Sara Hoggatt

Undergrad

About Sara

Sara is from Terre Haute, Indiana where she grew up with her family, two cats, and two bulldogs. She
enjoys drawing, crocheting, cooking, and going for walks in the sun outside of lab.

Sara is learning a variety of dance styles through dance lessons on campus, and she enjoys learning new skills and seeing improvement in them over time.

Sara is inspired to do research by the urge to figure things out like laying out puzzle pieces.

Education

B.S. Molecular Engineering, Bioengineering Track, University of Chicago, Expected graduation 2024

Favorite Quote

"If this isn't nice, what is?" - Kurt Vonnegut

Scientific Hero

Neil deGrasse Tyson

Favorite Paper

Enhanced Phagocytic Response of Macrophages to Bacteria by Physical Impact Caused by Bacterial Motility or Centrifugation
by Toshio Tomita and Shiro Kanegasaki

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC347828/pdf/iai00147-0069.pdf

If you could be a piece of lab equipment, what would you be?

I would be a Bunsen burner because I really like when I can apply lab skills to non-lab situations or vice versa like how a Bunsen burner is useful for both practicing sterile technique in lab and being a camp stove.

Sara's Research

Sara's current research project is investigating the physical dynamics of the interactions between
bacteria and macrophages using Fluidic Force Microscopy (FluidFM). It aims to clarify how macrophages
detect bacteria and to identify the most important physical dynamics, such as the force of contact
between the macrophage and bacterium or how long the bacterium stays in contact with the
macrophage, involved in activating the macrophage. Using FluidFM, the bacterium can be more precisely
controlled than in previous studies, leading to a more complete understanding of how macrophages
detect and respond to bacteria.