Meet our 2024-2025 BSCRC trainees
Graduate students
Auriana Arabpour
Principal investigator: Amander T. Clark, Ph.D.
Research focus: My research aims to characterize a novel stem cell-based embryo model to better understand the early dynamics of human development. Studying the very early dynamics of human embryo development under ethical conditions can help propel innovations in the field of reproductive medicine. This work could also advance research on age-related fertility decline, menopause biology and infertility.
Fun fact: I have two cats named Zorro and Salem.
Natella Baliaouri
Principal investigator: Bennett Novitch, Ph.D.
Research focus: I use 3D stem cell models of the brain, called organoids, to study early human neurodevelopment with a focus on a disorder called Rett Syndrome. These advanced models allow scientists to better understand normal neurodevelopment and how to address issues when the process goes awry.
Fun fact: I’m a bit of a hobby jumper, but my current obsessions are keeping tarantulas, training my pet rats and crocheting.
Mary Doan
Principal investigator: Michael Teitell, M.D., Ph.D.
Research focus: I study the regulation of pluripotent stem cell differentiation into cells of the three primary germ layers, which can give rise to any cell type in the body. Specifically, my research focuses on how nutrients and their byproducts, metabolites, can serve as guiding factors in directing cell fate decisions during embryonic development.
Fun fact: I'm part of the Yelp Elite Squad and have been for more than six years! I love trying new food spots and sharing my experiences with others.
Rachel Fox
Principal investigator: Michael F. Wells, Ph.D.
Research focus: My longstanding research interests revolve around untangling the relationship between genotype and phenotype to better understand neurodevelopment and neurological disorders. My current research is focused on how genetic variation at chromosome 16p11.2 influences sonic hedgehog signaling in neural progenitor cells.
Fun fact: I can identify most types of flying insects with their Latin names.
Sara Frigui
Principal investigator: Heather Christofk, Ph.D.
Research focus: I work on developing tools to rapidly isolate rare cell populations. I hope to utilize these tools to investigate intestinal and muscle stem cell metabolism, as well as how the intestine changes during pregnancy.
Fun fact: My longest NYT crossword streak is five days. NYT Games is the app I consistently use most according to Screen Time.
Liang-Wei Huang
Principal investigator: Kathrin Plath, Ph.D.
Research focus: I study how Xist expression is regulated and how the chromatin structure is affected by the reduced expression of Xist. My hope is that this work leads to a better understanding of the earliest stages of human development and lays the groundwork for new therapies for female-specific diseases.
Fun fact: I can go to the same place for dinner every day. I’ve eaten In-N-Out and Chipotle for entire weeks straight before.
Jessenya Mil
Principal investigator: Aparna Bhaduri, Ph.D.
Research focus: To better understand the causes of neurodevelopmental disorders, I study the key metabolic pathways that are essential for promoting cell type diversity during the development of the cerebral cortex. I use cortical organoids as a model system to target these key metabolic pathways and assess their impact on the resulting cell types.
Fun fact: I’ve played soccer for most of my life!
Christopher Ochoa
Principal investigator: Sanaz Memarzadeh, M.D., Ph.D.
Research focus: I study how cancer cells with stem-like properties in aggressive gynecologic cancers drive resistance and relapse. My research aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms behind this resistance and test novel immunotherapies to treat these cancers.
Fun fact: I’ve never had chicken pox!
Dylan Smock
Principal investigator: Donald B. Kohn, M.D.
Research focus: My research focuses on improving current methods of gene editing in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) by exploiting an endogenous protein known as adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR).
Fun fact: My wife and I produce and DJ electronic music in our free time. I also love to rock climb and play guitar.
Shirley Zhang
Principal investigator: Andrew S. Goldstein, Ph.D.
Research focus: I want to define the genetic mechanism of ancestry-associated disparity in prostate cancer risk and progression. Unique germline variants of a prostate development gene are found to be associated with higher prostate cancer risks in people with different ancestry backgrounds. The mechanism of these germline variants remains unclear. My research aims to decipher the unknown mechanism using 3D prostate tissue models.
Fun fact: I’ve been loving to play table tennis recently!
Kuangyi Zhou
Principal investigator: Lili Yang, Ph.D.
Research focus: I study how a special population of T cells interact with malignant cells and develop engineering strategies to harness these T cells for more effective and affordable solid tumor cancer immunotherapy.
Fun fact: I studied marine biology during my first two years in college and am a scuba diver.
Post-doctoral scholars
Yanruide (Charlie) Li, Ph.D.
Principal investigator: Lili Yang, Ph.D.
Research focus: I develop stem cell-engineered therapeutic natural killer T cells and determine how to utilize these cells to treat various types of cancers, including blood cancers and solid tumors.
Fun fact: I'm an advanced scuba diver and have explored diverse marine environments around the world.
Vahan Martirosian, Ph.D.
Principal investigator: Michael Teitell, M.D., Ph.D.
Research focus: I study the importance of the subcellular locations of metabolites and proteins in human pluripotent stem cells and how changes in these patterns can affect cell function.
Fun fact: I love gardening. I enjoy growing different varieties of flowers and fruit trees, including roses, hydrangeas, pomegranates, figs and loquats.
Kilian Mazaleyrat, Ph.D.
Principal investigator: April Pyle, Ph.D.
Research focus: I study how to enhance the maturation process of skeletal muscle progenitor cells using the different types of cells present in the neuromuscular tissue.
Fun fact: I grew up in a water mill in the French countryside.
Patricia Loren Nano, Ph.D.
Principal investigator: Aparna Bhaduri, Ph.D.
Research focus: I study how different types of cells are formed in the human brain and how changes in that process lead to disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia and neurodegenerative diseases.
Fun fact: I've been a French horn player since middle school and played in a European concert tour with my grad school wind symphony.
Zeenat Rashida, Ph.D.
Principal investigator: Kathrin Plath, Ph.D.
Research focus: I study how different nutrients rewire cellular metabolism to change the extracellular niche and how that process affects stem cell physiology and cell-fate decisions.
Fun fact: I love reading fantasy books.
Clinical fellows
Jennifer Chia, M.D., Ph.D.
Principal investigator: Alexander Hoffmann, Ph.D.
Research focus: My work examines how chronic inflammation impacts blood stem cell function and contributes to impaired blood cell development in aging.
Fun fact: I’ve knit just about every day for the past 20 years! I mostly knit apparel (sweaters, socks, vests, shawls, etc.) and love combining creative expression with technical mastery, resulting in a tangible, practical object.
Tyler McCaw, M.D., Ph.D.
Principal investigator: Joseph G. Crompton, M.D., Ph.D.
Research focus: I’m focused on using transcription factor reprogramming to recharge the immune system's ability to fight cancer, making stem-like T cells capable of recognizing and killing tumor cells for the lifetime of a patient.
Fun fact: I picked up surfing since moving to California and once surfed during a tsunami advisory by accident.
Minori Ohashi, M.D., Ph.D.
Principal investigator: Thomas A. Rando, M.D., Ph.D.
Research focus: My long-term research interests are to understand the molecular basis of aging and develop interventions that reverse cellular aging to restore youthfulness and increase humans’ healthspan. I’m particularly interested in studying regeneration of tissues and organismal aging using adult stem cells as a model system.
Fun fact: I read a lot of Japanese literature and manga on a daily basis.