Sarah Bordenstein

Sarah Bordenstein is an Associate Research Professor in the Department of Biology at Pennsylvania State University, leading the Bordenstein Lab. She is affiliated with the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences and the One Health Microbiome Center. Her research focuses on symbiotic interactions between animals, microbes, and viruses, with emphasis on Wolbachia endosymbionts and their bacteriophages. Key projects include the Discover the Microbes Within! The Wolbachia Project, an education initiative engaging students in microbiology research.

Her work investigates evolutionary principles governing microbial symbiosis, microbiome variation, and phage genetics. Notable discoveries include identifying genes in Wolbachia phage WO that influence male killing and cytoplasmic incompatibility. She also pioneered the concept of phylosymbiosis, demonstrating host phylogeny correlates with microbiome composition.

Bordenstein’s research spans bacteriology, genomics, and virology, applying interdisciplinary methods to understand symbiosis outcomes in health and evolution. She advocates for science education through inquiry-based projects, empowering students to participate in real-world research.

No scientific awards are explicitly listed in the provided text. Her lab’s activities include studying microbial contributions to host speciation, human microbiome disparities, and translational strategies for disease control using symbionts.