Patricia C. Dos Santos

Patricia C. Dos Santos is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Wake Forest University, located in the College of Arts and Sciences. She conducts active research on the biochemical mechanisms of iron-sulfur cluster assembly in Gram-positive bacteria, a fundamental process in cellular metabolism and metalloprotein function.

Her educational background includes a B.S. from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (1999, Brazil) and a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech (2004), followed by postdoctoral training at the same institution under Dennis Dean.

Dr. Dos Santos's research lies at the intersection of biochemistry, microbiology, and inorganic chemistry, with a focus on metalloenzymes and metal cofactor biosynthesis. Her work contributes to understanding essential life processes such as respiration, carbon metabolism, and nitrogen fixation through the lens of [Fe-S] cluster biogenesis.

Although specific publications are not listed in the provided text, her research output is recognized through sustained funding and scholarly recognition, indicating a strong publication record in bioinorganic and microbial biochemistry.

• URECA Faculty Award for Excellence in Mentorship in Research (2020)
• Robert & Debra Lee Faculty Fellowship (2018-2021)
• Freiburg Institute for Advanced Sciences Fellow (2018-2019)
• Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation Faculty Fellowship (2013-2016)
• Faculty Excellence in Research Award, Wake Forest University (2013)
• NSF CAREER Award (2011)
• Outstanding Recent Alumna, Virginia Tech (2010)

Dr. Dos Santos is actively involved in mentoring undergraduate and graduate researchers, as evidenced by the URECA mentorship award. She has secured competitive grants including the NSF CAREER Award and multiple university-level fellowships, supporting her research program and student training. While specific grant titles are not listed, the funding sources reflect strong institutional and national recognition of her research potential and productivity.

She leads a research group investigating the biochemical pathways of [Fe-S] cluster formation in bacteria, likely involving interdisciplinary collaboration and laboratory-based experimentation in chemical and molecular biology.