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OUR TEAM
Amrutha Kizhedathu, PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar
I'm Amrutha and I am a postdoctoral fellow. I am interested in studying the mechanisms of cell division and arrest. During my PhD I studied how a group of Drosophila tracheal progenitors stop and start cell division at different stages of development. My current research focuses on exploring the role of a cell cycle protein, Cyclin B3 in cell division during development and in Cancer. In my free time I love to cook, garden and photograph birds.
David Bojorquez, PhD student
GAANN Fellow
I am a second-year Dev and Cell PhD student. I graduated from UCLA in 2020 with a B.S. in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics and worked in Flow Cytometry at Exagen to test patient samples for markers of autoimmune diseases. My research aims to understand how the oocyte-to-embryo transition is regulated. Outside the Lab, I like to go running and play video games.
Johnny Vertiz, PhD Student
NSF-GRFP Fellow
I’m a 1st year Dev & Cell PhD student. I graduated from California State University, Northridge in 2022 with a BS in Cellular & Molecular Biology. I worked one year at UCDavis as a PREP scholar/ Junior specialist where I studied transcription factors involved in neural crest migration. In C. elegans, I am now studying the involvement of CDK1 within G2 quiescence seen in the cell cycle of primordial germ cells. Outside of the lab, I enjoy hiking and playing video games.
Shabnam Moghareh, Junior Specialist
I'm a Junior Specialist in Dr. Lara-Gonzalez's Lab. I graduated from UCI in 2023 with a Bachelor's in Biological Sciences. My research focuses on Cell Cycle control and how quiescence is regulated. Outside the lab, you can find me unwinding by catching up on my favorite TV shows and spending time with my cat, Lucy.
Anh Nguyen, Bio199 student
UROP & SURP fellow
I am a third-year undergraduate Developmental and Cell Biology major and Health Informatics minor. Under the mentorship of senior researchers and collaborating with fellow undergraduates in the lab, I am exploring the regulatory mechanisms and pathways involving CDK-cyclin complexes using C. elegans and cultured cell lines, which when dysregulated can contribute to the onset of diseases like cancer or developmental defects. In my free time, I enjoy choreographing color guard routines, watching K-dramas, and café-hopping with friends
Jazmin Trigueros
Work/Study student
My adventurous academic journey started with studying biochemistry at Cal State LA, then shifted to community college, where I earned degrees in biology and general natural sciences. Now, I'm diving into Neurobiology here at UCI as an undergrad. I find molecular science and research fascinating, as they are essential for understanding human behavior at an atomic level. I love silly dad jokes, rock shows, and buying physical books after listening to the audiobook as a reward.
Alumni
- Maria Andrade Ludena, PhD rotation student
- Gio Reyes Jison, Bio199 student
- Jackson Blackman, PhD rotation student
- Janette Hernandez, work/study student
- Vy Tran, Bio199 student and Lab Assistant
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