Hometown:
Apple Valley, MN
Year entered CMB program:
2023
Lab: Amador-Noguez Lab
Brief Summary of Research:
Sydney Bradley studies how the bacterium Zymomonas mobilis adapts to isobutanol stress using adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) and population genomics. Her work identifies parallel genetic changes and key mutations that enable enhanced growth under increasing solvent stress. She leverages these insights to select and engineer more robust strains for improved biofuel production.
Awards and Publications:
2026 Marie Christine Kohler Fellow – Art + Science Fusion
2026 GLBRC Outreach and Education Award
Why did you decide to attend graduate school?
After working for two years following my bachelor’s degree, I gained a clearer perspective on potential career paths and research areas. I chose to pursue a PhD to explore the scientific questions I’m most interested in, build deeper expertise, and develop the independence needed to lead my research and shape my career.
What lessons have you learned throughout your graduate career so far?
Academic science moves fast and slow at the same time. You have to adapt quickly, think ahead of shifting timelines, and stay grounded in the scope of your research.
What are your long-term career goals?
I aim to build a career that integrates project management, science communication, and sustainable bioproduct development. I am particularly interested in contributing to companies like LEGO that are advancing plant-derived materials as alternatives to traditional plastics. Their combination of scientific innovation, creativity, and global impact aligns closely with the kind of work I want to lead and contribute to long-term.
When you are not in the lab, you are…….?
Outside of my lab work, I am doing home improvement projects! I take a hands-on approach, from pouring concrete to learning plumbing and electrical work. I enjoy building spaces that are both functional and thoughtfully designed.
What is the most fun part of your research?
I find the most fulfillment in knowing that the bacteria I evolve and the data I analyze have never been interpreted before. The mutations emerging from these experiments are new to the field and have the potential to contribute to our broader understanding of microbial adaptation.