Wendy Hanna-Rose

Wendy Hanna-Rose has a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from Harvard University. As a scholar, she has developed genetic models to study a variety of rare diseases caused by disrupted metabolism of purines. Her lab probes how changes in metabolism of purines affect development, physiology and behavior and is working toward development of therapeutic strategies to treat congenital disorders of purine metabolism. 

Dr. Hanna-Rose has been a professor at Penn State for 25 years and has served as department head and associate department head for undergraduate education. She has pioneered development and delivery of leadership programs and is the recipient of multiple teaching awards, including the Eisenhower Award, Penn State’s highest honor for teaching, and the 2023 Eberly College of Science Distinguished Mentoring Award. She has trained and mentored more than a dozen PhD students and over 100 undergraduate researchers. She teaches pedagogy to graduate students in her department and cell and molecular biology to honors students.