Sampurna Sattar

Sampurna Sattar is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Pennsylvania State University. Her research focuses on plant-insect interactions, specifically aphid biology and resistance mechanisms. She investigates molecular responses in plants and aphids using transcriptomics, miRNA regulation, and insecticidal proteins. Her work contributes to understanding aphid adaptation, plant defense mechanisms, and sustainable pest management strategies. Sattar is affiliated with Althouse Laboratory and has published extensively on topics such as aphid transcriptome analysis, nicotinamide's effects on aphids, and small RNA roles in plant defense.

Her research interests span aphid physiology, chemical ecology, and molecular genetics. Key themes include identifying plant compounds conferring resistance (e.g., 3-deoxyanthocyanidin flavonoids), analyzing transcriptomic changes during host interactions, and characterizing novel insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis. She also explores miRNA-mediated pathways regulating plant defense responses against aphid herbivory.

Notable contributions include studies on Vat-mediated resistance mechanisms in melon plants, which involve miRNA repression of auxin signaling pathways. Her work bridges fundamental molecular biology with applied agricultural challenges, emphasizing sustainable pest control solutions.

No scientific awards or grants are explicitly listed in the provided information. She advises no students in the available data but contributes to teaching and research in biochemistry and molecular biology.