Scholars Currently Funded by the Program
Ashley Albright, PhD
Molecular and Cell Biology,
University of California, Berkeley
Dr. Ashley Albright is a postdoctoral scholar in Dr. Wallace Marshall's lab in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics. Dr. Albright is interested in the composition of the genome and gene expression in Stentor coeruleus, which are large trumpet-shaped single-celled protists (approx. one millimeter in length). These cells provide insight into single-cell pattern formation, cell regeneration, and wound healing. (Appointed to IRACDA October 2021)
Ximena Garcia Arceo, PhD
Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics,
University of California, San Diego
Dr. Ximena Garcia Arceo is a postdoctoral scholar in the Leor Weinberger group in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and Gladstone Institutes. Dr. Arceo is characterizing the role and origin of gene expression noise in the proliferation, viability, and responsiveness of endothelial cells as they age. The goal is to understand the emergence of various senescent phenotypes in endothelial cells, whose progressive loss of plasticity is implicated in cardiovascular disease. (Appointed to IRACDA October 2023).
Mohamad Dandan, PhD
Metabolic Biology,
University of California, Berkeley
Dr. Mohamad Dandan is co-mentored by James Fraser and Babak Javid, studying ribosomal structures of TB using Cryo-EM. Dr. Dandan's research revolves around the following question: How do antibiotics regulate protein translation in TB to alter a) translation initiation and b) translation fidelity? My research will shed light onto the context-specific function of antibiotics in TB (An IRACDA Associated Scholar, funded by T32AI060537 to be appointed September 2024).
Lucas E. Cabrera-Zapata, PhD
Biology,
Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina
Dr. Lucas Cabrera-Zapata is a postdoctoral scholar in Dr. Ingraham's Lab in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology. Dr. Cabrera-Zapata's research is currently focused on studying how estrogen-sensitive neuronal projections from the hypothalamus modulate the function of the pons to affect overall arousal. We are particularly interested in understanding sex differences in how estrogen signaling engages hypothalamic-pontine neural circuits to regulate energy expenditure, physical activity, and arousal. (Appointed to IRACDA SOM Dean's Funding November 2023)
Eric Figueroa, PhD
Pharmacology,
Vanderbilt University
Dr. Eric Figueroa is a postdoctoral scholar in Dr. David Julius’ lab in the Department of Physiology. Dr. Figueroa’s research is focused on studying the molecular and cellular physiology of enterochromaffin (EC) cells, specialized sensory cells in the gut. The goal is to understand how EC cells sense the gut's environment and contribute to visceral pain. (Appointed to IRACDA August 2021, funded by T32DK007418 July 2023-June 2024)
Nicole Fisher, PhD
Pharmacology,
Vanderbilt University
Dr. Nicole Fisher is a postdoctoral scholar in the lab of Dr. Mark von Zastrow in the Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Fisher’s research focuses on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), a class of cell surface proteins that initiate signaling and serve as targets for many drugs. Dr. Fisher is particularly interested in understanding how GPCR signaling is organized and regulated within neurons. (Appointed to IRACDA August 2021)
Christine Liu, PhD
Neuroscience,
University of California, Berkeley
Dr. Christine Liu (she/her) is a postdoctoral scholar in Dr. Vikaas Sohal's lab in the Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Liu is interested in how certain drugs affect neural circuits to increase cognitive flexibility. Outside of the lab, Dr. Liu enjoys creating art that celebrates and communicates science. (Appointed to IRACDA August 2022)
Kevin Magnaye, PhD
Chemistry,
University of Chicago
Dr. Kevin Magnaye is a postdoctoral scholar in Dr. Susan Lynch's lab in the Department of Medicine. Dr. Magnaye leverages large multi-dimensional 'omic datasets to investigate host-microbe interactions in early life and their impact on health and disease throughout the lifespan. (Appointed to IRACDA August 2021)
Eric Martin, MA, PhD
Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology,
University of California, Santa Cruz
Dr. Eric W Martin is a postdoctoral scholar in the labs of Dr. Bassem Al-Sady in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Dr. Abigail Buchwalter in the Cardiovascular Research Institute. Dr. Martin is interested in understanding the dynamics of heterochromatin spread and lamin localization of chromatin during early stem cell differentiation. (Appointed to IRACDA August 2023).
Jonathan Meng, PhD
Chemistry,
University of Cambridge
Dr. Jonathan Meng is a postdoctoral scholar in Dr. Ken Nakamura's lab in the Department of Neurology/Gladstone Institutes. Dr. Jonathan Meng is interested in understanding the functions of mitochondrial bioenergetics and dynamics in human neurons and how disrupting these mitochondrial functions in turn contributes to neurodegenerative diseases, especially PD and AD. (Appointed to IRACDA August 2023)
Lisa Randolph, PhD
Neurobiology and Behavior,
Columbia University
Dr. Lisa Randolph is a postdoctoral scholar in Dr. Anna Molofsky’s lab in the Department of Psychiatry and the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences. Dr. Randolph is studying type I interferon-mediated signaling pathways that regulate microglial phagocytosis of neurons. Understanding this process provides key insight into both developmental circuit remodeling and neurological disease states. (Appointed to IRACDA October 2022)
Jonathan Sandoval, MA, PhD
Molecular and Cell Developmental Biology,
University of California, Santa Barbara
Dr. Sandoval is a postdoctoral scholar in Dr. Fujjimori's lab in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology. Dr. Sandoval is interested in understanding the molecular basis for how dysregulation of chromatin readers, and the phase separation ability of these readers, contributes to leukemia. Additionally, Dr. Sandoval's research involves the development of novel ligands that target the chromatin reading and phase separation abilities of epigenetic oncoproteins. This work may set the stage for developing novel therapeutics that may improve outcomes for leukemia. (Appointed to IRACDA August 2022)
Laura Seeholzer, PhD
Neurophysiology,
Rockefeller University
Dr. Laura Seeholzer is a postdoctoral scholar in Dr. David Julius's lab in the Department of Physiology. Dr. Seeholzer studies sensory detection in lungs. (Appointed to IRACDA August 2023).
Dania Zuniga, MS, PhD
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology,
Sorbonne University
Dr. Dania Zuniga is a postdoctoral scholar in Dr. Daniel Minor’s lab in the Department of Cardiovascular Research Institute. Dr. Zuniga works on the biochemical and structural characterization of ion channels. In humans, when these channels are defective, they lead to many diseases. Dr. Zuniga is interested in understanding the ion channel action mechanisms, ligand interactions and regulation, and how certain pathogenic mutations cause dysfunction. (Appointed to IRACDA August 2023).