Sam Rosolina, 36, Vice President of Applied Innovation, Microbial Insights, Inc.
Growing up in Carter and Unicoi counties, Sam Rosolina has kept his eye on the little things in life. His work revolves around looking for beneficial microbes for Microbial Insights, and he serves as the board chair for Discover Life in America, a nonprofit focusing on biodiversity in the Great Smoky Mountains.
When he’s not looking through a microscope, Rosolina looks to the stars to change the world through science.
When you reflect on your career so far, which achievement stands out most?
Most recently, I’m proud of the work we did in East Palestine, Ohio, after the Norfolk Southern train derailment in 2023. Teaming up with the Löffler Lab at UTK, we received grant funding from the National Science Foundation to travel to East Palestine and assess the long-term potential for toxin degradation by native microbes. A good reminder of why we do the work that we do and that humans have a long way to go in terms of prioritizing human and environmental health…