Her Story
About Sarah
Sarah Fernandes serves as a scientist at WuXi AppTec in San Diego, California. She specializes in human-based model systems and 3D model systems, including organoids, with a focus on NAMS for advancing research in Alzheimer's disease and brain organoids. After earning her undergraduate degree, Sarah began her career in industry as a senior research associate and lab manager at a stem cell research and manufacturing company. She later returned to school to complete her master's and PhD, during which she worked in the neurobiology lab of Dr. Fred H. Gage, investigating Alzheimer's disease using brain organoid models. With 13 years of laboratory experience overall and a recent transition to her current industry role six months ago, Sarah is dedicated to developing more physiologically relevant human-based systems to support drug development and compound screening. She maintains active memberships in the International Society for Stem Cell Research and the Society for Neuroscience. Sarah is driven by a passion for creating better therapies and treatment options for individuals with neuropsychiatric disorders and mental illness, and she participates in cancer research funding initiatives such as running a 10K.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sarah
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Pursue something that you're passionate about. If you really care about what you're doing, you invest more into that thing. It's important that I'm doing something that's meaningful to me, that I care about and consider it being kind of fulfilling.
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