Sarah Jobbins Student Profile
Sarah Jobbins
Mentor: Helen Lai Ph.D.
Undergraduate Degree: Neuroscience
Undergraduate Institution: University of California, Los Angeles
Hometown: South Lake Tahoe, CA
Research Topic: Neurodevelopment
Awards/Fellowships: O’Donnell Brain Institute Sprouts Grant, Cliffside Malibu Foundation Scholarship, Owen Lock Memorial Foundation Scholarship, Vail Resorts Scholarship, Kiwanis Club Scholarship, National Costumers Association Scholarship, Baltimore Polytechnic Institute Scholarship, Herbold Foundation Scholarship, Soroptimist International Scholarship
How did you become interested in science and/or research?
I was always interested in the world around me, but my interest in science did not truly begin until I took AP Psychology in high school, where I began wanting to understand the biological basis of the diseases and disorders we discussed. That prompted me to pursue a Neuroscience major in college. But it wasn’t until halfway through college that I learned about research as a potential career path. I joined a vestibular neuroscience lab as an undergraduate researcher in my third year of college and loved the process of designing experiments to critically think about and answer a question. After I graduated, I worked as a research technician in a cancer metabolism lab to learn more about the research process. Working on my own project and watching answers to my questions develop over time encouraged my decision to pursue graduate school and a career in research.
Please describe your research.
The development and maintenance of our various sensory modalities is highly complex and is critical for normal sensory capacity. Human disease reveals that mutations in the transcription factor PRDM12 result in patients with Congenital Insensitivity to Pain (CIP). My work studies the role of PRDM12 throughout development and adulthood, with the goal of understanding how PRDM12 regulates the transcriptional profiles of sensory neurons to govern their development and maintain their identity
Why did you choose UT Southwestern?
What first drew me to UTSW was the wide variety of fascinating research topics that the faculty here pursue. As an undecided Neuroscience student coming into graduate school this variety, as well as the opportunity to do multiple rotations in the first year was very exciting. Additionally, I loved that the culture is genuinely welcoming and collaborative. It quickly became very obvious during my interviews, that this is a place where students can feel comfortable working with trainees and faculty at all levels.
In your opinion, what makes the Neuroscience Graduate Program one of the top in the country?
The research performed by the labs in the neuroscience department is among the most cutting-edge, and many of the faculty are leaders in their fields. These experts have designed and teach a well-structured curriculum that starts with the basics of neuroscience knowledge and moves on to more specialized neuroscience topics, as well as covering literature evaluation, writing, and presentation skills. This leaves students well prepared to not only pass their qualifying exams, but also write grants, independently analyze research, and present their own work. Additionally, students have the opportunity to utilize a wide variety of core facilities to aid in their research and learn cutting edge techniques. There are also a number of interest groups, where clusters of labs with similar research topics come together to share results, discuss ideas and collaborate.
What do you love about the Neuroscience Program?
What I love most about the Neuroscience program is how committed to the success of their students the neuroscience faculty are. This is really enhanced by the culture of collaboration. I regularly seek advice from faculty outside of my field or committee and they are more than happy to provide it. Additionally, I love that the program regularly brings in guest seminar speakers who are experts in their field. Students get the opportunity to meet with these speakers in small groups for a chance to discuss their research and get advice on career trajectories from them. I have learned a lot from some of these speakers and even gotten some advice that has advanced my research project.
– Sarah Jobbins
