Joshua Samuels

Experience

• 

  YMCA of the USA

  Jun 2013 - Jun 2017

  Summer Camp Lifeguard

  I life-guarded at the YMCA outdoor summer camp every summer since 2013. The aquatics director kept me on staff throughout the year to work every summer because of my dedication to always be on time for my shifts and cover other shifts that need to be filled. The aquatics director often called me first when she had an emergency and need a shift covered. The summer camp include kids from ages 6 – 15 years old along with kids and teens that had special needs. I learn to interact with kids of all ages and needs along with other faculty members. Show less

• 

  Motivated Athletic Soccer Training

  Jul 2015 - Aug 2017

  Head Soccer Goalkeeper Coach & Trainer

  My high school soccer coach ran a soccer clinic every summer for players from Allentown High School and the surrounding area. He asked a few of his recently graduated seniors to help him run the camp as a trainer. I was one of five soccer trainers at the camp that trained players from 8th grade to 12th grade. I was responsible for developing a goalkeeper program and training the goalkeepers.

• 

  Washington College GIS Program

  Sept 2015 - May 2018

  I worked with students and faulty members on multiple GIS projects. I worked on crime projects inside the Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention (GOCCP) and helped in the GIS Training Academy to teach incoming freshman basic GIS skills. I created maps that show the locations of newly released offenders across the different counties in Maryland. I also worked with faculty and students in the Vehicle Theft Division. I analyzed and mapped vehicle theft and recovery data across the state of Maryland. I also developed training programs for ArcGIS Pro to facilitate the transfer of department data from ArcGIS to ArcGIS Pro. Show less

  • GIS Internship - Apprentice I

    Aug 2016 - May 2018

  • GIS Internship - Junior Apprentice

    Sept 2015 - Aug 2016
• 

  Earth Data Incorporated

  Oct 2015 - May 2016

  GIS Analyst Internship

  I worked as a part-time employee for Earth Data Inc. on a government subcontracted project. I was part of a select group that was chosen from Washington College's GIS program to work on a large scale geospatial project. I usde advanced digitizing skills, focusing on transportation and Big 3 (buildings of interest, key features, and vertical obstructions), to map cities in South America.

• 

  Arundel Soccer Aassociation

  Mar 2016 - May 2019

  Assistant Soccer Coach & Trainer

  I assisted in coaching and training a U19 club soccer team of consisting of a mix of high school-aged players. I trained goalkeepers as well as conducted full field sessions once per week. This opportunity allowed me to work with and share my knowledge with players with the same collegiate athlete goals that I had when I was their age.

• 

  Washington College

  May 2016 - May 2019

  I developed and conducted a full research project examining the potential roles of exercise in the treatment and prevention of depression in a rat model. I developed my own research plan through rigorous literature searches and conduced all Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) documentation for my project. I managed my 8-15 hours of weekly research time along with undergraduate classes, athletics, and external soccer coaching. I preformed all rat breeding and husbandry for the animals in my study and used my creativity to develop and construct a budget-friendly custom rodent exercise treadmill. I also developed custom stress protocols for the animals in my study. I overcame many challenges in training my animals to use the treadmill which led to the modification of my exercise and stress protocols. I preformed all experimental procedures including the chronic variable stress paradigm, rodent exercise, behavioral testing, brain histology, immunohistochemistry, and data analysis. I sought to determine the effect of exercise on rodent models of depression by looking at changes in behavioral phenotype and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Through this study, I found that aerobic exercise may be beneficial in protecting against and combating depression. Upon the completion of my research study, I developed and presented a research poster at the Washington College Senior Capstone Symposium and wrote a full research manuscript that was published in the Washington College Review (Washington College Literary Journal). Show less

  • Lead Researcher

    Mar 2018 - May 2019

  • Lifeguard

    Sept 2015 - May 2019

  • Men's Swimming Athlete

    Aug 2015 - May 2019

  • Men's Soccer Athlete

    Aug 2015 - May 2019

  • Research Assistant

    Apr 2016 - Jan 2018

  • Research Assistant

    May 2016 - Sept 2017
• 

  Coerver Coaching - UAE

  Jul 2016 - Sept 2017

  Assistant Soccer Coach

  I coached and trained kids in soccer at a variety of soccer day camps and residential camps. I acted, not only as a soccer coach, but as a group leader and mentor to the younger players.

• 

  Bayshore Soccer Club

  Mar 2018 - May 2019

  Goalkeeper Co-Director & Coach

  I coached/trained goalkeepers of all ages at the Bayshore Soccer Club. I also helped develop a goalkeeper curriculum/program for the soccer club. It was a wonderful experience to be able to share my keeper knowledge with high school-aged players as they transition into their college search. I was also to work with young, beginner, keepers, teaching them the basics of goalkeeping and continuing their energy for the sport.

• 

  Rutgers University–New Brunswick

  Jun 2018 - Aug 2018

  Research Intern

  I conducted over 400 hours of research over 10 weeks in the lab of David Margolis at Rutgers University Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience. My research project, overseen by Dr. Christopher Lee, looked at measuring cortical activity in distinct GCaMP6 transgenic reporter mice using widefield imaging. My goal was to compare cortical activity between three genetically different mouse strains all expressing GCaMP6 in their cortical excitatory neurons since, based off of previous data, some strains exhibit aberrant epileptiform events during spontaneous activity. For this project, I aided in mouse cranial surgeries, handled mice extensively, conducted mouse behavioral training, and learned about mouse genotyping. I also learned Matlab and Arduino programing as well as how to use ImageJ for data analysis. At the end of the 10 weeks, I developed a full research paper to communicate my research and presented my research at a presentation symposium. Throughout my 10 weeks of research, I also learned about other techniques to measure cortical activity such as optogenetics and fiber photometry.I also developed and presented a research poster at the Washington College John S. Toll Fellow Research Fair (2018) at Washington College. Show less

• 

  Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital

  Jul 2018 - Aug 2018

  I shadowed Dr. Vikram Bhise, MD, Department of Neurology. I observed general neurology patient exams and checkups of pediatric patients with Multiple Sclerosis and retinal disorders. I shadowed Dr. Ian Marshall, MD, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Chief. I observed and assisted with general endocrinology patient exams of pediatric patients with Cushing’s Syndrome, hyper- and hypothyroidism, hyper- and hypogonadism, and transgender transformation.

  • Clinical Neurology Intern

    Jul 2018 - Aug 2018

  • Clinical Endocrinology Intern

    Jul 2018 - Aug 2018
• 

  National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

  Jun 2019 - Jul 2021

  Postbaccalaureate IRTA Research Fellow

  Research Mentors: Dr. Miles Herkenham, Ph.D., Section Chief & Dr. Michael Lehmann, Ph.DRoles of the Innate Immune System Following Psychosocial Stress-Induced Cerebrovascular Damage:- Growing evidence supports the interconnection between the immune system and the brain. I led and collaborated on multiple experiments to examine the healing roles of CCR2+ immune cells following stress-induced cerebrovascular damage. - To determine what these cells are doing in the neurovasculature and in the brain – and why they are there, I conducted rodent behavior testing, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, whole-brain & skull optical clearing, confocal microscopy, and 3D image reconstruction. - While previously seen as largely detrimental, these projects have led to evidence supporting the healing roles of the innate immune system in the brain. - I presented these findings through virtual posters and oral presentations at multiple NIH-sponsored workshops and conferences.Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis of the Neurovascular Unit (NVU) Following Psychosocial Stress and Human Disorders:- Since cells associated to the neurovasculature are understudied in the context of disease, I troubleshooted and co-spearheaded the development of a novel technique that I used to isolate neurovascular cells for single-cell sequencing. - While away from the lab due to COVID-19 closures, I taught myself R programming and Seurat single-cell RNA analysis and conducted an unsupervised analysis of the transcriptional changes in neurovascular cells due to chronic psychosocial stress. - Also, in collaboration with other members of my lab, I conducted a meta-analytic analysis of neurovascular single-cell transcriptomic landscapes in human disease to compare to our mouse model of psychosocial stress. - These projects led to a deeper understanding of the transcriptomic landscape of neurovascular cells and presentations at multiple NIH-sponsored workshops. Show less

• 

  Potomac Soccer Association

  Jul 2019 - Jun 2021

  Head Soccer Coach & Goalkeeper Coach

  U9 Boys 2012:- Coached and mentored an individual team within an age group of 60+ players.- Created engaging sessions plans focused on fun, engagement, and development.- Created a fun and respectful environment where all players could feel welcome.- Managed and engaged players with attention difficulties and helped them feel comfortable within the team. -Engaged parents to promote their child’s soccer growth.Goalkeepers:- Organized, directed, and coached the club’s year-round goalkeeper clinics with a team of other GK coaches.- Developed a goalkeeping curriculum and developmental checkpoints based on the clubs’ developmental structure.- Organized and ran Zoom goalkeeper clinics during COVID-19 closures.- Worked with U9 - U18 boys/girls goalkeepers.U8 Boys/Girls 2012:- Coached and mentored an individual team within an age group of 60+ players.- Created engaging sessions plans focused on fun, engagement, and development.- Created a fun environment where all players could feel welcome.I am also pursuing coaching education courses to further develop coaching and mentorship strategies. Show less

• 

  Brit-Am Soccer Academy

  Aug 2019 - Jun 2021

  Assistant Goalkeeper Coach

  I conducted goalkeeper clinics focused on goalkeeping foundations for youth level (9-15 years old) goalkeepers.

• 

  University of Virginia

  Jul 2021 - now

  Neuroscience PhD Student