Isabella Sardo is a dedicated senior, finishing up her undergraduate degree in Public Health at San Diego State University this spring. Isabella started her college career as a Nutrition major. She later switched to Public Health because she felt it better encompassed all of her passions, Environmental Science and Nutrition. Isabella is currently interested in Toxicology, Environmental Science, and utilizing quantitative data to create policy.
Isabella is currently working under Dr. Sant, a professor in Environmental Health at SDSU. In Isabella’s research, she looks at the effects of discarded cigarette butts, one of the most abundant sources of pollution, on fish development. The study uses zebrafish as a model, and looks at the effects of exposures on embryonic development. Isabella is excited to see how this research will be applied to other animals, humans, and the ocean’s ecosystem. Isabella is hopeful that this project will get published in the future, as she presented her current findings at the 2022 Student Research Symposium. “Isabella is so passionate about environmental health and management, and I’m so proud of her research and professional accomplishments thus far and her ability to apply research to a real-world problem,” said Sant.
Isabella is also involved in a research lab on campus that does qualitative data analysis under Dr. Felner. In this lab, they work on Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Sexual Health. Additionally, Isabella is a member of Students for Public Health, Women in Science, Epsilon Eta (an Environmental Sciences Honors Fraternity) and has volunteered for the Public Health Podcast, “If I Could Change One Thing.” These organizations provided Isabella with the knowledge and confidence to pursue further education. Since Isabella started research, she has become interested in enrolling in a Master’s in Public Health program. Her research has drawn her towards Environmental Sciences and policy development. Isabella plans to participate in a master’s program to learn more about these topics.