Valerie Arboleda, MD PhD
I am a physician-scientist trained in human genetics, genomics and clinical pathology.
The overarching research goals in the lab is to integrate large-scale data sets to improve our biological understanding and clinical treatment of human disease. In no other time in human history do we have such rich biological and clinical data, the bioinformatics tools to explore these relationships on a large scale, and the molecular genetic tools to rapidly experimentally validate findings in model systems.
MEGHNA SINGH, PhD
Post-Doctoral Scholar
Meghna is originally from India and earned her PhD in Biological Sciences from CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology. The focus of her research was understanding the cardiac development and disease using the tiny, beautiful model zebrafish. After her PhD she worked as a Research Scientist at University of Washington, maintaining a xenopus facility, managing a lab and worked on developing an inducible CRISPR system to understand Spinal cord regeneration in Xenopus tropicalis. After a two-year maternity break , she returned to do post-doctoral research focused on understanding the role of chromatin modifier genes in neurodevelopment. In her free time she likes to try and cook new things, go on hikes, and enjoy time with her family.
NEERJA VASHIST, PhD
Post Doctoral Scholar
Neerja Vashist is from Houston, Texas, and earned her B.S. in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics from UCLA in 2017. She subsequently worked as a Research Technician for two years at the Children’s National Hospital in Washington D.C. with a focus on global health. She then went on to earn her Ph.D. in Genomics and Bioinformatics from the George Washington University in 2023. Her dissertation research focused on a poorly understood upper motor neuron disease called konzo. Konzo is prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, with malnutrition and heavy dietary reliance on cassava high in cyanogenic glucosides implicated in the development of the disease. Specifically, Neerja investigated the role of the gut microbiome in modulating the development of konzo. She is presently a Postdoctoral Scholar where her research builds on the foundational work done in the lab using a multi-omics pipeline to study the effect of genetic mutations in gene ASXL1 on the transcriptome and epigenome. She loves to travel, cook, and do random DIY projects.
NILYA KARASURMELI
MBI, Cell and Developmental Biology PhD Student
Nilya is from Turkey and earned her bachelor’s degree from Middle East Technical University and her master’s degree from Koç University. Her master’s research focused on the genetic and epigenetic regulation of human naive pluripotent stem cells, including the development of a CRISPR-based fluorescent reporter system. She is currently a PhD student studying the role of chromatin-modifying genes in neurodevelopment, with a particular focus on KAT6A variants. Outside the lab, she enjoys photography and spending time in nature.
AILEEN NAVA
PhD Student, Genetics and Genomics
Aileen grew up in a small beach town in Southern California where she first discovered her scientific prowess during a chance encounter with NASA astronaut, Barbara Morgan (read more here). Although Aileen currently has no plans of becoming an astronaut, this meeting was one of the events that inspired her to become a scientist. At UCLA, Aileen's goal is to identity disease-causing mechanics underlying neurodevelopmental disorders using stem cells, genetic engineering, and genomic analysis techniques. When she is not thinking about science, Aileen enjoys oil painting, visiting the ocean, reading, writing poetry, and learning to play the guitar and piano.
RUMAISA SUBHANI
PhD Student, Genetics and Genomics
Rumaisa Subhani
Undergraduate Researcher
I am a third-year physiological sciences student at UCLA. I am interested in exploring the mechanisms behind rare genetic disorders such as Arboleda-Tham Syndrome. My hobbies include playing soccer, going on hikes with family, and reading.
KHUSHI SHARMA
Undergraduate Researcher
Khushi is a second-year Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology major. She is interested in exploring how mutations influence gene expression and contribute to rare genetic disorders like Bohring-Opitz Syndrome. In her free time, Khushi enjoys crocheting, playing tennis, and going on walks at the beach with friends.
LESLEY DUARTE
Undergraduate Researcher
Hello, I'm Lesley Duarte, and I'm a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Biology at California State University of Los Angeles. I’m passionate about pursuing a career in science and medicine. I’m involved in ongoing research on campus studying spinal cord plasticity, and I enjoy sharing what I know to make science more accessible through the URISE-MORE program. Outside the University, I enjoy volunteering at my local hospital LA General, as it brings me great fulfillment to make someone's day by drawing for them, cooking, or simply listening to their life stories. A recent fun fact about me is that I can eat an entire can of pickled jalapeños. Do I recommend it? … please don’t. Besides an upset stomach, in my free time, I enjoy designing and crocheting clothes as well as wood burning. It’s my way of focusing on a task that requires precision, hand-eye coordination and repetitive movement to destress and express my creativity.
Lab Alumni
Ryon Kang, SRA-1, Masters in Data Science at UCLA
MICHAEL S. REYES, visiting MD-PhD student from University of the Philippines, currently MD student.
Samantha Jensen, PhD Genetics and genomics PhD Student, Bioinformatics Analysit, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine
MILI SINVHAL, Undergraduate Reseacher, currently Medical Student at UCSD
GABI DE LUCA, Undergraduate Researcher
RASHMI PARKER, Undergraduate Researcher
ISABELLA CARDENAS, Undergraduate Researcher
SYDNEY NGUYEN, Undergraduate Researcher
PAYTON ZARCENO, Undergraduate Researcher,
MIRACLE OGBONNAYA, Undergraduate Researcher,
ARIV TANDON, Undergraduate Researcher
DAVID JIN, Undergraduate Researcher, currently Computational Researcher in Boston
Jacob Lee, Undergraduate Researcher, Research Technician, currently in Medical School
SAMANTHA SCOTT, Undergraduate Researcher; currently Research Assistant at Arc Institute
BETHANY CHOW, Undergraduate Researcher; currently PhD student Yale University
Angela Wei, PhD, Bioinfromatics PhD Student; currently Post-doctoral scholar at Amgen
LESLY LEAL, Undergraduate Researcher
SUZY SARKISSIAN, undergraduate researcher
RIYA PRABHAKAR, undergraduate researcher
Sawyer Findley, undergraduate researcher
Nanette Villegas, CIRM Bridges Scholar; graduated from Cal State Fullerton; Working in Medical Field
Kenin Qian, PhD, MSTP Student, MS3 UCLA
Maneesha Thaker, PhD, MSTP Student, MS3 UCLA
Yaneth Perez , undergraduate researcher, Post Bacc at Stanford University
Leroy Bondhus, PhD, graduate student in genetics and genomics. currently Post-doctoral Fellow, Marlow Lab at University of Chicago
Isabella Lin, PhD, MSTP graduate student in genetics and genomics, currently first year resident at Stanford
Cameron Ong, undergraduate researcher, currently: PhD student at Boston University
Isabelle Liu, undergraduate researcher, currently: Bioinformatics staff researcher at UCSF
Seth Amano, undergraduate researcher, currently: research associate at UCLA
Aileen Ning, undergraduate researcher, currently: research associate at UCLA
Gesenia Echeverria, undergraduate researcher
Shevanti Kumar, undergraduate researcher
Dahlia Keo, undergraduate researcher, Currently in medical school
Reade Varesio, undergraduate researcher
Analeyla Herrera, undergraduate researcher, Currently: at Amgen
Ria Nawathe, undergraduate researcher; currently Medical Assistant
Anvi Gaur, undergraduate researcher, currently MBA student
Devon Shao, undergraduate researcher, Bioinformatics Specialist
Anny Itzel Flores, undergraduate researcher, visiting student from Johns Hopkins University
Brian Kim, undergraduate researcher, currently military service
Sarah Spendlove, PhD, graduate student 2020-2023, current: clinical bioinformatician, Kaiser Los Angeles
Roshni Varma, undergraduate researcher, graduated UCLA, current, Medical Student, Duke U.
Audrey Tang, High School Researcher, 2022-23, currently undergraduate at Harvard University
Maria Palafox, PhD, graduated from Genetics and Genomics, Winter 2023, current: Post Doctoral Fellow.
Dianne Gomez, Undergraduate Researcher 2019-2022, current: PhD student at Cornell University
Samantha Chung, Undergraduate student 2021-22
Diego Orellana, B.I.G. Summer Student, 2021
Giovani Pimentel-Solorio, B.I.G. Summer Student, 2021
Laila Sathe, Staff Research Associate 2020-2021, current: PhD student, Wells lab
Michelle Nguyen, Undergraduate Researcher 2019-2021, current: UCSF, Dental Student
Stephanie Horsfall, B.I.G. Summer Student, 2020
Cynney Walters, B.I.G. Summer Student, 2020
Ameenah Jackson, B.I.G. Summer Student, 2020
Megan Yabumoto, 2018-2020 Undergraduate Lab Volunteer, Graduate of Stanford Masters in Genetic Counseling, Genetic Counselor, Seattle Washington.
Kathryn Elliot, Staff Research Associate 2018-2019, Graduate of Stanford Masters in Genetic Counseling
Carmelle Catamura, B.I.G. Summer Student, 2019, PhD student UC Berkeley
Katherine Sanchez, B.I.G. Summer Student, 2019
Alex Winnett, MSTP (MD/PhD student, MD 2), 2018-19
Albert Chan, Staff Research Associate, 2018-19; Computer Science Masters Student, USC