Sydney Ross
Chemistry/Spanish Major
Pronouns: she/her
Current Research Project: I’m interested in studying the integrity of the blood brain barrier in
fruit flies and how it relates to isolation and depression. Using different crosses of flies that
express different UAS and Gal4 genes I want to explore if the BBB becomes more permeable to
bacteria due to isolation and if the effects persist after introduction to a population post-
isolation.
How she got involved with research: I applied to a lab before my freshman year began to
indulge in my interest in lab environments and experimentation after an AP Biotechnology
class. I used JobX to browse on campus options and I thought studying immunology and the
blood brain barrier was interesting as I didn’t know what area of science I wanted to major in.
After applying and securing my research assistant job I have stayed at the same lab since early
August 2023