection of Walking Dead action figures.