Bold ideas can yield unexpected challenges, but that’s never deterred Sara Ziadat from leveraging her U of T degree to ignite life-changing research in pharmaceutical chemistry.
“U of T inspired me to pursue opportunities where I could apply my classroom learning to real-world problems,” says Ziadat, who earned her honours bachelor of science degree as a member of Trinity College.
As an undergraduate student, Ziadat studied the leading edge of drug discovery research and used computational methods to explore potential cancer treatments including small molecule inhibitors and molecular glues. She will continue that line of study and plans to attend Harvard University for her PhD program this fall.
“I was drawn to U of T’s diversity, and Toronto has been such a welcoming place,” she says. “The environment on campus enabled me to grow as both a scholar and a global citizen.”
As she prepares to cross the stage at Convocation Hall, Ziadat reflects on her last four years in a community of inquisitive thinkers who do not see the impossible as a foregone conclusion.
What drew you to pharmaceutical chemistry?
I gravitated toward the challenge of discovering new and impactful drugs because it’s such an interdisciplinary field. I’ve always been interested in biology, chemistry, physics and math, and pharmaceutical chemistry allowed me to apply my skills across all these areas. I also chose to pursue a minor in mathematics to provide me with a stronger analytical foundation, particularly for computational drug discovery research, which is my primary area of interest.
You've worked in multiple research labs during your undergraduate degree. What has that experience been like?
I've had the privilege of working in the Notta Lab at University Health Network, the Drug Discovery Program at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, the Matter Lab, the Walker Lab, UHN Therapeutics and the Rauscher Lab. Each experience has been incredibly rewarding. I've met inspiring mentors who have significantly contributed to my growth and taught me so much.
Can you tell us about a research project you're particularly excited about?
Under Assistant Professor Mark Reed and the UHN Therapeutics lab, I’m working on the computational design of molecular glues — small molecules that help two specific proteins stick together in a way that could lead to new cancer treatments. What makes this especially exciting is that there aren’t yet established methods for designing these molecules computationally — so our work could open new possibilities for treating diseases that are difficult to target with existing approaches.
What impactful experiences did you get at U of T outside the classroom?
The Pharmaceutical Chemistry Student Union (PCSU) has been incredibly important to me. I started as a second-year representative, then served as treasurer, and, this past year, I was president. We organized the first PCSU RXN (Research X Networking) conference and coffee chats with professors to help students learn more about research in the departments.
What advice would you give to your first-year self?
The most important lesson I’ve learned over the past four years is how to view mistakes and setbacks — not as failures, but as opportunities to reflect, learn and improve. For example, I used to be terrified of public speaking, but I kept pushing myself to present at conferences, observing how others approached it and applying what I learned. Now, I feel more confident and enjoy presenting my research. Beyond that, I’ve found some of the most rewarding experiences come from simply saying ‘yes’ to unexpected opportunities.