Alexsandra Peyton Lenhard

I grew up in Rochester, New York. I went to the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine, for my undergraduate degree in medical biology medical sciences. I then moved to Buffalo, where I started the master’s program in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. I was a research technician for a little over a year-and-a-half before I direct admitted into the PhD program in the lab of Elsa Bou Ghanem, PhD, associate professor of microbiology and immunology.

When I was deciding where to attend for my master’s degree, the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences had cutting-edge research that was focused on understanding host pathogen interactions. I specifically thought the research in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology was extremely interesting and I could see myself learning hands-on techniques in many different labs. Additionally, the core facility and animal research space are top of the line and extremely easy to access to achieve our research goals.

I love the collaborative atmosphere at the Jacobs School. The lab spaces are very open which facilitates communication with other labs. I have had multiple experiences collaborating with other labs, getting and giving advice on experiments, and just going for a friendly chat when I needed a break from the analysis or experiment I was doing.

Doing my research in Dr. Bou Ghanem’s lab has been excellent. She gave me my first experience at research as a master’s student, and has taught me many valuable techniques during my time in her lab. In addition to the hands-on research, she has taught me how to communicate my scientific research, and given me opportunities to present my research at international conferences. The skills she has taught me will help me in my next steps as a scientist.

My long-term goal as a researcher is to go into industry, working at a biotech company that is focused on translational science to better human health.

I love living in Buffalo. I live in Tonawanda, about a 20-minute drive from the Jacobs School. There is always so much to do, especially in the summer with all of the festivals, and there are so many sporting events you can go to. I love that anywhere you want to go, it is only about a 20-minute drive, and there is so much to do. I personally love all the little coffee shops around, they are some of my favorite places to do analysis.