diff --git a/pydatalab/pydatalab/models/people.py b/pydatalab/pydatalab/models/people.py
index 0eb8281c1..38b97ac56 100644
--- a/pydatalab/pydatalab/models/people.py
+++ b/pydatalab/pydatalab/models/people.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ class Person(Entry):
     type: str = Field("people", const=True)
     """The entry type as a string."""
 
-    identities: List[Identity]
+    identities: List[Identity] = Field(default_factory=list)
     """A list of identities attached to this person, e.g., email addresses, OAuth accounts."""
 
     display_name: Optional[str]
@@ -87,11 +87,6 @@ def add_missing_type(cls, v):
     def set_default_type(cls, _):
         return "people"
 
-    class Config:
-        allow_population_by_field_name = True
-        extra = "forbid"
-        json_encoders = {bson.ObjectId: str}
-
     @staticmethod
     def new_user_from_identity(
         identity: Identity, use_display_name: bool = True, use_contact_email: bool = True
diff --git a/pydatalab/pydatalab/routes/items.py b/pydatalab/pydatalab/routes/items.py
index b9ae00a87..f2b9e2097 100644
--- a/pydatalab/pydatalab/routes/items.py
+++ b/pydatalab/pydatalab/routes/items.py
@@ -264,8 +264,12 @@ def _create_sample(sample_dict: dict, copy_from_item_id: str = None) -> tuple[di
 
     if CONFIG.TESTING:
         new_sample["creator_ids"] = []
+        new_sample["creators"] = [
+            {"display_name": "Public testing user", "contact_email": "datalab@odbx.science"}
+        ]
     else:
         new_sample["creator_ids"] = [current_user.person.immutable_id]
+        new_sample["creators"] = [{"display_name": current_user.person.display_name}]
 
     # check to make sure that item_id isn't taken already
     if flask_mongo.db.items.find_one({"item_id": sample_dict["item_id"]}):
@@ -311,6 +315,9 @@ def _create_sample(sample_dict: dict, copy_from_item_id: str = None) -> tuple[di
                 "date": new_sample.date,
                 "name": new_sample.name,
                 "creator_ids": new_sample.creator_ids,
+                "creators": [c.json() for c in new_sample.creators]
+                if new_sample.creators
+                else None,
             },
         },
         201,  # 201: Created
diff --git a/webapp/src/server_fetch_utils.js b/webapp/src/server_fetch_utils.js
index b643fb932..63de8f07a 100644
--- a/webapp/src/server_fetch_utils.js
+++ b/webapp/src/server_fetch_utils.js
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ export function createNewSample(item_id, date, name, startingData = {}, copyFrom
     console.log("received the following data from fetch new-sample:");
     console.log(response_json.sample_list_entry);
     console.log(`item_id: ${item_id}`);
-    store.commit("appendToSampleList", response_json.sample_list_entry);
+    store.commit("prependToSampleList", response_json.sample_list_entry);
     // store.commit('createSampleData', {
     //  "item_id": item_id,
     //  "sample_data": response_json.sample_data
diff --git a/webapp/src/store/index.js b/webapp/src/store/index.js
index 2c9d5cbb8..02d772e19 100644
--- a/webapp/src/store/index.js
+++ b/webapp/src/store/index.js
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@ export default createStore({
       // sampleSummary is a json object summarizing the new sample
       state.sample_list.push(sampleSummary);
     },
+    prependToSampleList(state, sampleSummary) {
+      // sampleSummary is a json object summarizing the new sample
+      state.sample_list.unshift(sampleSummary);
+    },
     deleteFromSampleList(state, sample_summary) {
       const index = state.sample_list.indexOf(sample_summary);
       if (index > -1) {