She received a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Cornell University, a M.S. in Biology from The Scripps Research Institute, and a Ph.D. in Biology and M.A. in Education, both from Stanford University. Sara completed postdoctoral training in biology education research at San Francisco State University and the University of Washington. Trained as a neuroscientist and turned full-time education researcher, she teaches undergraduate biology courses while building a research program in biology education at ASU. Her main research interests focus on exploring the impact of course-based research experiences on students and faculty, identifying gender differences in undergraduate biology, and developing tools for biology departments to use to align with the goals of Vision and Change.