Laura Sanchez �07: Creating Impact Through Research
Laura Sanchez ’07 came to Whitman with a passion for the sciences that only grew during her time here. She gained valuable hands-on experience working with faculty, which fueled her interest in chemistry research as a career—and led her to continue her education at the University of California (UC) Santa Cruz, where she earned a doctorate in Chemistry and Biochemistry. Now, as an Associate Professor at UC Santa Cruz, she leads the , where her team is dedicated to researching the chemistry by which cells and microbes communicate with one another and with their surroundings to coordinate biological functions in complex environments.
�Whitman provided space to explore new areas of science while also directly facilitating numerous interactions with faculty and balance in being able to pursue a number of things on campus outside of academics.
�
Laura Pathway
2003 | Admitted to Whitman
2003�2007 | Played intramural sports
(dodgeball, flag football, basketball, ultimate Frisbee) and club softball
2005�2007 | Worked as a Chemistry Tutor and a Chemistry Teaching Assistant
in the Organic Chemistry and Advanced Organic Chemistry labs
2006 | Completed a National Science Foundation (NSF) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
at UC Santa Cruz
2007 | Graduated from Whitman
with a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry
2009�2012 | Completed an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
2012 | Graduated from UC Santa Cruz
with a doctorate in Chemistry and Biochemistry
2015�2020 | Worked as an Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
at the University of Illinois Chicago
2021 | Became an Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
at UC Santa Cruz
�I did not even realize a career in research was a viable option, and I don't think I would have been in this same career without having the ability to communicate frequently with faculty at the one-on-one level.
�
Upward Pathways. Our alumni’s diverse student experiences and career paths showcase the transformative power of a Whitman education. Find other Upward Pathways.
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Published on Dec 5, 2024