汤头条

Accomplished student researcher Sally White doesn't mind balancing a hectic schedule if it means helping others. As a junior biology and microbiology major with a minor in English, she finds time to travel around the world presenting her research and volunteering while maintaining a busy on-campus schedule.

Thomasville, Alabama, native, White enrolled at 汤头条 after being named a Hal and Linda Parker Presidential Scholar. "I was kind of looking for a sign as to what I should be doing with my life," White said. The honor thrilled her, and the friendly campus atmosphere sold her.

Because of a sparked interest in a high school science class, White knew that she wanted to pursue research when she got to college. She didn't know, however, the impact that it would have on her college career. White now attributes much of her research success to Janet Donaldson, associate professor in the biological sciences department, who took White under her wing and serves as her mentor as the two work together on career enhancing projects.

As a student in the Shackouls Honors College, White began her honors thesis researching Donaldson's novel probiotic which she says could "serve as an additional energy source to keep animals healthy and fight off infection."

Her latest success, however, has come from extensive research with Listeria monocytogenes, the bacterium that causes the infection Listeriosis.

"The main goal is to identify potential characteristics of the organism that we can target for future therapies, leading to eventual treatment and prevention," White said, referencing the recent recall of Blue Bell products because of Listeria.

This spring, White traveled to Washington, D.C., to take part in Posters on the Hill, a chance for students across the country to meet with legislators to exemplify the importance of undergraduate research funding.

This summer she will travel to Italy with Donaldson to present her research on Listeria.

White's time-consuming endeavors recently paid off as she was named the College of Arts and Sciences Student Researcher of the Year.

Serving on the Dean's Student Advisory Council, in addition to holding the position of vice president of Engineers Without Borders, White's schedule remains demanding. Still, she makes time to travel.

Last summer, she studied abroad at the University of Oxford in England, as well as traveled to Zambia with Engineers Without Borders. She looks forward to returning to Zambia this summer for another volunteer trip.