Prior to joining UO, Savanna graduated with a bachelor's in BioMed from the University of Texas at El Paso. She spent several years in scientific industries and academia settings. Most recently, she came from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus as a research assistant/lab manager in a neuroscience laboratory focused on opioid addiction research. In her spare time, she enjoys going running, snowboarding, hiking, and fly fishing with her husband and dog.