Chemistry PhD graduate leaves lasting impact through research and military student mentorship

Having successfully defended his doctoral dissertation, Samuel Garvey will graduate this May with a PhD in Chemistry and Biochemistry, concluding a chapter defined by robust research, dedicated teaching, and a sustained commitment to mentoring future physicians.

At George Mason University, Garvey balanced coursework, advanced research, and a graduate teaching assistant role with Enlisted to Medical Degree Preparatory Program (EMDP2), which helps enlisted U.S. service members complete prerequisites for medical school.  In this role, he served as both instructor and mentor, guiding students through general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry while helping them connect scientific concepts to their future work in medicine.

Garvey’s path to George Mason began with a desire to contribute to medicine through research. He found that opportunity working with Chemistry and Biochemistry Associate Professor Barney Bishop, whose research in proteomic bioprospecting focuses on identifying antimicrobial peptides from resilient organisms such as Komodo dragons, American alligators, and vultures. The work aligned with Garvey’s long-standing interest in how natural biological systems can inform human health, and it gave him the opportunity to help develop new approaches in the field. His work in the lab emphasized understanding how to develop hydrogel polymers to capture these potential peptide-based therapeutics. His work in the lab emphasized understanding how systems function and why they matter.

That focus on understanding complex systems naturally extended into his teaching. After an initial summer appointment with EMDP2, Garvey went on to teach eight consecutive cohorts in general chemistry labs, organic chemistry labs, and biochemistry recitations; while also tutoring for both the lab, lecture, and MCAT. He later played a key role in building a MCAT-focused chemistry lab curriculum, developing lab videos that are currently in use by the general population’s organic chemistry courses, redesigning coursework to better align with exam content, and providing rotating faculty with insights into each cohorts’ progress to enhance learning outcomes. As program requirements evolved, he refined the lab curriculum while maintaining standards and supported students through intensive tutoring, at times seven days a week.

Within EMDP2’s small, close-knit community, Garvey said tutoring was decentralized and made coordinating academic support a challenge. Under the guidance of Biology Professor, Vincent Hermoso, Garvey developed a centralized tutoring portal that improved communication, streamlined scheduling, and strengthened collaboration among tutors and graduate teaching assistants. 

In parallel with his teaching, Garvey took on a leadership role in Bishop’s lab during a period of transition. As experienced members moved on, he helped train new graduate students and ensured continuity in the lab’s specialized research methods. His role expanded to include maintaining and passing on key techniques in bioprospecting.

Garvey’s doctoral research focused on developing click-raft orthogonal hydrogel particles (CROHPs), a platform designed to help identify antimicrobial peptides. These materials act as tools for isolating biologically active compounds, with potential applications in addressing emerging diseases. One area of focus is the bioconjugation of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus, a pathogen that may expand its reach due to climate change, to these CROHPs to enhance specificity of peptide capture. 

“More broadly, I'm trying to develop a next-generation bioprospecting tool,” Garvey said. “And hopefully it will help with these emerging pathogens, in our journey to try and discover antimicrobial peptides that fight the resistances that are currently developing as well.”

Reflecting on his time at George Mason, Garvey said the relationships he built were the most meaningful part of his experience. He found a strong sense of community through his mentors, peers, and students. 

Special thanks:
Garvey credits a wide network of faculty for guiding his development, along with the students he taught, whose perspectives influenced his approach in the classroom. He worked to create a learning environment that was structured, supportive, and encouraging, an approach that reflects the mentorship he received throughout his academic journey.

Garvey said he is grateful for the many mentors who guided him throughout his time in the program. He highlighted Barney Bishop, along with his committee members, Chemistry and Biochemistry Chair Mikell Paige, Bioengineering Associate Professor Remi Veneziano, and Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine Researcher Paul Russo, for their academic support. He also acknowledged the influence of Biology Professor Vincent Hermoso and former EMDP2 Director Donna Fox.

In addition, Garvey expressed appreciation for Associate Dean for Undergraduate and Graduate Student Affairs and current EMDP2 Director Gerald Weatherspoon, who first mentored him as Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and helped launch his teaching career. He also recognized mentors who supported his growth as an instructor, including Chemistry and Biochemistry Professor Robert Honeychuck, the first faculty member he connected with at George Mason, as well as Elizabeth Lang and Arion Ross, whose patience and guidance left a lasting impression.

Together, he said, these individuals played a crucial role in shaping his academic and professional journey.