Profile
Samuel Lasse grew up in Ohio and attended the Ohio State University for his undergraduate studies. As an undergraduate researcher, Samuel investigated the first known cooperation between genetic and environmental factors in the development of one of the most common human birth defects, holoprosencephaly. He shared his enthusiasm for science with the local community by tutoring middle school children in Biology. Samuel continues his education in the Biological Sciences Ph.D. program at the University of California, San Diego. There he studies the role of cell-cell adhesion proteins in regulating the fate decisions of stem cells in the epidermis. Samuel continues to be involved in community outreach efforts at UCSD. As a fellow in the UCSD Socrates program he partnered with a local high school teacher to develop and implement inquiry-based curriculum. Samuel also facilitates numerous lab tours to groups of high school students, encouraging participation in science related careers. In the future he plans to shift his research focus toward mechanisms underlying lipid metabolism and obesity. Samuel aspires to obtain a faculty position at an institution where he can both promote education in the classroom and continue to support educational outreach to high school and middle school students.
