Lea Patrick

Leah Patrick is a dedicated researcher and advocate in the field of science and sustainability. With roots in community service projects dating back to middle and high school, she has pursued applied sciences to address sustainability challenges guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Her research centers on genetics and microbiology, exploring how bacteria can break down plastics such as PET from water bottles and produce components for biomaterials, with the goal of creating economically viable, environmentally sound solutions that benefit people, planet, and profit. Patrick earned her BS in Biological Sciences with a concentration in genetic cell and developmental biology and a minor in sustainability from the Barrett Honors College at ASU, which she began attending in 2020. She also spent three months at the University of Nebraska studying invasive plant species, specifically garlic mustard. She has worked with the Biodesign Institute Center of Mechanisms of Evolution at ASU and served as sustainability event and education coordinator for Barrett Sustainability. Patrick is a member of Women in Science and has volunteered on initiatives like the drink spiking prevention ordinance in Tempe. She attributes her success to persistence and hard work developed through late nights in the lab and overcoming rejections and funding challenges. Her values center on people, transparency, knowledge, and curiosity, and she advises young women entering STEM fields to trust themselves, speak up, and persist despite imposter syndrome in male-dominated environments. She has faced personal health challenges related to autoimmune issues and notes funding constraints as a key industry hurdle, with grants shifting toward AI.