Samuel Rovito’s fascination with science stemmed from a fact he learned when he was 14 years old. He learned that miniscule viral particles, which are one tenth the size of a micron, can generate effects of planetary proportions, shape ecosystems, and change the course of humanity. He did not understand all of what he initially read in high school, but the significance of the research compelled him to learn more. He dedicating his college major to the study of immunology and infectious disease, and quicky developed a fascination with the scientific process. This fascination motivated him to gain research and laboratory experience.
Rovito earned his bachelor’s degree in immunology and infectious disease in 2021 from Pennsylvania State University in State College. He spent most of his time there as an undergraduate researcher in a lab, and his work focused on the study of influenza A viruses. Experiences in the laboratory helped him realize and appreciate the scientific process, and drove him to pursue a career in biomedical research.
“St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences provides the foundational knowledge needed to become a virological researcher,” he says. “The curriculum emphasizes the direct applications of research to patient care, which I hope will have a profound impact on my career, and my science.”
Hometown: Phoenixville, Pennsylvania