Sandra Jerrold-Jones obtained a BA from Rutgers College in biology and went on to earn a PhD in Immunology from the University of Pennsylvania.[1] After completion of her degree, Saouaf went to work in the cell signaling laboratory of Bristol-Myers Squibb[2][3] where she completed her post doctorate fellowship.[4] She then worked briefly at GlaxoSmithKline before returning to the University of Pennsylvania.[2] Saouaf left the university and began a consulting business with pharmaceutical and biotechnical companies,[2] hoping to help speed the process of discoveries for drugs to treat autoimmune disease.