Sadie Hebert

Sadie became an HHMI postdoctoral teaching fellow on July 1, 2012.

Prior to her arrival at the University of Minnesota, Sadie studied biology as an undergraduate at Louisiana State University and pharmacology as a graduate student at the University of Kentucky. At the University of Kentucky, she investigated the role of MRF4 in regulating sodium channel gene expression in skeletal muscle while working in Dr. Susan Kraner's lab.

Sadie is interested in using active-learning strategies to teach science. She completed the Preparing Future Faculty program (PFF) at the University of Minnesota to develop her teaching skills. As part of the PFF program, she taught BIOL 2003 Foundations of Biology II with Rob Brooker in the College of Biological Sciences. From him, she learned about the HHMI postdoctoral opportunity. The position seemed like a great fit, given her desire to conduct research and teach undergraduates. 

Sadie designed a bean beetle lab for non-majors students that was incorporated into BIOL 1003 Evolution and Biology of Sex with the help of Sehoya Cotner. The lab allows students to create their own experiments using bean beetles to explore topics such as sexual selection, operational sex ratios, or same-sex mating behaviors, giving them a taste of authentic research as they experience the scientific process.

During her time at the University of Minnesota, Sadie has also been researching extraocular muscles in Linda McLoon's lab. She is trying to uncover why extraocular muscles are spared in muscular dystrophy.

A 2012 and 2013 HHMI research mentor in the HHMI research mentor program, Sadie has brought undergraduates into Dr. McLoon’s lab to participate in her research. She has been working with undergraduate researchers Joe Navratil and Ryan Host to examine muscle regeneration in extraocular muscles in 2013.

After her HHMI appointment, Sadie plans to become a faculty member where she can continue to do research and teach undergraduates.

Teaching mentor: Sehoya Cotner

Research mentor: Linda McLoon

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