Sam obtained his Ph.D. in Bioengineering and Computational Biology at Tampere University (Finland) and Postdoctoral training in Microfluidics and Automation at Boston University (BU). He worked as a Research Assistant Professor and the Senior Manager of the Microfluidics Facility of the "Design, Automation, Manufacturing, and Processes" (DAMP) lab (www.damplab.org), the Academic Bio-foundry of Boston University. In 2023, he joined NCA&T as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Nanoengineering at the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (JSNN). 

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The Oliveira lab investigates the emergence of complexity in collective behavior and communication of natural microbiomes to programmatically co-engineer desired synthetic microbiomes and their artificial microenvironments. His team applies computer, electrical engineering, optics, microfluidics, and synthetic biology breakthroughs to improve our knowledge of the links between genetic sequences, intercellular communication, and programmable spatiotemporal microbial behaviors. He aims at engineering smart microbial devices, such as wearables, that can interface with natural targets (sense, compute, and actuate) in real-life problems related to diseases in healthcare, agriculture, and the environment.