We’re excited to celebrate Sarah Sun, a fourth-year Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics major whose undergraduate research experience in the Pernas Lab was recently featured by the UCLA Undergraduate Research Center—Sciences!
Sarah joined our lab after transferring to UCLA and proactively reaching out to faculty, ultimately becoming part of our team in September 2024. Her research focuses on understanding host–pathogen interactions between host mitochondria and the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. In particular, Sarah is investigating a newly discovered mitochondrial structure known as SPOTs (Structures Positive for Outer Mitochondria Membrane) and how these structures interact with other host organelles like lysosomes.
Sarah reflects on her time in the lab as supportive and collaborative, highlighting the strong mentorship and the opportunities UCLA provides — from summer research programs to workshops on scientific communication and graduate school preparation — which have supported her development as a young scientist.
She’s currently preparing to present her work at her first scientific conference this November, drawing on URC resources to help refine her poster. Looking ahead, Sarah plans to continue her scientific journey and hopes to pursue a career in academia, with the long-term goal of running her own research lab.
Please join us in congratulating Sarah on her accomplishments and in celebrating her dedication to research and scientific growth! 🎉