Samuel W. Foster

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Samuel W. Foster has made significant contributions to the democratization of chemical instrumentation through open-source design. His primary research focuses on low-cost, accessible automation for laboratory workflows, particularly in liquid handling and sampling systems. Foster’s most-cited work, "Comparison of design approaches for low-cost sampling mechanisms in open-source chemical instrumentation" (2021, 5 citations), provides a critical evaluation of two robotic positioning system designs for autosamplers compatible with 96-well plates. This study systematically compares the trade-offs between affordability, precision, and reproducibility, offering practical guidance for researchers seeking to build custom, low-cost instrumentation. By detailing the engineering principles behind these open-source platforms, Foster empowers laboratories with limited budgets to adopt automated sampling, reducing barriers to high-throughput chemical analysis. His work exemplifies the growing movement toward open science, where sharing designs and methodologies accelerates innovation. Foster’s contributions are particularly valuable for educational settings and resource-constrained environments, where access to commercial autosamplers is often prohibitive. Through his rigorous comparisons and clear documentation, he has established a foundation for future advancements in open-source chemical instrumentation, making automated liquid handling more accessible to the global research community.