Dr. Sara Andres: From Exploring Protein Structure To Building Future Scientists

Arvan Kayal
Feb 7
2 min read

Updated: Feb 14

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains a critical hurdle in modern medicine, exacerbated by the ability of bacteria to repair their own DNA. When antibiotics are used to damage the bacterial genome, these resilient organisms utilize repair pathways to survive, often introducing mutations that further drive resistance. Understanding these survival mechanisms is essential to preventing the rise of "superbugs." To stay ahead of this threat, researchers must decode the molecular blueprints of how bacteria fix themselves.

Dr. Sara N. Andres, a leading expert in structural biology and DNA repair, will have an “office hour” with us today to discuss her research, her journey through the world of biochemistry, and how we can inhibit bacterial repair to improve life-saving therapies.

Dr. Sara Andres

AFFILIATION

Dr. Sara N. Andres is an Associate Professor and Principal Investigator of the Andres Lab in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences at McMaster University. She is also a member of the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research (IIDR).

ACADEMIC & TEACHING BACKGROUND

Undergraduate study:

In 2005, Dr. Sara Andres completed her undergraduate studies with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at the University of Guelph.

Graduate study:

She then pursued her Ph.D. at McMaster University with the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences in 2011, where she specialized in structural biology under the mentorship of Dr. Murray S. Junop.

Post-doctoral training:

Following her PhD, Dr. Andres moved to North Carolina for post-doctoral training at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in the laboratory of Dr. R. Scott Williams.

Teaching and Research career:

In 2017, she returned to the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences at McMaster University to establish the Andres Lab. Outside of her professional research, Dr. Andres applies her scientific curiosity to food science through baking and explores the laws of physics as a goaltender in her local hockey league.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

The Andres Lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms of DNA repair across different bacterial species. By integrating biochemistry and bacterial genetics with advanced structural techniques—such as X-ray crystallography, Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS), and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)—the lab seeks to visualize the physical machinery of repair. Their ultimate goal is to identify ways to inhibit these repair pathways, thereby increasing the efficacy of existing antimicrobial treatments and combating the spread of resistance.

AWARDS & LEADERSHIP

Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship, Doctoral (2008 - 2010)
Canadian Pauling Poster Prize (2010)
Ontario Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (2007 - 2008)
Post-graduate Scholarship, Masters (2005 - 2007)

EPISODE OVERVIEW

In this episode, we host an “office hour” conversation with Dr. Sara Andres, who shares the moment she discovered her passion for protein crystallography and how her career goals evolved from becoming a teacher to pursuing a path as a researcher and professor. From the perspective of a P.I, Dr. Andres also discusses the kind of lab environment she strives to build and how she hopes to inspire students to become more involved in research and discover their own interests.