Sandra Jablonska

About

What research topics are of greatest interest to you/what are your studies about?  

My ongoing project focuses on bacterial strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis, looking at their evolution by investigating phenotypic and genotypic similarities between S. epidermidis strains found on the human body at different anatomical locations, with an overarching goal to induce S. epidermidis phages successfully. I aim to find significant microbial relationships between anatomical sites to better understand the role of microbes in the female microbiota, which is frequently understudied. 

Why are you interested in leadership and social/environmental justice?  

Given this program’s emphasis on the ability to examine oneself and career trajectory and nurturing students to ignite social change, I believe this opportunity caters directly to my academic and social experiences. In this program, I hope to explore careers that encompass biology along with the ability to instigate social change. Having previous experiences, such as collaborating with organizations like APHA (American Public Health Association) to utilize the intersectionality of a biological skill set and public health influences, has made me realize that I want a career that allows me to interact with people and a laboratory setting. 

What do you hope to gain from the Gannon Graduate Leader program?  

I hope to gain a better ability to tell my story as a first-generation student making my way through academia, while also building a career trajectory for myself that allows me to foster social change. Seeing how Gannon prompts their students to encompass both the values and a desire to fight for a more just social order makes me believe that this is the opportunity to grow my skill set and build on my previous experiences to promote social change.