Meet the Mentor:
Sara Frisco
3M Senior Product Development Engineer
Commercial Solutions Division
As a senior product development engineer, Sara continuously works on bridging technologies within different 3M businesses and divisions. With an expertise in 3M™ Controltac™ and 3M™ Comply™ technology, Sara works across various technology platforms including films, adhesives and microreplicated liners. In her role, she also works with manufacturing technology, manufacturing plants, quality engineering, and marketing and application engineering teams to foster collaboration and better align manufacturing capability with product performance and customer expectations.
When she’s not in the lab, Sara is busy helping kids learn about science and encouraging women to pursue careers in STEM. As a build and engineering mentor for FIRST, a nonprofit organization that inspires young people’s interest and participation in science and technology, Sara works with high school students through the engineering design process and development of robots. Sara has also participated in the 3M Impact program where she and a team developed a STEM curriculum for kids in India that incorporated hands-on science projects and fundamentals of engineering. Sara is also a member of the 3M Society of Women Engineers and 3M Women’s Leadership Forum.
Sara graduated from Purdue University with a Master of Science in engineering technology and received a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of St. Thomas.
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Driven by her passion for disruptive technology platforms and innovation, Sara enjoys working on new product development, new technologies and intellectual property strategy.
Mentees
![](/static/e6bba7509fd0a45f5cdddb283572f6af/33b32/Danielle-Steinbach-2021-Finalist-Card.jpg)
Danielle Steinbach
Improving Brain Disease Outcomes
Danielle used deep neural networks to more accurately diagnose and treat neurological disorders and brain diseases.
![](/static/71fe0b8319265167f3811bf77a90032f/33b32/Sophia-Weiner-2020-Finalist-Card.jpg)
Sophia Weiner
Muck-rete: Constructive Utilization of Indian River Lagoon Muck
Meet Sophia. Sophia created Muck-rete, a constructive way to utilize muck found in water as an aggregate in concrete and eliminate the need for Muck-sites.
![](/static/1c959ac3e2a310648ddda545758b59f7/33b32/Kara-Fan-2019-Winner-Card.jpg)
Kara Fan
Nano Particle Wound Care
Kara formulated a nano particle liquid bandage to replace the use of antibiotics and help reduce the development of super bugs due to overuse of antibiotics.