Sergey Samsonau, PhD
Dr. Sergey Samsonau brings together physics, AI, data science, and research pedagogy - a rare combination shaped by two decades across academia, industry, and scientific research. At SoTS, he directs four research labs and leads development of the AI Research Mentor platform.
His students - high school and university - have gone on to study and work at Princeton, MIT, Harvard, UChicago, Johns Hopkins, Berkeley, Google, Amazon, and more.
Research Methodology
Dr. Samsonau's scientific training and experience spans multiple methodologies: theoretical physics, computer simulations, experimental laboratory work, data science, and AI. He guides students through the approach that fits their research questions, or a combination.
Experience
Research Education
- Faculty at PRISMS, ranked among the top private high schools in the US by Niche. Established and directed nanotechnology and data science research labs. Pioneered one of the first high school data science courses in the country. Developed methodologies for combining computer simulations with experiments in calculus-based physics (published in Physics Education) and for integrating authentic research in secondary schools (published in IEEE).
- While at NYU, founded and led AI for Scientific Research (AIfSR), an R&D organization where students worked on real AI projects for researchers across NYU, Langone, and external collaborators. Over 7 semesters, 100+ students, 20+ projects. Developed original methodology for scalable research education (published framework). See what former AIfSR students say.
- Conceptualized and organized AI Meets Science conference, first of its kind for the NYC metro area, with presenters from NASA, NIST, NYU, Cornell, Columbia, Princeton, Arizona State, Simons Foundation, and others.
AI & Industry R&D
- CEO and Co-Founder of Authentic Research Partners - the company operating Society of Teen Scientists
- Architected and implemented NYU's private GenAI ecosystem - one of the first university implementations nationally. Shared implementation with U.S. university community at Notre Dame AI Forum alongside Harvard and Arizona State
- Built infrastructure used by dozens of courses and thousands of students at NYU
- Finance industry R&D (Credit Suisse, Tethys Technology, Nilitis) - solutions recognized for innovation
- Radiology AI (CIVIE) - developed AI adoption strategy, established AI team
Scientific Research
Published in peer-reviewed journals across research education, materials science, and medical research. PhD research focused on nanotechnology (carbon nanofilms, graphene-like materials). Methods included high-vacuum systems, thin film growth (chemical vapor deposition, molecular-beam epitaxy), nanofabrication (photolithography, plasma etching, clean room processing), characterization (atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, optical microscopy, low-temperature electrical measurements), and numerical simulations on high-performance computing clusters.
Materials Science Papers
Teaching Experience
In over 15 years of teaching, has designed curricula and taught hundreds of students at all levels: middle school, high school, undergraduate and graduate students, professional education for Fortune 500, Big Four firms, and Columbia University researchers. Positions include Adjunct Professor at NYU Tandon School of Engineering and CUNY, and faculty at PRISMS, where he adapted college-level quantum mechanics for high school students.
Education
During school years, Dr. Samsonau was trained in the physics-mathematics school tradition in Belarus - a methodology that produced generations of Nobel laureates, Fields Medalists, and scientists who shaped modern science and technology.