December 22, 2023 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu

Originally from Denver, Colorado, Samantha Case traveled East for her academic studies and never left. She began her training in the sciences at Norfolk State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. A master of public health program brought her to Georgia Southern University, where she also completed a Certificate in Occupational Safety and Environmental Compliance.

During her master’s program, Case was introduced to environmental risk assessment – an area that she would end up pursuing for her career. She conducted research on water quality and environmental microbiology, learning about pathogenic bacteria in oysters and realizing that silver nanoparticles could be used in water filtration systems to remove this harmful microorganism from shellfish harvesting waters. At the same time, Case became aware of the potential negative effects of silver nanoparticles on the environment and human health, particularly the gut microbiome.  

“I was curious about the newfound world of nanotechnology and developing a sustainable solution to these contradictory effects,” Case says. “This led me to pursue a Ph.D. in Environmental Health Sciences at USC and to work at the Center for Environmental Nanoscience and Risk (CENR).”

At USC, Case found community with the Grace Jordan McFadden Professor Program and the Black Graduate Student Association. With CENR, the Norman J. Arnold Doctoral Fellow conducted research and served as the lab manager. Her dissertation project focused on the impacts of silver nanoparticles when absorbed by E. coli to assess risks to human health.

She found a support in ENHS faculty and staff, including chair and toxicologist Geoff Scott, graduate director Dwayne Porter, former business manager Elizabeth Caulder, current business manager Destine Rivers, administrative assistant Adrena Mack and current/former professors/researchers Alan Decho, Eric Vejerano and Ruth Merrifield. Case found her biggest influence in CENR director and advisor, Jamie Lead.

“Dr. Lead has extreme intelligence and creativity as a scientist,” she says. “I was afforded many opportunities that allowed me to step into safety roles that prepared me for the job I have today.”

That job is with the North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Administration, serving as a health compliance officer and on track to become a certified industrial hygienist. It’s exactly the type of position she had hoped to secure after her graduation.

“My goal is to pursue a career as a research scientist in environmental risk assessment and consumer safety,” Case says. “I am particularly interested in investigating the interaction of nanoparticles and bacteria within the gut microbiome. The increased utilization of nanoparticles in medicine and other consumer products makes this a pressing public health issue.”

“Sam proved herself to be an excellent student and doctoral researcher, including a stint as laboratory manager, where she also excelled,” Lead. says. “Her Ph.D. research was highly interdisciplinary – combining nanoscience and microbiology to understand how nanomaterials interact with bacteria, which make up the human microbiome. It is to her great credit that she successfully completed such challenging work, and the outputs of her work have great public health significance. Congratulations, Dr. Case!"

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