Sarah Craig

I am currently working as a neuroscience laboratory technician in the Dulac Lab at Harvard University. I graduated with a degree in Psychology, concentrating in Behavioral Neuroscience from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2022. I have a great amount of research experience, as well as some clinical experience.

Research Assistant June 2023 – Present Dulac Lab at Harvard University

• Responsible for mass data collection for two post-doctoral fellows on separate projects investigating parenting and sickness across different brain regions, with an overarching emphasis on social behavior in mice.
• Proficient with PCR, gel electrophoresis, perfusions, brain extractions, behavior scoring, RNAscope, RNAscope analysis with Qupath, vibratome, mounting, cryostat sectioning, imaging, and neuroanatomy. 
• Acted as the interim lab manager and safety officer for 2 months. Responsible for ordering supplies, lab upkeep, and training new lab manager. 

• Facilitate groups using curriculum that focuses on substance use, addiction, sobriety, and a number of mental health subjects. 
• Supervise and monitor behavior of clients and perform appropriate interventions and documentation. 
• Assist in case management and medication observation.

• Recruited as a member of several neuroscience projects, with topics revolving around sexual differentiation and feminization using a clownfish model. 
• Involved in every part of the data collecting and review process.
  • Laboratory techniques include: taking blood samples, preserving tissue, brain and abdomen dissections, sectioning using a cryostat, Hematoxylin & Eosin staining, Nissl staining (using methylene blue azure II), coverslipping, imaging, immunochemistry, performing RNA extractions, RT-PCR, ELIZA hormonal assays, behavior grading using BORIS software, cell counting with ImageJ software, tissue analysis using Adobe Photoshop and Excel.
• Presented at the 2020 and 2021 Undergraduate Research Symposiums and Society for Neuroscience 2021.
• Culminated in two co-authorships and a second-authorship on published peer-reviewed articles.

• Student leader of the largest paraprofessional Housing staff on campus.
• Served as a training coach for new residential advisors throughout the year and provided community coverage during staff vacancy, in addition to performing the regular duties of a residential advisor. 
• Was responsible for leading staff development meetings in the absences of a Residence Hall Director (RD) or Program Director (PD).

• Instructed an in-person section of the freshman course LAS 101: Design Your First Year Experience while enforcing COVID-safety regulations.
• Successfully resolved challenges that arose and maintained an inclusive and respectful learning environment within the classroom. 
• Facilitated lessons, graded assignments, provided feedback, passed along resources for each student's individual needs/wants, and designed lesson plans to convey important information to students.
• Troubleshooted technological problems successfully and promptly replied to all emails, addressing questions and concerns.

• In charge of the well-being and safety of over 50 residents, while serving and protecting a community of over 650 students.
• Personal responsibilities included facilitating hall-wide and wing-specific discussions, leading and creating events, reporting incidents, checking-in on residents, resolving conflicts, enforcing housing rules, etc.

Bachelor's of Science from the University of Illinois in Psychology (Concentration: Behavioral Neuroscience)