Sarah Alshawi is a UConn Health Biomedical Sciences PhD student. She received her Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology from Georgetown University. While there, she studied glutamate receptor signaling modulation of microglia activation and function in the Maguire-Zeiss lab. Before coming to UConn Health, she was a Post-Bac IRTA fellow at the National Institutes of Health, investigating the immunological and neurological mechanisms of cancer-related fatigue. She is interested in neurodegenerative diseases and has developed an interest in RNA biology. In the Beaudoin lab, she is interested in the role of RNA modifications in the maternal-to-zygotic transition and neuronal development. Beyond the laboratory, Sarah enjoys nature walks, baking desserts, and visiting art museums.