Sam Eliades was a Park Scholar in the Class of 2017. He graduated from NC State in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in Zoology, and is now the Director of Research and Conservation with the Coral World Ocean and Reef Initiative (CWORI).
It isn’t unusual for incoming freshmen to be certain about their major and their career trajectory when they join the Park Scholarships program. And sometimes you think you know your plan, but then come across an opportunity that inspires a new passion.
Park Scholar Sam Eliades ‘17 came to NC State in the fall of 2013 with a plan. He was going to major in zoology and then apply for veterinary schools to become a vet.
“In undergrad, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what I was interested in,” said Eliades. “I was able to get a few internships throughout my four years at NC State and I figured out that I was more interested in the applied conservation biology side of things as opposed to the veterinary track.”
Eliades’ Park Faculty Mentor, Jennifer Campbell, Teaching Associate Professor, Biological Sciences, was instrumental in helping him find research projects and internships.
“My Park faculty mentor really understood what my interests and passions were, and helped guide me along the way. It ended up making all the difference in the world for my career and what I’ve done so far.”
Eliades began to work at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island and the North Carolina Museum of Sciences in Raleigh. It was here that he found a new path that combined his love of working with animals with his passion for conservation and education.
“These experiences helped me see a different side of the field that I didn’t know existed,” said Eliades. “In working at both the aquarium and the science museum, I realized that I might be able to do something in zoology that is not necessarily the veterinarian track. I learned that this field is something I care about tremendously. These early experiences were really important for my professional growth. I used my time in undergrad to figure out what I wanted to do and was able to develop the skills and tools to go out and do it.”
While interning at the science museum, Eliades worked in the amphibian and reptile collection, and through that internship, he met his future graduate advisor. After graduating from NC State in 2017, Sam joined the Herpetology Department at the University of Oklahoma as a Ph.D. student. He studied Southeast Asian gecko speciation, microbiome community differences between captive and wild reptiles, and ran the “Lizard Lab” Texas horned lizard head start program at the Oklahoma City Zoo.
After receiving his Ph.D., Eliades took a job as the Director of Research and Conservation at the Coral World Ocean and Reef Initiative (CWORI) in the US Virgin Islands.
“I’ve been able to build a couple of applied conservation programs for species that need immediate conservation help,” explained Eliades. “This is what I love to do. Being able to interact with wildlife while also interacting with people and educating them on the importance of wildlife — this has been something that has always called to me.”
Eliades also stressed that the work he is doing is critical for the planet.
“Some of these species are going to disappear. For example, the lizards I worked with in Oklahoma aren’t federally endangered officially, but there has been a 60-year decline in population. And then the coral down here in the Caribbean, there has been a massive, massive decline in the past few hundred years in the coral species in coral reefs that we have. These are things that are going to disappear if we don’t act now to really work to preserve the biodiversity that we have.”
When Eliades reflects back on his educational and career trajectory, he is grateful for the opportunities he had that inspired him to explore new interests and fields of research.
“Don’t be afraid to try something new,” said Eliades. “When I stepped out of my comfort zone, it was an incredible moment for me. Having an open mind and trying new things led me to where I am now. It’s been a winding and crazy road, but it has certainly been a lot of fun along the way.”
