Sarah Jane Long


I am a senior at University of California, Santa Cruz majoring in neuroscience. In the Lee Lab I study mitochondrial transport in the neurodegenerative disease models of Alzheimer’s and Spinocerebellar ataxia. Using the Alzheimer’s model, I focus on mitochondrial transport characteristics caused by interactions between Tau and ABeta. With the Spinocerebellar model, I focus on transport relation to the different numbers of trinucleotide repeats associated with the disease. Some of my future aspirations include continuing lab research and taking a creative approach to my science education in hopes of pursuing work in science journalism. In my free time, I enjoy playing the violin, being entertained by my pet rat named Flo, and spending my time outdoors – going on adventures with an Aussie pup named Jack, camping, hiking, and taking long rides on my motorcycle.