Sarah S
- Research Program Mentor

PhD at Cambridge University

Expertise

nanotechnology, material science, biotechnology, engineering, CRISPR, Molecular Machines, DNA origami, Healthcare Diagnostics

Bio

I'm currently a post-doctoral research fellow at Harvard University in the US. I have always worked at the interface of materials and biology - I have a bachelors in Materials engineering (Clemson University, US), a Masters degree in Nanoscience/Nanotechnology and a PhD in Physics (University of Cambridge, England). During all four years of my undergraduate degree, I worked in various laboratories around the world in different scientific disciplines. During my PhD, I developed new diagnostics technologies involving nanopore sensing, CRISPR-Cas molecular technqiues and DNA origami/nanostructures. Now, I am researching new protein sequencing technologies as well as continuing with diagnostics and biosensing! Personally, I love to travel and sail! When I'm not in the lab, I'm usually racing sailing yachts or travelling to a new country - or doing both - racing boats in a new country! I've been to 34 countries and 43 of the US states! I also love to surf, hike and all types of adventure sports.

Project ideas

Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.

The potential of personalized medicine: outlook and challenges

From fit bits and apple watches tracking your heart rate to diabetes management devices monitoring glucose-levels, the potential of precision/personalized healthcare has already started to be integrated into our society. What does the future hold? As part of this project, you would look into emerging technologies in this area such as using AI to early dementia detection or using genome analysis to allow doctors to treat cancer more effectively. Throughout my PhD and now as a research fellow at Harvard, I work on developing new diagnostic techniques. Because of this, I can help by guiding you to the right resources. I've been involved with the Cambridge University Precision Healthcare Initiative UK which was what first introduced me to the area. You will learn about this field and how to critically think about the challenges that come with the advent of new technologies! The potential outcome is a scientific research paper.

Coding skills

Python (intermediate), R (basic)

Languages I know

Italian (beginner)

Teaching experience

I've been a research supervisor to several masters and visiting students over the past few years from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds- biologists, theoretical physicists, environmental chemists teaching them how to do a bioengineering project. I've also taught a leadership program on women in technology for two weeks through immerse education to 16-18 year old women from around the world. I also mentored all throughout my undergraduate degree to students in the honors college and engineering interested in global exchanges.

Credentials

Work experience

Harvard Medical School - Harvard University (2024 - Current)

Post Doctoral Research Fellow

National Institute of Standards and Technology (2018 - 2018)

Radiofrequency Electronics Intern

Global Foundries (2019 - 2019)

Silicon Photonics Engineer

Camgile (2021 - 2022)

Agile Management Consultant (Part-Time)

Education

Clemson University

BS Bachelor of Science (2019)

Material Science and Engineering

Cambridge University

MPhil Master of Philosophy (2020)

Nanotechnology