Rate My Professor Sara Clark

Sara Clark, Ph.D., serves as Senior Professor of Practice in the Neuroscience Program within Tulane University's School of Science and Engineering. She obtained her Ph.D. from Tulane University in 2010 and has since dedicated her career to advancing neuroscience education and research at the institution. Currently, Dr. Clark directs both the Undergraduate and Master's Programs in Neuroscience, while also acting as Associate Director of the Master's Program. Her administrative contributions extend to curriculum development and program oversight, ensuring high-quality training for students pursuing careers in biomedical science. Dr. Clark's teaching interests are diverse and include Developmental Neurobiology, Endocrinology, Neuroanatomy, Comparative Neuroscience, Cellular Neuroscience, and Neuroscience Techniques. These courses reflect her expertise in neural development, hormonal influences on the brain, and practical laboratory skills essential for neuroscientific inquiry.

In addition to her educational leadership, Dr. Clark has contributed significantly to scholarly literature through co-authored publications that explore the intersections of endocrinology and neuroscience. Her research output includes studies on the role of GPR30, a G-protein coupled estrogen receptor, in modulating anxiety behaviors in mice, as detailed in "GPR30 activation decreases anxiety in the open field test but not in the elevated plus maze test in female mice" (Brain and Behavior, 2014) and "Activation of the G-protein coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) has different effects on anxiety in male and female mice" (Steroids, 2014). She has also investigated estrogen receptor signaling pathways in "Estrogen receptor-mediated transcription involves the activation of multiple kinase pathways in neuroblastoma cells" (Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2014) and methods for detecting estrogen receptor phosphorylation in "Detection of the phosphorylation of the estrogen receptor α as an outcome for GPR30 activation" (Methods in Molecular Biology, 2016). Earlier works address neuroendocrine development, such as "Early postnatal administration of growth hormone increases tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic neuron numbers in Ames dwarf mice" (Endocrinology, 2010) and "Long-term, homologous prolactin, administered through ectopic pituitary grafts, induces hypothalamic dopamine neuron differentiation in adult Snell dwarf mice" (Endocrinology, 2008). These publications underscore her impact on understanding hormonal regulation of neural differentiation and behavior. Dr. Clark's multifaceted role at Tulane positions her as a pivotal figure in neuroscience education and research.