Congratulations to Sara Gaiser – Robles Leadership Award
The Robles Leadership Award is presented in honor of General Joe Robles (USAF ret) and his wife Patty. General and Mrs. Robles have demonstrated outstanding leadership, as well as genuine care and concern for each community in which they have served. As such, this award recognizes a graduate student (MS or PhD) who demonstrates excellence in leadership and service within the local and/or UT Health community.
Sara Gaiser is a fifth-year DDS/PhD student in the Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics Department under the mentorship of Dr. Kadosh. Sara’s research focuses on translational mechanisms that control environmental stress responses, morphogenesis and biofilm formation in the major pathogen Candida albicans.
As the founder and president of Lab Researchers with Ambition to Serve (Lab RATS), Sara has led volunteer initiatives ranging from STEM outreach at local schools to food drives, community cleanups, and service projects supporting families, children and patients throughout San Antonio. Under her leadership, the organization has received $20,000 from the pharmaceutical company, Lilly, to expand the Lab RATS organization to other universities. Lab RATS was recognized with the 2026 Student Organization Community Service Award from the Office of Student Life.
In addition, she has served as a Transition Peer Mentor, IBMS tutor, a junior mentor for the Voelcker Biomedical Research and STUROP programs, and organizer of the MIMG Conklyn Mini-Symposium, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to mentoring others and strengthening the GSBS community.
Sara returned to dental school earlier this summer and is funded by an F30 grant for dual degree students.
Join us in recognizing Sara’s contributions to the graduate school and UT San Antonio community.