Sarah Hutchinson was a graduate research assistant at the University of Illinois. She focused on how gene modification can improve production effects other plant processes at a molecular level. For the RIPE project, she examined the pleiotropic effects of improved non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) relaxation in tobacco using a multi-omics approach. Sarah received her bachelor’s degree in biology from Truman State University. She then went on to earn her master’s in biology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.