Sara Patamawenu is a rising third-year student at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, majoring in biological sciences and minoring in music. As a Meyerhoff Scholar, she strives to expand her own research skills while promoting STEM engagement through peer tutoring and K-12 outreach. 

Sara currently works in a structural biology lab, where she studies variants of the transcription regulator PaBqsR to uncover mechanisms of virulence in the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. As a COMPASS intern this summer, she will work under Dr. Adam Lauring’s mentorship at the University of Michigan, where she hopes to learn more about high-throughput screening in the context of large-scale genomic epidemiology.

After graduating, Sara plans to pursue a Ph.D. in cell and molecular biology and investigate how manipulation of gene expression might correct disease-causing mutations or enhance existing defense mechanisms. Outside of school, Sara loves listening to music (especially Laufey!) while experimenting with different flavor combinations in baked goods and watching live film concerts.