Undergraduate Research & Scholarships

Sarah Olson

Investigating Powdery Mildew manipulation of plant cell processes

Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that harms grapevines by hijacking the plant’s own biological processes to support its growth. To understand how this manipulation works, the Wildermuth lab studies a small model plant called Arabidopsis, which shares key traits with grapevines. Our research focuses on a lipid transport protein, Acyl Co-A Binding Protein 4, which appears to influence how effectively the fungus can exploit the host. Through my continued research with my mentor, we aim to better understand how powdery mildew reprograms plant cells—particularly changes in DNA replication—to promote infection.

Message To Sponsor

Thank you to the generous donor who made this opportunity possible. Undergraduate research has challenged me and expanded my skills. This summer will allow me to continue growing as I prepare to pursue an eventual PhD, while also contributing to the fields of plant molecular biology and agriculture. I am incredibly grateful for the chance to further explore a topic I have become deeply passionate about-- thank you!