Samantha Crawford, PhD
Samantha Crawford, PhD, is a highly skilled laboratory manager and postdoctoral researcher with a focus on pharmaceutical sciences. She earned her PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in 2023 and holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from San Diego State University. As the first in her family to receive a doctoral degree, Samantha has distinguished herself through a combination of technical expertise, research excellence, and dedication to mentoring the next generation of scientists. Her work emphasizes protein purification, FPLC operations, and mass spectrometry, bridging rigorous laboratory research with practical applications in biomedical science.
Beginning her career in academia, Samantha taught as a lecturer at Western Nevada College, helping students understand complex scientific concepts and develop critical thinking skills. She then transitioned into her current role as Lab Manager at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she oversees laboratory operations, coordinates research projects, manages inventory and shipments, and serves as the FPLC expert. In this role, she also mentors students and colleagues, ensuring that scientific workflows run efficiently while fostering an environment of learning and collaboration.
Beyond her technical and managerial responsibilities, Samantha is a passionate scientific communicator and advocate for STEM education. She volunteers with Young Hands in Science, translating complex scientific concepts for broader audiences and inspiring young learners to pursue careers in science. Recognized for her research contributions, she has received awards for outstanding poster presentations and was awarded a T32 Training Grant from the National Institutes of Health during her graduate studies. Samantha combines her rigorous scientific training with mentorship and communication skills to advance both research and education in pharmaceutical sciences.
• Professional Development Certificate
• EH&S Training
• University of Colorado Anschutz- Ph.D.
• San Diego State University- B.S.
• Poster Presentation Award (Bachelor's)
• Presentation Award (Graduate School)
• T32 Training Grant Award
• Outstanding Poster Presentation
• Women in STEM (former member)
• American Association of Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Society of Cosmetic Chemists
• American Chemical Society
• Nevada Department of Wildlife
• Young Hands in Science
What do you attribute your success to?
I would say just having faith in myself, staying driven, and not giving up. There were a lot of times when I wanted to give up, but I wouldn't. I don't know, I'm pretty stubborn, I guess you could say. My family was also a huge support system for me. They were always there through the highs and lows, along with my friends. Just having that good support system that truly believes in you as much as, or more than you even believe in yourself sometimes, is very amazing. So that's probably what I would attribute my success to.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Honestly, I just received this lately, and it's really changed my outlook on how I'm approaching my career, and that's what my advice to younger scientists would be as well: just to be yourself. There's a lot of people who want to make you into the perfect scientist or the perfect teacher or something like that. But really, everyone contributes their own unique skill, and that's what makes everything work in life. Just being yourself, you're going to add value to whatever job or whatever role you have, no matter what. And that's the best advice I've gotten just lately.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would just say, be yourself, be confident, and don't let others discourage you. There's a lot of big egos, I could say, in science. But if you're confident and you know your stuff, then there's nothing to be worried about. And yeah, just confidence and be yourself is probably my main thing. Don't let others change who you are. Science is still very much a boys club, though it's starting to lead toward a good balance. But it's still male-dominated. So my advice is to stay confident in who you are and what you know.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Funding. We've had a major struggle with funding the past year, and I hope that gets turned around soon. I'm staying positive. It happens every once in a while, so we get through it, and we do what we need to do to keep things moving along. I think the majority, 90%, is political. The government funding cuts have had a huge impact on the scientific community as of late. But it's also the landscape of pharmaceuticals right now that are not as desirable, I would say. People are kind of going away from pharmaceuticals a lot more than they had in the past, so there's not as much consumerism, I would say.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity is one of my main core values. I think just leading an honest life is the best way to go. Lying about things won't get you anywhere, so I truly believe in integrity. I believe in being kind. I think having a positive attitude is so much more beneficial than always being negative and thinking the worst of everything. So I think positivity is what really can get you ahead in life. So yeah, I would say my main core values would be integrity, kindness, and positivity.