When Samuel Geleta ’25, biological sciences, arrived at UMBC from Ethiopia, he was confident he wanted to go to medical school. But that was before he started conducting HIV research with Michael Summers, Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and fell in love with the scientific process. This fall, he’s headed to Yale University to pursue a Ph.D. in biomedical and biological sciences. He dreams of conducting research that he can parlay into biotech entrepreneurship in his home country.
Q: How did you choose UMBC?
A: I’m from Ethiopia, and the health sector there needs a lot of work. I wanted to contribute to my community, and at that time I thought getting a medical degree would be the best way to do that. I first started looking at UMBC because I had family living in Maryland. But what really drew me in was UMBC’s reputation as a research powerhouse in the area, with exciting and innovative research that captured my interest. I also appreciated the more affordable price tag at UMBC, and I really liked the communication I had with UMBC staff while I was applying. Especially as an international student, I had a lot to figure out, and they were very quick to respond to all of my requests. I thought, “This is the kind of environment I want to be in.”
Q: How did you get connected with the Summers lab?
A: I was waiting for an Uber at the campus entrance circle, and I saw then President Freeman Hrabowski walking to his car from the Administration Building. I thought, “Let me go talk to him for a second—this is the president, I might never get another chance.” So I talked to him about where I’m from and my strong interest in science. He mentioned the Meyerhoff Scholars Program, and that conversation started a whole chain of communication with him. Eventually he connected me with Keith Harmon, the director of the Meyerhoff Scholars Program. After I met with Mr. Harmon, I became a friend of the program and started receiving advising and other support from Meyerhoff staff. Mr. Harmon was also the one who connected me with Dr. Summers.
I was really excited about what Dr. Summers’ lab was doing, and I wanted to be a part of it. We study HIV’s RNAs and proteins, particularly how the virus replicates and packages its genetic material. That was really exciting for me, because Ethiopia is heavily affected by the HIV epidemic. If I could do research that could help us understand how the virus works and ease the epidemic, I wanted to participate in that. Fast forward, and it’s been two-and-a-half years since I joined the lab.
Q: What are you working on in the lab?
A: My first project was on understanding the role of RNA structures in modulating the translation and packaging of the HIV genome. That project was one of the reasons I became strongly interested in doing research, because it showed me the ups and downs of science. A lot of things didn’t work as planned, but eventually they came together, and just that pursuit itself was an incredibly rewarding experience.
We were able to publish results from that project in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) last summer, and now I’m working on a new project where I study how HIV proteins interact with human proteins—how they hijack cellular factors to enhance their own replication. The goal is to find new therapeutic targets for HIV.
Going to conferences taught me that you’re not just limited to your own little bench. Science goes much wider, and you can collaborate with people from across the country or the world, which is amazing.
Samuel Geleta ’25
Q: How did you decide to pursue a research career?
When we published the paper on my first project, I thought, “Wow, by doing research, I can be a part of a story that’s not done yet, but will continue to help other people. That really got me excited about pursuing my Ph.D. Also, for the paper, we collaborated with researchers at the University of Wisconsin and the University of Michigan. That showed me how much collaboration there is in science—that other people are also trying to figure out what’s going on.
Going to multiple conferences also really inspired me to pursue a Ph.D. I was able to meet people from different places and backgrounds, and it was just amazing how much we had in common in terms of what we wanted to pursue. At the same time, there were differences in how we approached our questions. That was really exciting, because I felt like doing my Ph.D. could connect me to a lot more potential collaborators and opportunities. Going to conferences taught me that you’re not just limited to your own little bench. Science goes much wider, and you can collaborate with people from across the country or the world, which is amazing.
Q: Who has supported you through your UMBC career?
A: I chose to work with Dr. Saif Yasin, an M.D./Ph.D. candidate in the Summers lab, because of how passionate he was about his science. We clicked immediately. He gave me a lot of freedom to think like a scientist, and come up with solutions to problems in the lab. He’s been an amazing support, and I learned a lot from him.
After he defended his Ph.D and returned to medical school, now I’m working with Dr. Nele Hollman, a postdoc in the lab. She has helped me take ownership of my work and come up with new ideas for the project that I’m doing right now. Even other grad students and postdocs in the Summers lab are always there if I need help. It’s an awesome environment for doing science.
The entire Meyerhoff staff has also been very supportive, and their support didn’t waver as my goals changed. Dr. Tiffany Gierasch, a teaching professor in chemistry and biochemistry, gave me the opportunity to be a learning assistant for organic chemistry classes, which really helped me understand organic chemistry even more and give back to other students. Dr. Deepak Koirala, an assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, has also been an awesome mentor. He does RNA research, and I’ve gotten to know him because we’ve gone to a lot of conferences together. I sit in on some of his classes on RNA structures.
The Center for Global Engagement has been very supportive, too. Whenever I have a question, I just go there during their walk-in hours and talk to someone. They are so responsive.
And I can’t leave out my family and friends—some of them are still in Ethiopia. They’ve also been incredibly supportive and encouraging.
It’s perfectly fine if you are not sure about what you want to do. If you’re confused and looking for inspiration for what to do, then you’re doing the right thing. You should let the process play out. Just explore all the paths and everything you’re interested in, and eventually you will find what you really want to do. And once you find that, just keep going.
Samuel Geleta ’25
Q: What’s next for you?
A: I committed to Yale for my Ph.D. in biomedical and biological sciences. I’m really looking forward to starting life in New Haven and being in a new environment to do science. I’m interested in studying RNA therapeutics and how they can be used for viral interventions in different kinds of viruses.
My research got me looking into biotech as well, and after my Ph.D. I would be interested in pursuing that while also potentially working in academia. I would like my research to produce a product or get patented—translational work. That prospect got me more excited to do my Ph.D. I also want to bring some of the business back to Ethiopia and see what I can do. I want to be an entrepreneurial scientist.
Q: What advice do you have for incoming UMBC students or aspiring undergraduate researchers?
A: It’s perfectly fine if you are not sure about what you want to do. If you’re confused and looking for inspiration for what to do, then you’re doing the right thing. You should let the process play out. Just explore all the paths and everything you’re interested in, and eventually you will find what you really want to do. And once you find that, just keep going.
Also, forming connections is really important. Attend events with people from different places, and you’ll gain new insight into what they do. If you decide to start up a conversation with someone who doesn’t know you, you don’t have to go into the conversation with a specific goal. If you’re kind and curious, the other person will take the next step and want to help you out. Even if they can’t help you directly, they may be able to connect you with someone else who can.
I’m still in touch with Dr. Hrabowski. I told him about my post-grad plans and how he’s impacted me, and he was really happy. When I first had that conversation with him, I didn’t think it would lead up to this. I just took a chance, and it worked out. It’s been amazing.
Tags: Biological Sciences, Biology, class of 2025, CNMS, undergradresearch
