Both Benjamin and Sabine Low enrolled for the basic teaching certificate, and both qualified in 1881, and taught at the Willowby School over the next 21 years.

Low's research focused on the endemic New Zealand alpine plant Haastia pulvinaris, commonly known as the vegetable sheep.

Low described the anatomy of the leaf, stem and root of the plant, and discussed the adaptions required to survive in the extreme environment of an altitude of 5–6,000 feet.

[2] After the loss of her examination papers, Low was offered a second-class honours degree in English, French, botany and biology.

Low then retook the examinations and rewrote her botanical work to be read in 1899, but in the meantime the leaf structure of Haastia pulvinaris was described by another paper.

[1][2] Low had suffered from rheumatic fever as a child, leaving her with damage to her heart, and her education and teaching career were both interrupted by the resulting illness.

[2] A brass plaque at Christchurch Girls' High School commemorates Low's time there as a pupil and staff member.