Meet the Incoming School of Medicine PhD Students – 2025

Posted: 2025-09-24

Source: Graduate Studies

News Type:

Introducing the newest cohort of 35 PhD students in Biomedical Sciences for Fall 2025. These students will conduct research under the guidance of their advisors in one of several departments, including Anatomy & Neurobiology, Biological Chemistry, Experimental Pathology, Microbiology & Molecular Genetics and Physiology and Biophysics.

Anatomy & Neurobiology

Zander Esh

Zander earned his BS in Cell Biology and Neuroscience and in Psychology from Montana State University, Bozeman. After graduation, he was awarded an NIH Intramural Research Training Award by the National Eye Institute and joined Dr. Kapil Bharti's lab where he studied disease-initiating pathways in the retinal pigment epithelium in order to develop treatments for dry age-related macular degeneration. Currently, Zander is an incoming graduate student in Dr. Kai Kessenbrock's lab for the PhD phase of his MD/PhD training where he will focus on the complicated interface between adipocytes and tumor cells in breast cancer in order to discover translational interventions that can someday benefit patients. Outside of the lab, Zander enjoys rock climbing, surfing, and watching baseball games.

Vaidehi Gandhi

Vaidehi earned her B.A. in Molecular and Cell Biology with an emphasis in Immunology from UC Berkeley. She performed undergraduate research in the laboratory of Dr. Daniela Kaufer where she studied the neural correlates of helping behavior and glial responses to TGF-ß. In her post-baccalaureate research in the laboratory of Dr. Martin Kampmann, she investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal hyperexcitability using CRISPR screening technology. Currently, Vaidehi is a graduate student in the laboratory of Dr. Aileen Anderson where her research focuses on molecular mechanisms underlying inflammatory responses in human stem cell-derived microglia. Outside of the lab, she enjoys swimming, running and painting.

Biological Chemistry

Alejandra Aguilar-Quintero

Alejandra received her BS in Biology from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. After college she went on to work at different biomedical research labs to broaden her experience and skills. Her last job at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute made her fall in love with cancer research. She then decided to pursue a graduate school degree and earn her PhD in Biological Chemistry while also moving across the country to attend UC Irvine. In her free time she enjoys long walks/jogging, going to the beach, karaoke and salsa dancing.

Ellianna Damozonio

Ellianna earned her BS in Biochemistry from UC Davis. There, she was an undergraduate researcher and PREP scholar affiliate in the lab of Dr. Wolf Dietrich Heyer, studying DNA interactions of the protein BRCA2. Currently, she is an incoming second year graduate student, jointly mentored in the labs of Nick Pannunzio, and Selma Masri. Her project focuses on how disruptions in the circadian rhythm impact DNA repair efficiency, particularly in the context of genomic instability that accelerates cancer progression.

Lauren Faraone

Lauren graduated from UC Irvine in 2021 with a BS in Biological Sciences. She began work in the Marazzi lab as a lab technician aiding in the research of treatment of diseases characterized by hyper-inflammation with epigenetic inhibitors. She is now a direct-admit PhD student in the Marazzi lab and is continuing her research of the relationship between transcription regulators and the immune response to infection.

Xin (Helen) Huang

Helen earned her BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences from UC Irvine. She joined the laboratory of Dr. Angela Fleischman before her junior year where she gained her research experience with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) and CHIP mutation. Post graduation, she continued to work in the lab as a specialist. Helen’s research will focus on CHIP mutation and antioxidant treatment.

Christina Lin

Christina received her BS from UC San Diego, double-majoring in Bioengineering: Bioinformatics and Human Biology. She has since worked at UC Irvine's Genomics Research and Technology Hub as a specialist in next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. Assisting researchers at UC Irvine and across the United States. Christina has joined Dr. Feng Qiao's lab as a graduate student focusing on mutations within telomeric regions and improving telomere sequence alignment.

Emma Monge

Emma graduated from UC Davis, with a BS in Food Science, focusing specifically on Fermentation and Brewing Science. She worked as a student research assistant in the Siegel Lab, where she mentored other undergraduate researchers and biochemically characterized the effects of point mutations in beta-glucosidase B. Emma is now a graduate student in Dr. Han Li's lab; she engineers proteins to utilize noncanonical redox cofactors and to synthesize high-value small molecules. When not in lab, Emma enjoys reading horror novels, playing computer games, and bouldering.

Alyssa Monterroso

Alyssa is a Southern California native who earned her BS in Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology from UC Santa Cruz. There she was a NIH MARC scholar and worked in the laboratory of Dr. Grant Hartzog, where she studied the mechanisms of transcription regulators. After graduating, she worked as a research assistant at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, where she studied genome evolution and humoral immunity to influenza viruses. As a PhD student in Dr. Nick Pannunzio's lab, her research will focus on the pathogenicity of hypomorphic mutations in a key complex involved in both DNA repair and immune cell development, specifically investigating the impact of these mutations on the etiology of blood cancers.

Daniel Tu Quach

Daniel earned his BS in Biochemistry, Cell Biology and M.S. in Biology from UC San Diego. He previously worked in Dr. Bernard Palsson's laboratory trying to elucidate the Ferric Uptake Regulator (transcription factor in control of iron metabolism) Regulon in Escherichia coli. As an incoming PhD student in Dr. Ivan Marazzi's lab, he hopes to better understand how defects in RNA catabolism can cause neurodegeneration. Daniel enjoys cooking, swimming and playing video games when not at the bench.

Jolene Viramontes

Jolene received her BS from UC Irvine in Biological Sciences and minored in medical anthropology. As an undergraduate, she did research in the lab of Cascade Sorte, PhD studying marine mussel thermal tolerances across life stages. After graduation, she worked for three years at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in the tumor immunology lab of Stephen Shiao, MD, PhD targeting pathways of innate immune resistance in triple-negative breast cancer. Now as a graduate student, she has returned to UC Irvine and her interest in cancer immunology has led her to join the Masri Lab to understand the role of the circadian clock in anti-tumor immunity.

Experimental Pathology

Nimrah Ashfaq

Nimrah received her BS from California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) in Biological Sciences. Prior to leaving CSUF, she was accepted into the CIRM internship program and worked in Dr. Brian Cummings’ lab studying the microglial activation periods post repeat mild traumatic brain injury. She entered UC Irvine through the Cellular & Molecular Biosciences program and joined the lab of Dr. Matthew Rose in Experimental Pathology’s program. In the Rose lab, she will study motor neuron development in Down syndrome using mouse models and in human tissue. She is part of the ENRICH program created to help nurture students transitioning into graduate school.

Jillian Berry

Jillian received her BS in Neuroscience from Northwestern University. She previously worked as a Junior Research Specialist in the Mapstone Lab and as a Clinical Research Coordinator in the Head and Xu labs at UC Irvine. Her past research included work on the National BRAIN Initiative Cell Atlas Network’s UM1 project (BICAN UM1), which aimed to characterize individual brain cells’ molecular features and develop a comprehensive brain cell atlas. Her current research focuses on understanding the physiological changes that occur in individuals with Down syndrome that impair the brain’s ability to clear beta amyloid plaques after age 30. In addition, her interests also include how racial differences influence biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases. In her free time, she loves to dance, paint, go to art museums and spend time with friends and family.

Barroq (Brock) Safi

Brock earned his BS in Biology from Texas A&M University-Texarkana and M.S. from Texas State University. After graduating, he began a career in cancer research as an RA at the UT Health Science Center-San Antonio working on in vitro studies for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma before transitioning to industry. There Brock took on roles developing drug and cell therapies for various hematologic and solid tumor malignancies (including lung cancer, ovarian cancer and glioblastoma) leveraging his expertise in cell signaling to elucidate mechanisms of action and disease biology. Currently, Brock is an incoming PhD student in Dr. Albert La Spada's lab where his research focus will be on MAP4K3 involvement in immunology and cancer biology. Outside the lab Brock enjoys cooking, photography and spending time with his pets.

Luna Witchey

Luna Madison Witchey earned her BS in Microbiology and Immunology from UC Irvine, where she studied hormonal regulation of N-glycan branching in CD4+ T cells, focusing on immune aging in female mice through flow cytometry and transcriptomic analysis. As an incoming graduate student, she will continue conducting research in the Mkhikian Lab in Experimental Pathology’s program. Outside of the lab, she enjoys teaching Taekwondo, dancing Lindy hop swing and oil painting.

Microbiology & Molecular Genetics

Rebecca (Lijie) Chen

Lijie Chen graduated from UC Irvine in 2022 with a BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences. After graduation, she continued her research at UC Irvine as a specialist in the BIOTEL Lab, focusing on anti-cancer vaccine development using extracellular vesicles derived from hybridoma cells. She later joined the UC Irvine CNCM Viral Core, where she gained hands-on experience in adeno-associated virus (AAV) production. Currently, Lijie is a graduate student in the Xu Lab, where her research centers on engineering enhanced AAVs for neural circuit tracing and mapping. Outside the lab, Lijie enjoys trying new boba shops and restaurants with friends, spending time with her cat and practicing archery.

Rudy Cheong

Rudy earned his BS in Molecular Cell Biology & Physiology from California State University, Long Beach, as an NIH BUILD scholar. He then completed a PREP fellowship at the University of Chicago before receiving his M.S. as an NIH RISE Fellow at San Francisco State University, where he conducted thesis research at UCSF’s Cell Design Institute under Dr. Wendell Lim. Before beginning his doctoral studies, Rudy gained industry experience at Lyell Immunopharma and GenEdit, working on translational immunotherapy and gene therapy platforms. Now a 2nd-year PhD student at UC Irvine in the laboratory of Dr. Michael Demetriou, his research focuses on integrating glycobiology and immune engineering to develop novel strategies for cancer immunotherapy.

Summer Kasallis

Summer received her B.Sc. in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and a minor in Global Middle East Studies from UC Irvine, where she spent two years as an undergraduate and three years as a post-graduate studying biomolecular and biophysical mechanisms of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus pathogenesis in Dr. Albert Siryaporn’s lab. She is now an incoming PhD student in the Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics.

Chuqiao (Cheyenne) Li

Chuqiao received her BS in Microbiology and Immunology from UC Irvine in 2022. She spent two years at the UC Irvine Center for Neural Circuit Mapping (CNCM) Viral Core working on rabies virus production and engineering for neuroscience research. She is now an incoming graduate student in Dr. Yongsheng Shi’s lab in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics. Outside the lab, she is a devoted cat person who enjoys spending time with her feline companions.

Daniella Lu

Daniella earned her BS in Behavioral Neuroscience from Northeastern University in 2021. Before joining the Cellular & Molecular Biosciences at UC Irvine PhD Program in 2024, she worked in the biotech industry on translational research, contributing to the development of a novel genome editing technology for rare genetic diseases. As a graduate student in the Byun Lab, she aims to build on these experiences by working at the intersection of basic science and translational research to uncover the molecular mechanisms driving human disease, specifically in the context of how dysregulation of epigenetic modifiers contribute to an age-related phenomenon known as clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP).

Nghi Dinh Ly

Nghi earned her BS in Biological Sciences from UC Irvine. After graduating, she worked as a research assistant at Stanford University in the labs of Dr. Ansuman Satpathy, where she studied T-cell exhaustion, and with Dr. Stephen Galli, where she investigated food and venom allergies. She is currently a member of Dr. Thomas Burke’s lab, where she studies the role of innate immune cells in Rickettsiosis, a disease caused by the tick-borne pathogen Rickettsia. In her free time, she likes to exercise and study foreign languages.

Physiology and Biophysics

Nathaniel (Nate) Addonizio

Nate obtained his BS in Health Sciences at Chapman University where he studied the effects of multiple modalities on the biomechanics of pediatric idiopathic toe-walking. Before starting his graduate education Nate conducted research on novel human stem cell therapies for chronic spinal cord injury models at UC Irvine in the lab of Aileen Anderson. Nate joined Dr. Michael Hicks’ lab after his first year of PhD studies where he is currently investigating reinnervation of skeletal muscle following denervation injuries.

James Begando

James earned his BS in Microbiology and Immunology from UC Irvine, after transferring from Saddleback College. He is an incoming graduate student in Dr. Eric Pearlman’s lab, where his research focuses on host-pathogen interactions and innate immune responses in the eye. He is broadly interested in understanding how the immune system responds to infection and injury. Outside of the lab, James enjoys hiking, rock climbing and snowboarding.

Samuel (Sam) Kim

Samuel Kim is a Southern California native and obtained his BS in Microbiology and Immunology from UC Irvine. His prior research experience was in Dr. Melissa Lodoen’s lab, where Sam studied the cellular and molecular interactions between the protozoan pathogen Toxoplasma gondii and the host immune system. His research interests include innate adaptive immune interactions, host pathogen interactions and genetic engineering. He previously worked as a medical assistant and phlebotomist, and administered vaccines during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Outside of work, Sam enjoys listening to music, hanging out with friends and gardening.

Kristy Le

Kristy earned her BS in Cell and Developmental Biology from UC Santa Barbara. In Dr. Max Wilson’s lab, she engineered optogenetic nanobodies to control protein activity with light and developed reversibly stiffening hydrogels to study how cells respond to mechanical cues. After graduating, she stayed in Santa Barbara at a local company to develop aptamer-based therapies for age-related macular degeneration. Now in Irvine, she is excited to join Dr. Shivashankar Othy’s neuroimmunology lab, where she will study how immune regulation shapes repair processes in the central nervous system. Beyond the lab, Kristy can be found surfing glassy waves, foraging fruit around campus and basking in patches of sun with her cat, Golgi.

Angela Li

Angela received her BS in Biology from UCLA, where she studied the role of cyclooxegenase-2 in regeneration in Dr. Saman Sadeghi’s lab. She then worked as an RA in the biotech industry at Curative Inc. and helped streamline COVID-19 testing. Next she accepted a position at the Keck School of Medicine of USC with Dr. Frank Petrigliano and Dr. Denis Evseenko, where she performed preclinical testing of a small molecule (423F) that reduced osteoarthritic symptoms in mice in human musculoskeletal systems. Following this, she joined Dr. Albert Almada’s lab at Keck USC to study FOS, an early molecular driver of muscle regeneration. As a second year PhD student in Dr. Michael Hicks’ lab, Angela’s research involves enhancing early myogenic commitment and increasing skeletal muscle progenitor yield from human induced pluripotent stem cells.

Jean Li

Jean completed his B.A. in Biology: Genomics & Computational Biology at Washington University in St. Louis. After, he spent a gap year as a research technician at Baylor College of Medicine conducting a systematic comparison between retinal organoid and human retinal development using single-cell multiomics. He is entering his 2nd year of graduate school in the lab of Dr. Rui Chen continuing his studies on retinal organoids modeling retinal development and disease. In his free time, he likes to sing, dance, play instruments and game.

Mariam Mohagheghi

Mariam Mohagheghi is a PhD student in the Wagar and Halbrook labs at UC Irvine. She received her BS in Biochemistry from the University of New Mexico and M.S. in Medical Sciences from Creighton University. Prior to graduate school, she worked at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory on vaccine development for Chlamydia trachomatis. Her current research focuses on the immunobiology of pancreatic cancer using patient-derived organoid models.

Michael Nahmou

Michael was raised in Encino, CA and completed a BS in biopsychology at UC Santa Barbara. There, he was introduced to vision research in the lab of Benjamin Reese, PhD and studied the role of retinal astrocytes in development. He then worked as a lab tech for 7 years in the lab of Jeffrey Goldberg, MD, PhD before pursuing graduate studies. He worked on neuronal survival, regeneration and glial reactivity in the context of optic nerve injury, and importantly saw the beauty of a career in science. He will spend his graduate years in the lab of Gulab Zode, PhD, studying cellular and molecular mechanisms of glaucomatous injury and healing in mice and humans. He spends his free time with his dogs, and outdoors hiking, bike riding, paddle boarding and snorkeling.

Michelle Polen

Michelle completed her BS at UC Davis in Microbiology and a Minor in Global Disease Biology. During this time, she worked with Dr. Bryn Mumma investigating the impact of sex-specific Troponin T levels in cardiac risk stratification strategies. Prior to starting her graduate program, she worked at Sana Biotechnology where she developed analytical methods to support the characterization and development of allogeneic CAR T cell therapies. Michelle is an incoming PhD student in the Physiology and Biophysics Department and is excited to join the lab of Dr. Asuka Eguchi. In addition to her scientific work, Michelle has been a committed volunteer with the Muscular Dystrophy Association for 10 years.

Tong (Tony) Shen

Tony received his B.A. in Biochemistry and minors in Spanish, Biology and Chemistry from Case Western Reserve University, where he was trained in Dr. Johannes von Lintig’s lab and worked on a project characterizing carotenoid metabolic enzymes. Tony then moved on to earn his M.S.E in Biomedical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University. He worked in Dr. Brian Foster’s lab on retinoic acid and heart failure. Tony is an incoming PhD student in the Physiology & Biophysics department in Dr. Rongsheng Jin’s laboratory studying the OrfX type toxin complex. Outside of lab, he enjoys playing soccer, exploring restaurants and traveling.

Jason Xie

Jason completed his BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the UC Santa Barbara. Previously, he worked to develop anaerobic fluorescent reporters with Dr. Arnab Mukherjee. He is currently in Dr. Barbara Jusiak's lab where he is applying synthetic biology to reprogram macrophages towards anti-tumor activity. Jason is a lymphoma survivor and has a black cat named Miya.

Angel Zavala

Angel earned his BS in Biological Sciences from UC Irvine. Since then, he has amassed over a decade of research experience working in the laboratories of Dr. Craig Walsh, Dr. Michael Cahalan and Dr. Shivashankar Othy. His work ranged from managing the lab to studying the cellular mechanisms in immune regulation. Currently, Angel is excited to join the Othy lab as a graduate student, where his research will focus on the tissue-specific mechanisms of regulatory T cells in the central nervous system. During his free time, he enjoys listening to music, playing video games and discovering different cuisines.

Eva Zhao

Eva earned her BS in Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics with a Biomedical Research minor from UCLA. There she developed an interest in translational cancer research, studying glioblastoma and the development of brain-penetrant small molecule inhibitors against its specific subtypes. Currently, she is entering her third year in UC Irvine's MD-PhD program and her first year in graduate school. Eva is in Dr. Devon Lawson’s lab, where she will be studying immune responses and crosstalk in the context of breast cancer brain metastasis.