Sarah Sandler

I use nanopore sensing and CRISPR/Cas systems to detect antibiotic resistant genes that are relevant to Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Despite being curable and preventable, Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the Top 10 causes of death worldwide and the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent according to the World Health Organization. The TB epidemic is fuelled by lack of an efficient and affordable diagnostic test, so that is what I am working on developing!

What advice would you like to give to aspiring physicists?

There's no 'right' path to take or 'right' decision to make. It's important to prioritize your interests and not be afraid to change your mind. I almost failed physics in high school - I never would have imagined I'd end up here doing this PhD. I constantly choose to pursue areas I was interested in, not necessarily naturally gifted in. The passion you bring to a project can get you just as far as natural ability can!

Anything else you'd like to share with us?

I'm also president of the nanotechnology society, commodore of the yacht club and interested in entrepreneurship!