Students

Student Spotlight: Sabrina White

April 30, 2025 • Student Experience

Sabrina White

PhD in Biomedical Sciences

What is a fun fact about you? 

I was born and raised in Washington State. 

What is one thing about yourself or one accomplishment of which you are particularly proud? 

I graduated with a dual major in Biology and US History from my undergraduate institution, Saint Martin’s University. 

What attracted you to HSC? 

The location. Fort Worth is a vibrant community, and being centrally located to other major cities makes traveling and exploring easy. I have found so many fun small towns and places to explore during my time at HSC. 

What student organizations, programs, activities are you involved in? 

I am currently President of the Student Association of Biomedical Sciences, which is the student government for CBTS. I am also a member of the CBTS Values Committee, and I actively participate in our Summer Undergraduate Research Internship program with the Institute of Health Disparities and the Summer Academy of Health Sciences here at HSC. I am a voting member of the CBTS Education Council. 

If you could recommend students attend one campus activity or event, what would it be and why? 

The Dr. Martin Farias III Memorial Lectureship series hosted by the CBTS Values Committee. This lectureship invites speakers from all over to present on topics related to both clinical and translational research and science. Bridging the gap between our clinical programs and research is very important to me, as both work hand in hand, especially at a Health Science Center. 

What advice would you give to a student who is looking to make the most of their time at HSC? 

Find a group of friends that you can connect with outside of your studies. I have found that having people in my program that I can also have a social life with has helped me get through a lot of the tough parts of getting my PhD. I would also recommend networking on campus. Meeting faculty, staff and members of our campus community and being active in student orgs has been really great for growing my personal and professional relationships. 

How has your HSC experience been so far? 

I have enjoyed my time at HSC because of my amazing lab and PI [Principal Investigator], Dr. Michael Allen. My lab is like a big family; we celebrate each other often and share our big milestones in life. My lab family has helped me get through all of the good and the bad through my PhD. Having this type of lab and academic environment has been the best part of my HSC experience!  

I have also enjoyed being able to be on a campus so close to museums, great food, and a growing culturally diverse community. HSC is in the heart of the cultural district and so close to so many wonderful places where I can go to unwind or explore, or even just enjoy a walk. I have met so many interesting and wonderful people here at HSC from all walks of life, which has enriched my experience greatly. 

What are your plans after you finish at HSC? 

After graduating, I plan to find a Post Doctoral position and continue my work on tick microbiomes and tick-borne diseases. I hope to continue in academics and have my own lab one day where I can conduct research and train students to be the next generation of amazing scientists. 

If you’d be interested in being featured in an upcoming Student Spotlight or would like to recommend someone, please email studaffr@unthsc.edu.