NIDA is thrilled to highlight Mr. Samuel Stowe’s recent F31 award. The ORTCD congratulates Mr. Stowe on this significant accomplishment! See the interview below to learn more about his inspirations, research plans, and advice for other early career scholars.
Please share a little about yourself and what motivated you to become a researcher/study this research topic?
My name is Samuel Stowe, and I am currently a 3rd year PhD candidate in Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. While I have always been interested in science and research, what truly motivated me to become a researcher was the passing of my dad when I was in high school. It was a traumatic experience, but one that ultimately ignited my passion for public health. Experiencing firsthand how health challenges caused by exposures across a person’s lifetime can deeply affect them and their families inspired me to want to make a difference through research that has real-world impacts.
As I continued my academic journey and began looking for ways to make an impact, I became especially interested in tobacco product use after learning that tobacco use is the leading causes of preventable morbidity and mortality globally. After some background research, I narrowed the focus of my Ph.D. research to alternative tobacco products, particularly electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), as they have exploded in popularity over the past decade, particularly among youths and young adults aged 18-24.
Importantly, I noticed that while the effects of smoking during pregnancy had been widely studied, research on the effects of using emerging alternative tobacco products, like e-cigarettes, during pregnancy was extremely limited, and there are significant gaps in our understanding of how vaping during pregnancy impacts both maternal and fetal health. This, along with my mentor Dr. Ruzmyn Vilcassim’s current work, motivated me to focus my research on generating evidence that can help fill this gap as well as guide healthcare providers, inform public health policies, and protect the well-being of mothers and their babies.
How did you learn about the F31 opportunity and what are you most looking forward to as a newly awarded Predoctoral NRSA F31 scholar?
I learned about this F31 opportunity through my grant writing class in the UAB School of Public Health. Our professor instructed us to identify a grant that we could apply for at the beginning of the course which we would then write a draft application for over the course of the semester. This led to me discovering the Request for Applications for the F31 opportunity and the accompanying Notice of Special Interest in Women’s Health Research.
What I am looking forward to most as a newly awarded Predoctoral NRSA F31 scholar, is the opportunity to gain additional knowledge and training in my primary research area as well as in environmental health and biostatistics, that will be pertinent to my dissertation research and my future research. Additionally, I am also looking forward to the opportunities to attend and present at conferences in my field that were previously not financially feasible for me to attend, where I can connect with other NIH/NIDA fellows, and attend additional career development workshops.
What do you believe were the key aspects of being successfully awarded the F31 award?
I believe several aspects of my application were key to my success in being awarded the F31 Fellowship. First and foremost, I believe the quality and relevance of my proposed research played a major role; my project addresses a significant gap in the knowledge regarding the effects of vaping during pregnancy and is very relevant to a Notice of Special Interest in Women’s Health Research that had been announced shortly before I submitted my application. Another aspect that I believe was key in helping me secure this award was that my mentor, Dr. Ruzmyn Vilcassim, had secured funding to carry out this large and costly project from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s JPB Environmental Health Fellowship Program.
Additionally, with the help of my mentors I developed a comprehensive and highly detailed training plan, ensuring it would not only build my technical research skills but also foster my professional development as a future independent investigator. The timing of my application was also crucial; I applied at a point in my PhD when my research aims were clearly defined and I had developed strong foundational skills, but before I had completed a significant portion of my proposed work. This allowed me to demonstrate my preparedness for the fellowship, the feasibility of successfully carrying out my research plan, and the value of funding my continued training.
Finally, one of the most important steps was carefully considering and addressing the feedback provided by reviewers after my initial submission. Taking the time to thoughtfully revise my application in response to their comments strengthened my resubmission and ultimately contributed to my success in securing the fellowship.
Would you recommend this program to other predocs and why?
I would absolutely recommend this program to other predocs! Not only does writing an application for this fellowship provide students with an excellent opportunity to learn about and practice grant writing, but it also gives them an opportunity to have their tuition, stipend, conference travel, and additional training covered. Which in turn also helps free up funding for other students or for additional research. Furthermore, it is an excellent award to be able to add to your CV, which can help show that you have proven grant writing ability and help give you a leg up against your competition. Finally, being a part of the program gives you the opportunity to pursue further research and career training which are vital for your development as an independent investigator.
What are your future plans after the F31?
After completing my F31 fellowship, I plan to pursue a career at the intersection of research and public policy. To build on my training, I hope to secure a postdoctoral position in the lab of a leading substance use researcher or at a research and policy advocacy organization. My goal is to advance my expertise in translational and population health research, with a focus on the health impacts of emerging substance use trends, and to help shape evidence-based interventions and policies that protect public health.
Ultimately, my goal is to leverage my scientific training to inform and shape evidence-based policies that protect vulnerable populations, especially mothers and children, from preventable health risks. Whether in academia, government, or a policy-focused research organization, I aim to serve as a bridge between scientific discovery and real-world policy solutions, working to ensure that research findings translate into meaningful improvements in public health.
What other advice do you have for early career scholars who are in the beginning stages of their career?
My advice for early career scholars would be to seek strong mentorship early from a primary mentor and co-mentor(s) as well as from your greater mentorship community, whether that be your dissertation committee members, other professors or students at your university, or other scientists you have met at conferences or workshops. In my experience each of these people can provide valuable insights to aid you in your professional development and all of them want to help you and hope to see you succeed in your career goals.
My next piece of advice would be to always make sure that you give yourself enough time to work on projects and never be afraid to ask for help/advice on how you can improve your work. I worked on my initial F31 application for approximately 7 months before submitting it and then worked on my resubmission for an additional 3 months prior to resubmitting my application. For me it was very important to take the time to fully flesh out my ideas and get ample feedback from my peers and mentors prior to submitting my proposal and through the amount of time needed to do this can vary from project to project, I would strongly recommend than any student give themselves enough time to do the same, whether that be for submitting and F31 application or an article for publication.
My final piece of advice for early career scholars would be to take every opportunity they can (within reason) to present their research and network with other scholars and professionals in their field. In my personal experience presenting my research to others, whether that be at my university or a national or internation conference, it always gives me the opportunity to receive meaningful feedback on how I can improve my research or the presentation of my results and allows me to practice my presentation skills which are vitally important for my career development. Furthermore, doing so also gives me the opportunity to network with potential future colleagues, collaborators, or employers and with every new presentation I do, it allows me to not only further develop my presentation skills but also get my name out there further which is important when it comes to applying for jobs, funding, or awards.