Celebrating excellence: Sara Gaiser receives two prestigious awards
The UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry is proud to announce that Sara Gaiser, a fourth-year DDS/PhD student in the School of Dentistry’s COSTAR program, has been selected for two prestigious awards. These awards recognize her academic and research achievements as well as her service to the community.
Heather Menzie Junior Student of the Year Award
Sara’s contributions to the field of biomedical sciences have earned her the prestigious 2025 Heather Menzie Junior Student of the Year Award. The award committee was impressed by her stellar academic record, impactful research and dedication to serving the dental school and the greater community. Sara’s work on the F30 NIH/NIDCR award and her organizational efforts in hosting the Conklyn Mini-Symposium stood out to the committee. Beyond her research, Sara founded the Lab RATS volunteer organization, a group dedicated to giving back through various service projects in San Antonio. She also mentors peers in several programs, including the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) Transition Peer Mentor and Voelcker Biomedical Research programs. Sara will be presented with this award at the 2025 Convocation Ceremony on August 20.
Summer 2025 GSBS Travel Award
In addition to the Heather Menzie award, Sara received the 2025 Summer GSBS Travel Award, supporting her attendance at the upcoming Candida and Candidiasis 2025 Conference in Berlin, Germany. As a student in the Integrated Biomedical Sciences program, Sara is conducting research in the lab run by David Kadosh, PhD, where she investigates the translational regulation of Candida albicans, a major human oral fungal pathogen. Her research specifically focuses on how the Asc1 translational regulator protein controls the virulence properties of C. albicans, with the goal of improving antifungal treatments for oral candidiasis. At the conference, she will present her research titled Translational Regulation of Candida albicans Virulence Properties by the Asc1 Phospho-signaling Molecule and eIF4E-binding Proteins, a topic vital to the development of more effective antifungals.
Dedication to Research and Community
Sara expressed her gratitude for the opportunity, noting the significance of both the award and the upcoming conference, “I am very thankful to receive the 2025 GSBS Travel Award to fund my travel to Berlin where I will be able to share my research progress and enhance my knowledge of Candida biology. I am looking forward to sharing my research and establishing valuable connections with renowned scientists in the Candida field. I am also very excited to visit Germany and use the German language I learned in my high school German classes!”
Sara’s passion for community service is evident in her creation of the Lab RATS group, which has led various volunteer initiatives in San Antonio, including science nights at local elementary schools and supply drives for Kerr County. Her commitment to service and excellence in research embodies the values of the School of Dentistry and the GSBS program.
Congratulations to Sara Gaiser on her outstanding achievements and for representing the School of Dentistry with distinction. Her continued contributions to research and the community will make a lasting impact beyond UT Health San Antonio.