Browse by cohort
Class of 2027
Advaith Srinivas
Microbiology & Immunology
Current research:
I am developing and characterizing a three part biobead to remove and degrade microcystin, a liver toxin, that can be present in drinking water. My current project is specifically investigating how the biobead would perform when inserted into a drinking water treatment plant.
Future goals:
My academic goal is to obtain a PhD in host-microbe interactions and how we can use this information to develop novel therapeutics. My career goal is to join a pharmaceutical company where I can continue to develop treatments for microbe-associated diseases.
Anny Wang
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Current research:
I’m studying the conservation of immune systems between humans and bacteria! In particular, I am interested in understanding the fundamental biochemistry of SIRal, a protein with ancestral ties to bacterial anti-phage defense systems.
Future goals:
I plan on pursuing a PhD in evolutionary biochemistry! I hope to better understand how proteins evolve and the emergence of proteins in early life.
Ash Rosales
Microbiology & Immunology
Current research:
My current research involves understanding the genetics behind Red-Shifted vision in butterflies, specifically Apodemia virgulti and Heliconius melpomene. This year I will be working on understanding the developmental expression of red-shifting ommochrome binding proteins in the eyes of Heliconius melpomene.
Future goals:
After graduation I plan on pursuing a PhD program in Immunology/Microbial genetics. I am interested in researching the gut microbiome and its connection to disease.
Bryn Beers
Biological Sciences
Current research:
The current research project I am working on explores targeted protein degradation in a spatial context mediated by synthetic small molecules called methylarginine targeting chimeras (MrTACs). Our goal is to preserve healthy protein pools by leveraging cellular compartmentalization to specifically degrade mislocalized mutant protein aggregates.
Future goals:
After graduation, I plan to pursue a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology.
Christopher Dao
Microbiology & Immunology
Current research:
Future goals:
David Octavio Martinez
Biomedical Engineering & Business Administration
Current research:
My research at UC Irvine investigates how premature birth and exposure to high oxygen levels can affect lung development in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a chronic lung disease in premature infants. I assess tissue-level changes, including increased collagen deposition and blood vessel muscularization, to understand how these structural changes contribute to abnormal lung development and disease progression.
Future goals:
After graduation, I plan to pursue a PhD in Bioengineering, focusing on developing innovative biomedical technologies and regenerative therapies. Long-term, I hope to lead translational research projects that bridge scientific innovation with business strategy to advance the development and accessibility of biomedical solutions.
Emilia Djordjevic
Developmental & Cell Biology
Current research:
Our lab investigates stem cells and their viability in treating retinal degenerative diseases. The hope is to restore vision in patients with RDDs, using retinal organoids that are surgically transplanted into the eye. My specific project is testing a fully-suspended culture system as an alternative approach to current organoid culture models.
Future goals:
I’m interested in pursuing a PhD in cell biology, with an emphasis on regenerative medicine. I’m passionate about stem cell research, especially in their potential application in treating age-related diseases or underrepresented conditions, like epilepsy.
Simon Li
Microbiology & Immunology
Current research:
I am studying herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and the mechanisms by which it evades our innate immune systems. HSV-1 has evolved various proteins that antagonize the type I interferon system, a crucial antiviral defense mechanism that is required for effective control of HSV-1 infection. I have identified two orphan genes that appear to block type I interferon signaling and am currently working on characterizing the mechanism of action and physiological relevance of these two genes during infection.
Future goals:
My goal is to pursue a Ph.D. in virology, where I will study viral-host interactions. I aim to open a lab as a principal investigator to continue to work on viruses in the future.
Steve Salinas
Neurobiology
Current research:
My research focuses on traumatic brain injury, examining how information collected during intensive care can help us better understand recovery and predict patients’ long-term outcomes.
Future goals:
After graduation, I hope to pursue a graduate fellowship abroad before entering medical school, to ultimately become a physician-scientist leader within a state or national level.
Zedriq Rafael
Chemistry; Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Current research:
In our lab, I am currently studying liver-associated metabolic diseases in the context of alcohol and liver cancer. Under alcohol consumption, we are investigating the biochemical processes that post-translationally modify proteins and how this contributes to whole-body intoxication. We are also exploring how certain compounds can block these pathways and reduce alcohol-induced intoxication.
Future goals:
After graduation, I wish to stay in metabolism and pursue a PhD in metabolic biology. Eventually, I want to become a professor and study diseases through a metabolic lens.
Class of 2028
Abhineet Maini
Human Biology & Psychology
Current research:
My project focuses on modifying cell surface n-glycosylation as a way of making Glioblastoma cells more responsive to chemotherapy. We’re interested in investigating different glycosylation modifying treatments and their mechanism of action in modifying cellular response to chemotherapy.
Future goals:
I aim to pursue an MD/PhD degree after graduation. My research interests include Neurobiology and Cancer Biology.
Alan Fernando Lopez
Biological Sciences
Current research:
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has been proven difficult to cure due to a profound barrier known as the latent reservoir, where HIV embeds a copy of its genome into a host cell’s DNA and lays dormant. Our lab’s cure approach is called “kick and kill,” where we utilize compounds known as latency-reversing agents (LRA’s) to forcibly “kick” the latent reservoir awake, allowing infected cells to express viral proteins and ultimately be eliminated by the immune system. My current research project focuses on enhancing the “kick” component of this cure approach by utilizing combinations of novel LRA’s and identifying possible synergy in reactivation of latent HIV.
Future goals:
I plan to pursue a PhD in Microbiology to further study infectious disease and I ultimately hope to pursue a career in academia.
Annabella Moretti
Biological Sciences
Current research:
My research explores the connection between altered lipid metabolism and inflammation in type 2 diabetes. Specifically, I investigate whether B cells can recognize lipids such as palmitic acid. This work can help us better understand how the immune system contributes to chronic inflammation and the progression of type 2 diabetes.
Future goals:
After graduating from UCI, my goal is to pursue a PhD and lead research that advances our understanding and treatment of human diseases.
Anthony Contreras
Biological Sciences
Current research:
My research is on T cell exhaustion, and my current project examines how liver-specific knockout of SAPS3 affects CD8+ T cell responses. SAPS3 may influence T cell metabolism through inhibition of AMPK, so its knockout could potentially enhance CD8+ T cell responses during chronic infection.
Future goals:
I aspire to pursue a Ph.D. after graduating from UC Irvine. My long-term career goal is to become an academic researcher, and I am especially interested in doing research in immunogenetics.
Dina Naziri
Biological Sciences
Current research:
My current research project aims to determine whether the central nervous system (CNS) is an authentic latency site for HSV-1 upon infection and whether HSV-1 reactivation from its dormant state in the brain can be a cause for neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer’s disease. The trigeminal ganglion is a known latency site for HSV-1 during which the latency-associated transcript (LAT) is upregulated. However, the role of the CNS as an authentic latency site for HSV-1 remains unclear.
Future goals:
My goal is to become an infectious disease physician-scientist who treats patients and conducts research on chronic viral infections and their long-term systemic effects. I hope to pursue an MD/PhD and obtain a faculty position at an academic center where I can divide my time between patient care and research.
Ethan Jacoby
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Current research:
I am investigating the role of cell polarity and mechanical force in the form of muscle contractions in the development of tendons.
Future goals:
After graduating from UCI, my goal is to pursue a PhD and lead research that advances our understanding and treatment of human diseases.
Isaac Hur
Microbiology & Immunology
Current research:
While much of breast cancer research deals with the cancer cells themselves, the surrounding area around the tumor also heavily impacts breast cancer progression and growth. We found that fat molecules released by fat cells surrounding breast cancer may protect the tumor during treatment through a protein called SCD1, which is involved in fat molecule production. By better understanding this relationship between breast cancer and neighboring fat cells, this research may help identify new ways to make breast cancer cells more vulnerable to treatment.
Future goals:
After graduating, I plan to pursue a PhD in cancer biology, particularly in the fields of metabolism and immunology. I hope to become a PI and run my own lab one day.
Julian Masloub
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Current research:
I am investigating the production of metallophores, which are a class of metabolites, in the cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya sp. 94ISB-08B. We hope to screen the secondary metabolome of this organism for bioactivity to discover candidate therapeutics!
Future goals:
I hope to attend graduate school and conduct research at the intersection of biology and chemistry.
Katrina Michelle Yan
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Current research:
My research aims to unravel the cellular mechanisms responding to various forms of genomic instability, including DNA or RNA damage.
Future goals:
I plan to pursue a PhD in biochemistry or cancer biology with the goal of a career in cancer research.
Lan Hoang Vu
Biological Sciences
Current research:
My research investigates how changes in metabolic regulation affect how the immune system responds to chronic viral infections in mouse models. Specifically, I look at the changes in function and exhaustion of virus-specific CD4+ helper T cells and viral clearance in the organs and blood at various time points of an infection. This investigation helps us understand immune dysfunction during chronic viral infections, like hepatitis B, C, and HIV, better.
Future goals:
After graduation, I would love to pursue further education and opportunities to research in immunology and neuro-oncology.
Leonard Wang
Biological Sciences
Current research:
In our lab we analyze gene expression inside of the brainstem using computational methods across various embryonic ages. Our goal by doing so is to produce a model/atlas of the genetic activity in the brainstem.
Future goals:
Pursuing a graduate degree that incorporates computational, mathematical, and/or statistical methods into biology.
Pre-MARC Scholars
Christine Nalbandian
Chemistry
Current research:
Previous studies have shown mice lacking the SAPS3 protein throughout their bodies had lower viral titers and high T-cell responses. My research investigates how removing SAPS3 specifically in the liver would affect the immune system, helping us better understand both the role of SAPS3 and the liver in fighting off viral infections.
Future goals:
After graduation, I plan on obtaining my PhD to study cancer immunology or endocrine oncology.
Joshua Yu
Biological Sciences
Current research:
I’m researching a novel bacterial innate immunity pathway called Pycsar, which stands for Pyrimidine Cyclase System for Antiphage Resistance. This research will help us understand how bacteria defend themselves, allowing us to improve phage therapeutics and prevent bacterial infections.
Future goals:
I would like to pursue a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology, and continue working to develop new drugs or therapeutics for healthcare.
Laina Zhang
Biological Sciences
Current research:
My current research focuses on investigating the effect of the fatty acid elongase enzyme on cell proliferation and mitochondria function, specifically its ability to remodel mitochondria membranes. This can reveal how these enzymes dictate cancer proliferation and metabolism, allowing us to better understand potential methods of treating related diseases and cancers through targeting specific proteins.
Future goals:
After graduating, I plan to pursue a PhD in biomedical sciences so I can continue working in research and expanding my scope of experience in the field. Ultimately, I hope to keep doing research in the industry so I can continue to learn and innovate in science and contribute to the development of new treatments and therapies for deadly diseases.