Dr. Samuel Vielee (he/him)

Biography:

Dr. Vielee joined Mote in 2025 as a postdoctoral research fellow in Marine Biomedical Research. He received his B.S. in Biology from the University of Alabama (2021), before earning his M.S. (2023) and Ph.D. (2025) in Pharmacology & Toxicology from the University of Louisville. Dr. Vielee’s graduate work utilized rodent, Caenorhabditis elegans, and cell culture models to investigate hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] neurotoxicity, by characterizing behavioral effects, identifying brain regions and neuronal populations that are particularly vulnerable to Cr(VI) neurotoxicity, and considering how age influences Cr(VI) neurotoxicity. In his current position with Mote’s Marine Biomedical Research Program, Dr. Vielee employs an interdisciplinary approach to investigate: 1) how early life exposure and long-term exposure to brevetoxin influences disease development, 2) the therapeutic potential of marine animal venoms in neurodegenerative diseases, and 3) the remarkable lifespan and healthspan of marine animals. Dr. Vielee is passionate about researching interactions between our marine ecosystem, human brain health, and aging—research he is excited to continue pursuing with Mote!