Meet Chad Singleton of The Square Round Table Podcast, B-Sci in College Park

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chad Singleton.

Chad, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My name is Chad Singleton. I am an Environmental Scientist. I have my Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Science. I have worked professionally as a Biologist and a Chemical Analyst. I have also conducted prostate cancer research at Clark Atlanta University. I am now working towards my Masters in Public Health at Southern New Hampshire University.

Growing up I never thought that the Career of a scientist was something that I could pursue. This was mostly Because when I was a kid, I didn’t see many scientists that looked like me. Black representation just wasn’t there at the time. I looked at scientists like they were superheroes.

A huge part of my life that really shaped me as a person was my matriculation through college. I wouldn’t have made it if it wasn’t for the support system that gave me unconditional love, motivation and support when I needed it the most. Keeping this in mind, I use The Square Round Table and B-Sci as a platform to give motivation and support for someone who needs it as I needed it back then.

I started The Square Round Table Podcast with my Brother Joshua Singleton and my friends from college Dmitrius Clark and Marcus Long. B-Sci is short for The Black Science Coalition and Institute. I was brought on by The B-Sci President Jordan Chapman to act as The Science Communication Officer for B-Sci.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
My road hasn’t been a smooth one, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I originally attended Fort Valley State University for their Biological Science Program. I was kicked out of school towards the end of my sophomore year. I now know that I definitely wasn’t performing up to my full potential, but at the time, I was devastated, angry and depressed.

I moved back home and took a year off from college. During that time, I worked two jobs and contemplated what my Plans for the future Would be. What got me through that time was daily conversations with my parents. At one point, I wasn’t even sure that I wanted to go back to school for biology, but my mother helped me realize that I wouldn’t be happy doing anything else. My father told me to follow my dreams regardless of other’s opinions because nobody could realize my dream like I could. That was the best advice I have ever received. After taking a year off, I applied for the Biological Science Program at Atlanta Metropolitan State College. Three years later, I graduated from Atlanta Metropolitan State College with a B.S. in Biological Science.

Please tell us about The Square Round Table Podcast, B-Sci.
The Square Round Table Podcast is a Radio Talk Show founded by myself and my cohosts Dmitrius Clark, Joshua Singleton and Marcus Long. The mission of our show is to shatter stigmas and show diversity in various areas in art and science. Representation is everything. Every week we interview people of many different walks of life who are successful scientists or artists. We also give our insight on how it feels to be black men in our careers. Marcus is a Director, Joshua is a Computer Scientist and Dmitrius is an Educator. We do this in order to express to our audience that color, orientation and gender shouldn’t discourage anyone from following their dreams.

The Black Science Coalition and Institute (B-Sci) is a non-profit organization founded by Jordan Chapman (President) and Jana M. Carpenter (Development Officer). I serve as The Science Communication Officer. B-SCI was established in 2019 to encourage black and underrepresented communities to engage in science. Our goal is to foster scientific interest, research, skepticism, objectivity, knowledge, and innovation in black and historically underrepresented communities.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Good fortune has definitely played a big role in my life. For example, my first job right out of college was working as a Biologist for an environmental Protection Company called Clarke. I took the position knowing that it was only a 5-month long contract position Ending in November. With this in mind, I knew that I would need to have another lab position secured by then. While I was in the last two months of me working with Clarke, I went on job interviews constantly. Nothing panned out.

On the last day of working with Clarke, I got an email from another environmental lab asking me to interview for a chemical analyst position. I agreed but thought nothing of it based on my interview track record up to that point. The next day I had the worst interview of my life. I just knew I didn’t get the position, but before I left the parking lot, I got a phone call telling me I got the position and asking me when I could start. You can call it luck but I know that my experience was nothing short of a blessing. I stepped out on faith, knowing that I didn’t have a safety net and in the end, I didn’t go one day unemployed.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.b-sci.org/
• Phone: 4045760640
• Email: chade.singleton@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squareroundtable1/
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/thebsci/
• Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/thesquareround1
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/thebsci/?hl=en

Image Credit:
Square Round Table Interview pics in order
1.Eleanna Garza
2. Ben Ditto
3. The chalk Twins
The Black Science Coalition and Institute

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