Yago Serra dos Santos still remembers the bet that changed everything.
After struggling in biology during his first year at a prestigious private school in Manaus, Brazil, he made a bold bet with his teacher: He would become her best student. What began as a determination to improve his grades quickly turned into something more. Hours spent studying led to a deeper realization.
“Indeed, I turned my grades around; however, more significant than that was realizing that all the knowledge in those textbooks had been built by years of persistent and inquisitive work by scientists around the world, most of whom were ordinary people,” Santos said. “That was the moment when I decided to become one of them.”
That sense of purpose only deepened during his undergraduate years in the Brazilian Amazon. A weeklong science outreach trip to a riverine community exposed him to the power of discovery in a new way. Despite the logistical challenges of transporting microscopes, specimens and a telescope by ferry, the experience left a lasting impression. Seeing students look through a microscope or observe the moon for the first time showed him how science can inspire and transform lives.
Pursuing that path required persistence. Santos spent three years working as a hospital lab technician and biology tutor while completing his master's thesis, saving money to apply to graduate programs in the United States. Moving abroad brought uncertainty, from financial pressure to navigating a new culture and academic environment. At the same time, it opened the door to new perspectives, collaborations and opportunities that would shape his future.
At Oklahoma State University, Santos found a place where those experiences could take root.
As a doctoral student in integrative biology, he studies how fish respond to acute stress, examining how rapid environmental changes can weaken immune defenses and increase vulnerability to disease. Working alongside his advisor, Dr. Elisa Casadei, Santos investigates antimicrobial peptides and how these natural defenses help fish adapt to changing conditions.
Santos is contributing to research with real-world impact, from improving aquaculture practices to supporting conservation efforts for aquatic species. His work, and the potential it holds, has already earned recognition at OSU.
“We Dream as Big as the Sky: This Code is particularly inspiring to me. Because the grind of daily life can often wear down anyone's inspiration, we can only enjoy the full extent of our possibilities if we keep dreaming and pursuing those dreams, even when they appear too big to reach. Perhaps this is why the Cowboy Code calls it out first.”
Santos was selected as a recipient of the Otto S. Cox Graduate Fellowship, a highly competitive award recognizing outstanding graduate students whose work shows both strong research achievement and potential for meaningful impact. Each year, only a small number of students are chosen, placing him among a select group of scholars advancing innovative research while receiving support to accelerate work on complex scientific questions.
“Receiving the Cox Graduate Fellowship reinforced the impact of working with colleagues and mentors you admire,” he said. “Just like in nature, the driving force of science is cooperation.”
Through these experiences, he has continued to refine not only his research, but also his understanding of the kind of scientist he hopes to become. The collaborative environment at OSU, combined with the opportunity to pursue meaningful, applied research, has helped shape both his work and his long-term vision.
Looking ahead, Santos hopes his research will help scientists and communities better understand how environmental stress affects aquatic life, allowing for more sustainable management of natural resources. He also envisions a future leading his own research, building collaborative networks and mentoring the next generation of scientists.
From a high school bet in Brazil to a research lab in Stillwater, Santos' journey reflects the power of curiosity, determination and opportunity. At OSU, he is not only advancing scientific knowledge; he is continuing to grow into the scientist he set out to become.
Photos by: Aubrey Layton
Story by: Estefania Martinez | STATE Magazine