Students in Graduate School

​​​​​​​​​​​​​PhD I Students

Ravi Agarwal


 

                    • Email: rkagarwa@health.ucsd.edu
                    • ​​​​​​​​Undergraduate Institution: University of California, San Diego (2019), B.S. Human Biology
                    • ​​​​​​​​Graduate Program: Biomedical Sciences
                    • ​​​​Thesis Lab: Fred Gage, Salk Institute

 

​




Sean Chapman



  • Email: schapman@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: Brigham Young University (2020), B.S. Neuroscience
  • Graduate Program: Biomedical Sciences
  • Research Interests: Neuroscience, Chem/Biochem, the Phoenix Suns
  • Laboratory Rotation: William Mobley (Su '21), Richard Daneman/Eric Nudleman (Su '22), Derek Welsbie (Su '22)
  • Thesis Lab: Derek Welsbie
  • Publications




Summer Fair



  • Email: sfair@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: The Ohio State University Main Campus (2017), B.S. Neuroscience
  • Research Interests: Stem Cell Research, Neuroscience, and Genetics
  • Laboratory Rotation: Gabriel Haddad (Su '21), Alysson Muotri (Su '22), Johannes Schoenberg (Su '23), Evan Snyder, Sanford Burnham Prebys (Su '23)​, Mana Parast (Fa '23)​, Eugene Yeo (Fa '23)




Hunter Gage



  • Email: hgage@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: University of Wisconsin-Madison (2020), B.S. Biology
  • Graduate Program: Biomedical Sciences
  • Research Interests: Immunology/Infection, Bioinformatics, Cancer Biology
  • Laboratory Rotation: Elizabeth Winzeler (Su '21), Rob Knight (Su '22) and Victor Nizet (Su '22)
  • Thesis Lab: Victor Nizet




Jonathan Gunn​



  • Email: jogunn@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: Johns Hopkins University (2019), B.S. Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Mathematics​
  • Graduate Program: Bioengineering
  • Research Interests: Bioengineering, Immunology/Infection, and Neuroscience
  • Laboratory Rotation: Gene Yeo (Su '21), Luke Lairson (Su '22), Dan Kaufman (Su '22), Gurol Suel (Su '23), Ester Kwon (Su '23)
  • Thesis Lab: Ester Kwon & Dan Kaufman​




Shivani Lakkaraju



  • Email: slakkara@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: University of California, San Diego (2019), B.S. Human Biology
  • Graduate Program: Biomedical Sciences
  • Research Interests: Gene Therapy for Neuromuscular Disease
  • Laboratory Rotation: Hannah Carter (Su '21), Prashant Mali (Su '21), Sam Pfaff, Salk (Su '22), Bing Ren (Su '22)
  • Thesis Lab: Bing Ren
  • Publications​





Koushik Muralidharan



  • Email: kmuralidharan@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: Monmouth University (2019), B.S. Biology
  • Graduate Program: Scripps Research​, Integrative Structural and Computational Biology
  • Research Interests: Cancer Biology, RNA Biology, Liquid Biopsy
  • Laboratory Rotation: Shankar Subramaniam (Su '21), Ian Macrae (Su '22), Tariq Rana (Su '22)
  • Thesis Lab: Ian Macrae, Scripps Research




Amanda Nguyen



  • Email: avn006@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: University of California, Davis (2020), B.S. Global Disease Biology
  • Graduate Program: Neurosciences
  • Research Interests: Neuroscience
  • Laboratory Rotation: Arden Patapoutian (Su '21), Matthew Banghart (Su '22), Kay Tye, Salk (Su '22) 
  • Thesis Lab: Kay Tye, Salk Institute
  • Publications



Lucas Patel



  • Email: lpatel@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: University of California, San Diego (2019), B.S. Biology with a Speciality in Bioinformatics
  • Graduate Program: Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
  • Research Interests: Bioinformatics, Microbiology, Machine Learning​
  • Laboratory Rotation: Rachel Dutton (Su '21), Rob Knight (Su '22), And Albert Hsiao (Su '22)
  • Thesis Lab: Rob Knight
  • Publications





Jose Sandoval



  • Email: j3sandoval@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: University of California, Davis (2020), B.S. Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior
  • Graduate Program: Biomedical Sciences
  • Research Interests: Endocrinology/Metabolism, Cardiovascular Research, Bioengineering
  • Laboratory Rotation: Alan Saltiel (Su '21), Reuben Shaw (Su '22), Neil Chi (Su '22)
  • Thesis Lab: Reuben Shaw & Neil Chi


​


​​​PhD II Students

Alis Balayan



  • Email: abalayan@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: University of California, Los Angeles (2018), B.S. Biochemistry
  • Graduate Program: Biomedical Sciences
  • Research Interests: Stem Cell Research, Regenerative Medicine
  • Laboratory Rotation: Shaochen Chen (Su '20), Sam Ward (Su '21), Karl Wahlin (Su '21)
  • Thesis Lab: Sam Ward & Shaochen Chen



Oye Bosompra



  • Email: n1bosomp@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: University of California, Los Angeles (2018), B.S. Biomedical Sciences
  • Graduate Program: Biomedical Sciences
  • Research Interests: Breast cancer, Cell signaling, Metabolism, Nutrient-sensing pathways
  • Laboratory Rotation: Nicholas Webster (Su 20), JoAnn Trejo (Su 22)
  • Thesis Lab: JoAnn Trejo


Trever Carter



  • Email: tcarter@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: Notre Dame (2019), B.S. Biochemistry
  • Graduate Program: The Scripps Research Institute, Department of Chemistry
  • Research Interests: Pharmacology/Drug Discovery, Chem/Biochem
  • Laboratory Rotation: Michael Erb, Scripps Research (Su '20), Ryan Shenvi (Su '21), Ben Cravatt (Su '21)
  • Thesis Lab: Michael Erb


Jianna Cressy



  • Email: jcressy@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: Johns Hopkins (2018), B.S. Neuroscience
  • Graduate Program: Neursociences
  • Research Interests: Neuroscience, Genetics, Pharmacology
  • Laboratory Rotation: Kay Tye (Su '21), Ed Callaway (Su '21)
  • Thesis Lab: Kay Tye, Salk Institute


Genevieve Curtin



  • Email: gcurtin@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: Tulane University (2019), B.S. Neuroscience
  • Graduate Program:Biomedical Sciences
  • Research Interests: Neuroscience, Immunology/Infection, Chemistry/Biochemistry
  • Laboratory Rotation: Jeff Kelly, Scripps Research (Su '20), Nicole Coufal (Su '21) and Samara Reck-Peterson (Su '21)
  • Thesis Lab: Nicole Coufal


Matthew Donnelly



  • Email: mpdonnel@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: Cornell University (2018), B.A. Biology
  • Graduate Program: Biomedical Sciences
  • Research Interests: Mitochondrial Biology, Cell Biology, and Cardiovascular Disease
  • Laboratory Rotation: Bing Ren (Su '20), Uri Manor (Su '21), Gerald Shadel (Su '21)
  • Thesis Lab: Gerald Shadel, Salk Institute
  • Publications

MK​ Duff



  • Email: mduff@ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: Columbia University (2013), B.A. Philosphy; Neuroscience
  • Graduate Program: Neurosciences
  • Research Interests: Neuroscience, Immunology/Infection, Endocrinology/Metabolism, Pharmacology/Drug Discovery
  • Laboratory Rotation: Axel Nimmerjahn, Salk (Su '19), Lisa Eyler (Su '20), and Paula Desplats (Su '20)
  • Thesis Lab: Axel Nimmerjahn, Salk Institute


Liam Fitzgerald



  • Email: lfitzger@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: University of Massachusetts Amherst (2019), B.S. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • Graduate Program: Biomedical Sciences
  • Research Interests: Exercise Physiology, Skeletal Muscle Contractile Performance, Metabolism
  • Thesis Lab: Simon Schenk


Quetzal Flores-Ramirez



  • Email: qfloresramirez@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: University of California, Berkeley (2013), B.A. Molecular Biology
  • Graduate Program: Neurosciences
  • Research Interests: Neuroplasticity, Neurodevelopment, Brain Repair
  • Laboratory Rotation: Marga Behrens, Salk (Su '20), Robert Hevner (Su '21) and Ed Callaway (Su '21)
  • Thesis Lab: Marga Behrens & Ed Callaway


Amin Mahmoodi



  • Email: amahmoodi@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: University of California, Irvine (2016), B.S. Bioengineering 
  • Graduate Program:Bioengineering
  • Research Interests: Bioengineering, Datascience
  • Laboratory Rotation: Albert Hsiao (Su '20), Shadi Dayeh (Su '21)
  • Thesis Lab: Albert Hsiao


Lauren Ostrowski



  • Email: lostrows@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: Brown University (2019), B.S. Neuroscience
  • Graduate Program: Neurosciences
  • Research Interests: Neural Dynamics, Machine Learning, Brain-Computer Interfaces, Speech and Language​
  • Laboratory Rotation: Eran Mukamel (Su '20), Vikash Gilja (Su '21), Eric Halgren (Su '21)
  • Thesis Lab: Vikash Gilja & Timothy Gentner
  • Publications


Alta Steward



  • Email: amstewar@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: University of Washington (2016), B.S. Neurobiology; Mathematics
  • Graduate Program: Bioengineering
  • Research Interests: Deep Learning, Bioengineering, Mathematics, Epidemiology/Public Health, Medical Imaging, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Genomics
  • Laboratory Rotation: Paula Desplats (Su '19), Albert Hsiao (Su '20), Jill Mesirov (Su '21)
  • Thesis Lab: Albert Hsiao


Brett Taylor



  • Email: b5taylor@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: Fordham University (2018), B.S. Integrative Neuroscience and Philosophy​
  • Graduate Program: Biomedical Sciences
  • Research Interests: Cancer Biology, Computational Biology, Stem Cell Biology, Neuroscience​
  • Laboratory Rotation: Gene Yeo & Frank Furnari (Su '20), Bing Ren (Su '21), Alysson Muotri (Su '21)
  • Thesis Lab: Frank Furnari & Bing Ren
  • Publications​


Akhilesh Yeluru



  • Email: ayeluru@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: University of California, San Diego (2019), B.S. Bioengineering: Biotechnology
  • Graduate Program: Bioengineering
  • Research Interests: Radiology, Cardiac Imaging, AI & Deep Learning, Bioengineering
  • Thesis Lab: Albert Hsiao


PhD III Students


Althea Hansel-Harris



  • Email: ahansel@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: Harvey Mudd College (2019), B.S. Chemistry
  • Graduate Program: Scripps Graduate Program
  • Research Interests: Pharmacology/Drug Discovery, Chemistry/Biochemistry, and Cancer Biology
  • Laboratory Rotation: Rommie Amaro (Su '19), Andrew Ward (Su '20), Stefano Forli, Scripps Research (Su '20)
  • Thesis Lab: Stefano Forli, Scripps Research

​

Chase Morgan



  • Email: c1morgan@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: Columbia University (2017), B.A. Biochemistry
  • Graduate Program: Biological Sciences
  • Research Interests: Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Infectious Disease
  • Laboratory Rotation: Liz Villa (Su '19), Kevin Corbett (Su '20), Joe Pogliano (Su '20)
  • Thesis Lab: Joe Pogliano


Celina Nguyen



  • Email: ctn004@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: University of Arizona (2017), B.S. Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology
  • Graduate Program: Neurosciences
  • Research Interests: Neurodevelopment, Neuroimmunology, Cell-Type Specific Gene Regulation
  • Laboratory Rotation: Bing Ren (Su '19), Nicole Coufal & Chris Glass (Su '20)
  • Thesis Lab: Nicole Coufal & Chris Glass
  • Publications


Jack Olmstead



  • Email: jolmstea@ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: Baylor University (2017), B.S. Neuroscience
  • Graduate Program: Neurosciences
  • Research Interests: Neurosciences and Bioengineering
  • Laboratory Rotation: Sung Han (Su '19), Brenda Bloodgood (Su '20), Eric Halgren, Alex Nimmerjahn
  • Thesis Lab: Brenda Bloodgood
  • Publications


Diana Smith



  • Email: d9smith@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: Harvard University (2017), B.A. Cognitive Neuroscience & Evolutionary Psychology
  • Graduate Program: Neurosciences
  • Research Interests: Neuroscience and Epidemiology/Public Health
  • Laboratory Rotation: Susan Tapert (Su '19), MJ Meloy (Su '19), Murray Stein and Terry Jernigan (Su '20)
  • Thesis Lab: Terry Jernigan & Anders Dale
  • Publications

Alexandra Stream



  • Email: astream@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: University of California, Los Angeles (2017), B.S. Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics
  • Graduate Program: Biological Sciences
  • Research Interests: Immunology/Infection
  • Laboratory Rotation: Bruce Torbett (Su '19), Victor Nizet and Cressida Madigan (Su '20)
  • Thesis Lab: Victor Nizet
  • Publications​

Ilya Verzhbinsky



  • Email: iverzhbi@health.ucsd.edu​
  • Undergraduate Institution: University of California, Los Angeles (2018), B.S. Neuroscience
  • Graduate Program: Neurosciences
  • Research Interests: Bioengineering, Bioinformatics, Cardiovascular Research and Neuroscience
  • Laboratory Rotation: Terrence Sejnowski (Su '19), Eran Mukamel and Eric Halgren (Su '20)
  • Thesis Lab: Eric Halgren

PhD IV Students

Kelsey Baron


  • Email: krbaron@health.ucsd.edu​
  • Undergraduate Institution: University of California, San Diego (2017), B.S. Neurosciences
  • Laboratory Rotation: Jonathan Lin (Su '18), Luke Wiseman (Su '19), Jeff Kelly (Su '19)​
  • Publications

​

Alec Calac (Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians)


  • Email: acalac@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: University of Arizona (2016), B.S. Molecular and Cellular Biology
  • Graduate Program: Joint Doctoral Program (UCSD/SDSU) - Public Health
  • Research Interests: Global Health, Infodemiology, Health Policy, Workforce Development
  • Laboratory Rotation: Timothy Mackey, Gretchen Bandoli, Eran Mukamel
  • Thesis Lab: Timothy Mackey


James Deng


  • Email:​ jdeng@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: Massachusetts Institute for Technology (2017), B.S. Chemistry
  • Graduate Program: Neurosciences
  • Research Interests: Neuropsychiatric and Developmental Disorders, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
  • Laboratory Rotation: Bing Ren (Su '18), Nicola Allen (Su '19), Li Ye (Su '19)
  • Thesis Lab: Nicola Allen, Salk Institute


Iris Garcia-Pak


  • Email: igarciap@health.ucsd.edu​
  • Undergraduate Institution: Brown University (2015), B.S. Biomedical Engineering
  • Graduate Program: Neurosciences
  • Research Interests: Neuropsychiatric Disease, Brain Excitation and Signaling, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
  • Laboratory Rotation: Kristin Baldwin (Su '18), Richard Daneman (Su '19), Olivier George (Su '19)
  • Thesis Lab: Richard Daneman


Alon Gelber


  • Email: agelber@ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Insititution: University of Massachusetts (2016), B.S. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mathematics
  • Graduate Program: Bio-Engineering
  • Research Interests: Neuroscience, Bioinformatics
  • Laboratory Rotation: Gert Cauwenberghs (Su '18), Tanya Sharpee (Su '19)​
  • Thesis Lab: Eran Mukamel

​

Ryan Hsu


  • Email: rhhsu@ucsd.edu​
  • Undergraduate Institution: University of California, Berkeley (2017), B.S. Microbial Biology
  • Graduate Program: Bio-Engineering
  • Research Interests: Immunology/Infection, Bioinformatics, Bioengineering
  • Laboratory Rotation: Rob Knight (Su '18), Rachel Dutton (Su '19), Trey Ideker (Su '19)
  • Thesis Lab: Sam Pfaff, Salk Institute


Saumya Jani

 


  • Email: sjani@ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: Cal State Fullerton (2017), B.S. Biological Science
  • Graduate Program: University of Washington - Lab Medicine and Pathology
  • Research Interests: Immunology/Infection, Pharma/Drug Discovery, Stem Cell Research
  • Laboratory Rotation: Matt Daugherty (Su '18), Bruce Torbett (Su '19), Cressida Madigan (Su '19)
  • Thesis Lab: Paul Nghiem, UW


Maria Klingler


  • Email: mklingler@ucsd.edu​
  • Undergraduate Institution: University of Michigan (2013), B.S. Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience
  • Graduate Program: Anthropology
  • Research Interests: Biology, Anthropology, Public Health
  • Laboratory Rotation: Amy Non (Su '18), Molly Fox, UCLA (Su '19)
  • Thesis Lab: Amy Non


Joyce Tran 



  • Email: jot013@health.ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: University of California, Los Angeles (2016), B.S. Biochemistry
  • Graduate Program: Neurosciences
  • Research Interests: Neuroscience, Chemistry/Biochemistry, Epidemiology/Public Health
  • Laboratory Rotation: Stuart Lipton, Scripps Research (Su '18), Susan Ackerman and Jerold Chun (Su '19)
  • Thesis Lab: Susan Ackerman​


PhD V+ Students

Morgen Chalmiers

Medical Scientist Training Program Colloquium
  • Email: mchalmiers@ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: Pomona College (2013), B.S. Women's Global Health
  • Graduate Department: Anthropology
  • Research Interests: Anthropology
  • Thesis Advisor: Thomas Csordas 

Isabel Costantino


  • Email: icostantino@ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: Dartmouth University (2012), B.A. Biology, Neuroscience   
  • Graduate Program: Neuroscience
  • Research Interests: Neuroscience
  • Laboratory Rotation: Corinne Jolivalt (Su '16), Jerold Chun, Susan Ackerman (Su '17)
  • Thesis Lab: John Ravits

Ellis James (E.J.) Curtis


  • Email: ejcurtis@ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: St. Lawrence University (2017), B.S. Neuroscience
  • Graduate Program: Biomedical Sciences
  • Research Interests: Neuro-oncology, Cancer Biology, Neuroscience, Extrachromosomal DNA
  • Laboratory Rotation: Paul Mischel (Su '17),  Frank Furnari, (Su '18)
  • Thesis Lab: Paul Mischel


Chris Garza

  • Email: c1garza@ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: University of Colorado at Denver (2017), B.S. Public Health,
  • Graduate Program: Scripps Graduate Program 
  • Research Interests: Chemistry/Biochemistry, Biophysics
  • Laboratory Rotation: Bruce Torbett & Stefano Forli (Su '17), Jeff Kelly, Albert Hsiao (Su '18)
  • Thesis Lab: Bruce Torbett & Stefano Forli, Scripps Research


Adrian Guerrero


  • Email: amg101@ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley (2015), B.S. Pre-Med, Chemistry   
  • Graduate Program: Scripps Graduate Program
  • Research Interests: Chemistry/Biochemistry, Pharmacology/Drug Discovery.
  • Laboratory Rotation: Jeff Kelly, Scripps Research (Su '17), Ben Cravatt, Scripps Research and Adam Halberstadt (Su '18)
  • Thesis Lab: Jeff Kelly, Scripps Research​​


Imani Howard

            
  • Email: ihoward@ucsd.edu 
  • Undergraduate Institution: Stanford University (2015), B.A. Biology, Philosophy
  • Graduate Department: Philosophy/Science Studies
  • Research Interests: Philosophy of Science, The Philosophy of Medicine, and The Philosophy of Race
  • Laboratory Rotation: Amy Non (Su '17), Michael Hardimon (Su '18)
  • Thesis Lab: Michael Hardimon


Bojing (Blair) Jia


  • Email: b2jia@ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: McGill University (2015), B.Sc. Quantitative Biology
  • Graduate Program: Bioinformatics & Systems Biology
  • Research Interests: Genomics
  • Laboratory Rotation: Gene Yeo (Su '17), Albert Hsiao, Bing Ren (Su '18), Eran Mukamel (Su '19), Kun Zhang (Su '19)
  • Thesis Lab: Bing Ren
  • Publications​


Caroline Jia


  • Email: cljia@ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: University of California, Los Angeles (2016), B.S. Neuroscience
  • Graduate Program: Neurosciences 
  • Research Interests: Neuroscience
  • Laboratory Rotation: Axel Nimmerjahn, Salk (Su '17), Richard Daneman and Sung Han, Salk (Su '18)
  • Thesis Lab: Kay Tye, Salk Institute


Juliet Nicodemus


  • Email: jnicodem@ucsd.edu
  • Undergraduate Institution: Harvard University (2015), B.A. Neurobiology  
  • Graduate Program: Neurosciences
  • Research Interests: Neuroscience, Immunology/Infection
  • Laboratory Rotation: Rich Daneman (Su '16), Amir Zarrinpar & Nicole Coufal (Su '17)​
  • Thesis Lab: Jerold Chun


Kevin Tenerelli

             
  • Email: k1tenerelli@ucsd.edu 
  • Undergraduate Institution: Cal State San Marcos (2017), B.S. Biology  
  • Graduate Program: Neurosciences 
  • Research Interests: Cancer Biology, Immunology 
  • Laboratory Rotation: Hollis Cline, Scripps Research (Su '18), Derek Welsbie, Karl Wahlin, Jonathan Lin; Richard Daneman/Eric Nudleman (Su '19)
  • Thesis Lab: Richard Daneman and Eric Nudleman