Dr. Savannah Sojka (PhD) is a molecular biologist with a passion for teaching biomedical sciences to healthcare students. She graduated with her PhD in Biological Sciences from the University at Buffalo, where she was recognized with the distinguished Excellence in Teaching for Graduate Assistants award. She leverages extensive experience in both didactic and laboratory settings to assist adult learners gain confidence in their foundational knowledge of biomedical sciences and recognize its real-world applications in human health and disease.
Education & Training
PhD, Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, 2024
MS, Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, 2020
BS, Biochemistry and Cellular/Molecular Biology, University of Maine, 2018
Awards & Honors
Stephanie Niciszewska Mucha Fellowship, University at Buffalo, 2024
Excellence in Teaching Award for Graduate Teaching Assistants, 2021
Research Interests
Effective teaching
STEM education and science communication
Cell and molecular biology
Signal transduction
Links
Sojka SE, Hammond FM, Ferkey DM. 2025. Phosphodiesterases Regulate C. elegans Bitter Taste Avoidance. microPublication Biology. 10.17912/micropub.biology.001946
AN EXTENSIVE GAP JUNCTION NEURAL NETWORK MODULATES C. elegans AVERSIVE BEHAVIOR. Savannah E Sojka, Emily A. Mehle, Meredith J. Ezak and Denise M Ferkey. Genes, 2025. DOI: 10.3390/genes16030260
THE C. ELEGANS INNEXIN INX-20 REGULATES NOCICEPTIVE BEHAVIORAL SENSITIVITY Aditi H Chaubey, Savannah E Sojka, John O Onukwufor, Meredith J Ezak, Matthew D Vandermuelen, Alexander Bowitch, Anezka Vodickova, Andrew P Wojtovich, and DeniseM Ferkey. Genetics, 2023. DOI:10.1093/genetics/iyad017
PHOSPHORYLATION OF RGS REGULATES MAP KINASE LOCALIZATION AND PROMOTES COMPLETION OF CYTOKINESIS William C Simke, Cory P Johnson, Andrew J Hart, Sari Mayhue, P Lucas Craig, Savannah Sojka, and Joshua B Kelley. Life Science Alliance, 2022. DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202101245
THE C. ELEGANS TRPV CHANNEL PROTEINS OSM-9 AND OCR-2 CONTRIBUTE TO AVERSIVE CHEMICAL SENSITIVITY Emily A Mehle, Savannah E Sojka, Medha K.C., Rosy M Zel, Sebastian J Reese, and Denise M Ferkey. MicroPubl Biol. 2020. DOI: 10.17912