Young Scientists Shine at Oregon Bio Women CONNECT
The Oregon Life Sciences community gathered for Oregon Bio Women CONNECT, hosted by its women’s group, Oregon Bio Women, amid curiosity, conversation, and excitement — and among the highlights were two remarkable high school students whose poster presentations drew attention from attendees, mentors, and industry veterans alike. In a room full of accomplished scientists and life sciences leaders, Esmé Konsor and Noa Zielsdorff stood out with confidence, curiosity, and an infectious passion for science.
Left to right: Noa Zielsdorff (Glencoe High School), Brian Pendergrass (Hillsboro High School), and Esmé Konsor (Hillsboro High School) at Oregon Bio Women CONNECT, an event hosted by Oregon Bio Women within Oregon Life Sciences.
Two Posters. Two Standout Scientists.
Noa Zielsdorff from Glencoe High School captivated the room with her poster, A Wide Spread: Glowing Bacteria, Skin Pain, and Bad Blood. The title alone drew people in — and Noa delivered. Her poster wove together three distinct experiences: cloning with fluorescent bacteria, researching Classical Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and hands-on blood testing and quality investigation during a job shadow at Hemex Health. The range and specificity of her work are a testament to the kind of scientific exploration Brian Pendergrass’s program makes possible, and Noa presented it with poise and clarity.
Esmé Konsor, a student at Hillsboro High School, presented a poster titled Disease Research: Malaria, Huntington’s, and EBV — an ambitious exploration of three research areas that reflected her curiosity and range. Esmé’s work took her into designing and testing malaria vaccines using alpha-viral vectors at OHSU, Huntington’s disease bioinformatics research, and an Epstein-Barr virus miRNA cloning project — three distinct scientific domains that together demonstrate impressive depth for any researcher, let alone a high school student. Her ability to explore three complex areas and present each with clarity made a strong impression on everyone who stopped by.
It was a pleasure for Oregon Bio Women, a community group within Oregon Life Sciences, to welcome these two young women and see them present themselves and their work so thoughtfully at Oregon Bio Women CONNECT. Among an already impressive lineup, their presence brought fresh energy and perspective to the event.
The Man Behind the Mission: Brian Pendergrass
Behind every exceptional student scientist is an educator who recognized their potential and helped it grow. For Esmé and Noa, that person is Brian Pendergrass, a dedicated Bioscience Technologies teacher at Hillsboro High School whose program has become a genuine pipeline for the next generation of life sciences talent in Oregon.
Brian’s program is one of the oldest and most successful high school biotechnology programs in Oregon. Since joining Oregon Life Sciences, the program has built remarkable industry partnerships — including with PCC Biotech, Genentech, and the Oregon National Primate Research Center — giving students access to real labs, real researchers, and real science. That strength earned the program a $434,000 CTE Revitalization Grant from the Oregon Department of Education, fueling further expansion and ensuring that cutting-edge biotechnology skills are accessible to students who might not otherwise have those opportunities.
His students don’t just learn about science — they do science. By guiding students through real research questions, poster development, and public presentation, Brian equips them with skills that reach well beyond the high school classroom. That students were invited to present at Oregon Bio Women CONNECT is a direct reflection of the rigor and mentorship he brings every day — and Oregon Life Sciences is proud to recognize both him and the program he has built.
Brian’s program exemplifies what’s possible when educators prioritize authentic scientific experience alongside traditional instruction. He has cultivated an environment where students feel empowered to pursue big questions, tackle challenging topics, and present their findings in professional arenas.
Oregon Life Sciences is proud to recognize Brian Pendergrass not only for the quality of the students he helps develop, but for the broader contribution he makes to Oregon’s life sciences ecosystem. Programs like his are the foundation on which the next generation of researchers, clinicians, and biotech leaders will be built.
Oregon’s life sciences community has long prided itself on investing in talent at every level. Events like Oregon Bio Women CONNECT exist to connect, inspire, and elevate — and seeing students like Esmé and Noa thrive in that environment is a reminder of why that investment matters.
A Bright Future, On Full Display
If you were at the event and stopped by either poster, you already know: these two are ones to watch. And with mentors like Brian Pendergrass in their corner, Oregon’s scientific future is in very good hands.
Article submitted by Kendra Hill, Oregon Bio Women