Samuel Research Team Showcases Innovations at NESS and Collaborates at MIT 

Boston, MA — March 19, 2024 

On March 19, 2024, a group from the Samuel Research Team at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T) took a transformative journey to the 23rd Annual New England Science Symposium (NESS) held at Harvard Medical School. The group, comprised of four NC A&T students and their mentors, traveled to Boston to present their innovative research posters at the annual event. 

The student presenters included: 

• Ariyanna Clark Drew (mentored by Yudan Chen) 
• Jalyse Harrell (mentored by Raymond Samuel) 
• Morgan Pride (mentored by Jessica Han) 
• Tiera Pittman (mentored by Liesl Jeffers Francis) 

The NESS provided a platform for these young researchers to showcase their innovative projects, which spanned various disciplines in science and technology. Their posters highlighted advancements in fields critical to the future of healthcare and technology. Since its establishment in 2001, NESS has served as a platform for postdoctoral fellows, medical and dental students, graduate students, post-baccalaureates, and college and community college students, with a particular focus on individuals from African-American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian/Alaska Native backgrounds. The symposium enables participants to present their biomedical and health-related research through oral or poster presentations, engage in discussions on career development in the sciences, exchange ideas, and expand their professional networks. 

In addition to their participation at NESS, the Samuel Research Team took the opportunity to foster collaborations at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as part of the ExpandQISE project. This initiative aims to expand quantum information science and engineering (QISE) through interdisciplinary research and partnerships. 

"We are thrilled to have our students present their work alongside some of the brightest minds in science and medicine," said Raymond Samuel, the director of the Samuel Research Team. "Their contributions at NESS and collaborations at MIT underscore NC A&T's commitment to nurturing innovative research and preparing students for leadership in STEM fields." 

The visit to MIT included engaging discussions with project collaborators, further enhancing the team's understanding of QISE applications and forging connections that will propel their research forward. 

The Samuel Research Team's journey to NESS and MIT not only showcased their academic achievements but also underscored NC A&T's role in advancing scientific inquiry and fostering collaboration across prestigious institutions. 

For more information on the Samuel Research Team's projects and collaborations, visit Dr. Samuel's NC A&T research page.