Meet the Incoming School of Medicine PhD Students – 2026 Posted: 2026-09-28 Source: Graduate Studies News Type: Features & Briefs share Meet the newest 39 members of the UCI School of Medicine graduate community joining the PhD in Biomedical Sciences program this fall. See about their backgrounds and research interests below. Anatomy & Neurobiology Biological Chemistry Experimental Pathology Microbiology & Molecular Genetics Physiology & Biophysics Anatomy & Neurobiology Aidan Baraban Aidan earned his B.S. in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, with a minor in Music, from the University of California, Davis. As an undergraduate, he worked primarily in Dr. Megan Dennis’s laboratory, using zebrafish to study how human-specific genomic variation contributes to neurodevelopment. He is now a member of Dr. Robert Hunt’s laboratory, where he uses transcriptomic approaches to study fate specification in stem cell-derived interneurons and broader questions in human neurodevelopment. Outside the lab, he enjoys watching sports and playing the clarinet. Yiting Bu Yiting earned her B.S. in Data Science and Cognitive Science from the University of California, San Diego. There, she worked in Dr. Eric Halgren’s laboratory, studying the coordination of high-frequency neural oscillations across cortical regions. She is currently a graduate student in Dr. Jennifer Gelinas’s laboratory, where she will look into cell assemblies and memory consolidation. Outside of the laboratory, she enjoys exploring new places, hiking and spending time with her cat. Annabelle Dressler Annabelle earned her B.S. in Neurobiology from UC Irvine. During her final year as an undergraduate, she joined the laboratory of Dr. Kei Igarashi, where she studied the entorhinal–hippocampal circuit using animal models. Her research involved high-resolution anatomical analysis and investigating neural circuits in mice performing olfactory-cued memory tasks. Annabelle is now an incoming graduate student in Dr. Igarashi's laboratory. Her research will focus on investigating the neural mechanisms underlying the amygdala–entorhinal circuit and its role in learning and memory. Outside the lab, Annabelle enjoys creating art, spending time in nature and attending live music performances. Varya Fayner Varya earned her B.A. in Molecular and Cell Biology with a concentration in Neurobiology from the University of California, Berkeley. During and after her undergraduate career, she investigated associative learning and addiction models at the University of California, San Francisco. Currently, she is pursuing an MD/PhD degree and will be joining Dr. Han Tan's lab as a graduate student studying neuronal circuits that affect the body's metabolism. Outside of lab, she enjoys reading, chess and hiking. Erik Hakopian Erik earned his B.S. from the University of California, Riverside. There, he was a UC LEADS fellow working in the lab of Dr. Vasileious Christopoulos, where he studied the effect of a schizophrenia model in rodents on the septohippocampal network. After graduating, he spent a year conducting research at the University of Southern California, making the first-ever imaging of awake and fully behaving infants possible. Currently, Erik is a graduate student in Dr. Gelinas' lab, and his research focuses on memory and information consolidation. Outside of lab, he is busy breaking ankles in basketball, cinematography and trying new things every month. Kaitlyn Huynh Kaitlyn earned her B.S. in Neurobiology from the University of California, San Diego, with a minor in Cognitive Science. Since graduation, she has worked as a Research Specialist in Dr. Xiangmin Xu's laboratory at UC Irvine, where she investigates the physiological, neuropathological and behavioral effects of chronic stress via exogenous corticosterone treatment. Kaitlyn will be continuing her research work in Dr. Xiangmin Xu's lab in the fall 2026 quarter as a Ph.D. student. When she isn't in the lab, she enjoys going to music events, playing games and engaging in her creative side through fashion, photography and writing. Mingyi Ma Mingyi Ma earned her B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, where she conducted undergraduate research in Dr. Xinzhu Yu's laboratory investigating astrocytic calcium signaling in the prefrontal cortex. After graduation, she worked as a Research Assistant in Dr. Weizhe Hong's laboratory at UCLA, studying the neural mechanisms underlying cooperative behavior in mice. She is currently a graduate student in Dr. Kei Igarashi's lab, where her research focuses on the neural circuits of Alzheimer's disease, with an emphasis on the entorhinal cortex and tau pathology. Outside of the lab, she enjoys playing badminton, trying new boba shops and relaxing with a good massage. Tracy Nguyen Tracy obtained her B.S. in Biological Sciences from California State University, Fullerton, where she was a California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) scholar in the Bridges to Stem Cell Research (BSCR) program. As part of the program, she did a research internship in the laboratory of Dr. Munjal Acharya, investigating the effects of utilizing human neural stem cell-derived exosomes to mitigate cancer-related cognitive impairments (CRCI) following chemotherapy for breast cancer. Tracy is currently an incoming graduate student continuing in Dr. Acharya’s lab to focus on the remediation of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-induced cognitive dysfunction. Outside of research, she enjoys exploring new cafes, crocheting and riding motorcycles. Hina Tamaki Hina earned a bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt University, where she double majored in Neuroscience and Clarinet Performance. There, she conducted research in Dr. Kari Hoffman's lab, which investigates the neural basis of perception, learning and cognition in non-human primates. After graduation, she joined Dr. Kei Igarashi's lab at UC Irvine as a Laboratory Technician, where she studied the neural circuit mechanisms underlying olfactory associative memory. She is now continuing her research in the Igarashi Lab as an incoming graduate student in UC Irvine's Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences Program. Boyan Zhang Boyan received his B.S. in Plant Protection from Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China. He then pursued his M.S. in Neuroscience and Translation at Fudan University under the mentorship of Dr. Ni Jinfei, where his research centered on sympathetic ganglia and the autonomic descending pathway. He is currently an incoming graduate student in Dr. Tan Han's laboratory, with research interests in the neural mechanisms underlying metabolism and obesity. Outside the lab, Boyan enjoys soccer, table tennis, cycling and wildlife photography. Biological Chemistry Yi-Chi Chu Yi-Chi earned her B.S. in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. There, she was an iGEM team member and an undergraduate researcher in Dr. David Bernick’s lab, where she studied protein engineering approaches related to Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. Yi-Chi later worked as a research assistant in Dr. Ying Lu’s lab at Harvard Medical School, where she led a drug screening project targeting the E3 ligase HUWE1. Yi-Chi is currently an incoming graduate student in Dr. Peter Kaiser’s lab, where her research will focus on the ubiquitin-proteasome system, protein-protein interactions and protein quality control. Outside of the lab, she enjoys skiing, hiking and traveling. Madison Fitzsimmons Madi earned her B.S. in Chemistry from UC Irvine. She joined the Fleischman Lab as an undergraduate in 2025, where she has studied the consequences of JAK inhibitor-mediated transformation of MPN driver clones. Madi is an incoming first-year graduate student in Dr. Angela Fleischman's lab. Outside of her research, she enjoys trying new food with friends, crocheting and playing video games. Diana Hernandez Hernandez Diana earned her B.S. in Bioengineering: Biotechnology from the University of California, San Diego, where she began building an interdisciplinary research background in cardiovascular imaging through her undergraduate work in Dr. Francisco Contijoch’s laboratory and in genetic engineering as a research associate on the synthetic biology team at the J. Craig Venter Institute in La Jolla. Beyond California, she explored the biotech industry in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and joined a startup developing a non-viral extracellular vesicle delivery platform for rare hematological diseases. As a graduate student in Dr. Marcus Seldin’s lab, she is currently investigating the regulatory role of noncoding variants in patients with rare and undiagnosed diseases. Her long-term interests lie at the intersection of machine learning, systems genetics and human disease, with the goal of using computational approaches to better understand inter-organ communication. Outside of the lab, she enjoys kayaking, solving 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzles, reading memoirs and contemporary fiction and watching sci-fi shows. Jesse Hulahan Jesse earned his B.S. in Biochemistry and Cell Biology and M.S. in Biology from the University of California, San Diego. While at the University of California, San Diego, he performed contiguous research in the Pasquinelli Lab, where he studied the opposing longevity roles of the C. elegans Argonauts. Prior to graduate school, he worked as a research specialist in the Cherry Lab at the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied the roles of emerging viruses. Currently, Jesse is an incoming Ph.D. student in the Martinez Lab, and his research focuses on the characterization of novel microproteins identified through in-house ribosome profiling. Outside of the lab, he enjoys cooking, exploring new restaurants and digging through old records. Jesse Jones Jesse earned his B.A. and M.S. degrees in Biology from California State University, Northridge. For his master's thesis, he worked in the laboratory of Dr. Cheryl Van Buskirk and used C. elegans genetics to characterize the EGF family protein SISS-1. Jesse was accepted to the UC Irvine CMB gateway program and will be doing his dissertation work in Dr. Bogi Andersen's laboratory. Jesse's interests extend to analytic philosophy, theology and religion. Vance Ku Vance obtained a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering at UC Irvine. As an undergraduate, he worked in Dr. Anand Ganesan's laboratory to study the effects of a novel CDC42/RhoJ inhibitor on multiple melanoma cell lines. Now, Vance is working in Dr. Jessica Shiu's laboratory to research vitiligo pathology using mouse models. Vyanka Mezcord Vyanka Mezcord earned her B.S. in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology and a minor in Anthropology from California State University, Fullerton. As an undergraduate, she conducted research in Dr. Maria Soledad Ramirez's lab investigating antibiotic resistance mechanisms, primarily in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), and later assisted with research on DNA damage and leukemia in Dr. Nick Pannunzio's lab. She is currently a Ph.D. student in Dr. Rémi Buisson's lab, where she studies how cells sense and respond to RNA damage through innate immune signaling pathways. Outside the lab, she enjoys gardening, watching documentaries and spending time with her two cats. Marina Norfolk Marina earned her B.A. in Molecular Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley. There, she was a SURF-SMART fellow in Dr. Michael Boots' lab, where she studied the factors regulating virulence in emerging zoonotic diseases. She then transitioned to industry, where she supported small molecule therapeutic development targeting inflammatory bowel disease. Currently, Marina is an incoming graduate student in Dr. Remi Buisson’s lab, where her research will utilize genome-wide CRISPR screens to identify factors regulating the integrated stress response. Beyond the lab, she enjoys reading science fiction novels, knitting and gardening. Danielle Shave Danielle received her B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Michigan. In Ann Arbor, Michigan, she worked with Dr. Scott Leiser, studying the pathways of aging in metabolism. Danielle is now a graduate student with Dr. Audrone Lapinaite, where she studies the mechanisms of gene regulation and RNA modification deposition. In her free time, Danielle enjoys reading, discovering new restaurants in Orange County and spending time with family and friends. Frank Spinos Frank earned his B.S. from Arizona State University, where he conducted undergraduate research in Dr. Miyeko Mana’s laboratory. There, he studied how diet and lipid metabolism influence intestinal stem-cell behavior, chromatin regulation and tumorigenesis using approaches including organoid culture and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing. Currently, Frank is a graduate student in Dr. Bryan Sun’s laboratory. His research focuses on skin cell biology, including epidermal stress responses, RNA regulation and alternative splicing and communication between keratinocytes and melanocytes. Outside of the lab, he enjoys gymnastics, surfing, hiking and spending time at the beach. Jessica Stewart Jessica grew up in the Bay Area and earned her bachelor's degree in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley. There, she researched protein structure of signaling kinases as a URAP apprentice and SURF fellow in the lab of Dr. John Kuriyan and was heavily involved in the Cal Sailing Team in her free time. After graduating, she joined Dr. Bruce Conklin's lab at Gladstone Institutes as a Research Associate, where she worked on allele-specific gene editing in iPSC-derived motor neurons. Now, Jessica is an incoming graduate student in Dr. Bryan Sun's lab, where she will study RNA regulatory mechanisms in genetic skin disease. Brandon Toy Brandon Toy earned his B.A. in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley. After graduation, he worked in the biotechnology industry at companies like Gilead Sciences and Bio-Techne. He later completed a master's degree at the University of San Francisco in the Tzagarakis-Foster Lab, studying the epigenetic regulation of the tumor suppressor gene DAX-1 and its role in breast cancer. Currently, Brandon is an incoming graduate student in Dr. Thomas Martinez's lab, and his research will focus on identifying novel microproteins in the context of aging and skin. Outside the lab, Brandon enjoys dancing, rock climbing and slowly going broke attending K-pop concerts. Yifan Xiong Yifan earned both his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Bioengineering in China. During his academic training, he developed a strong interest in bioinformatics, which inspired him to pursue a Ph.D. in the field. Before joining the lab, he worked as a research assistant at Tsinghua University in Dr. Xuegong Zhang's lab, where he conducted research at the intersection of cutting-edge AI and biomedical science. He is currently a Ph.D. student in Dr. Wei Li's laboratory, focusing on using cell-free DNA-based liquid biopsy methods to advance precision medicine. Outside the lab, Yifan enjoys cycling, hiking and traveling to explore the national parks. Experimental Pathology Allison Cartee Allison earned her B.S. in Engineering Sciences from Emory University. She worked in the Finzi-Dunlap single molecule biophysics lab studying E. coli RNA polymerase transcription against DNA roadblocks. Post-graduation, she modeled alpha-particle radiopharmaceutical drugs in the Sgouros lab. Allison will begin the Ph.D. phase of her MD/PhD journey in the lab of Dr. Charles Limoli, where she's excited to research translational applications and mechanisms of FLASH radiotherapy. Outside of lab, Allison can be found playing beach volleyball, planning her next theme park trip or eating her way through OC. Zihan Zhang (Jane) Jane earned her dual degree in Biology and Finance through the Life Sciences and Management Program at the University of Pennsylvania. As an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Mark Kahn’s laboratory, she studied tissue-specific PAR1 signaling in megakaryocytes between bone marrow and splenic environments. She is now an incoming Ph.D. student in Biomedical Sciences in Experimental Pathology at the UC Irvine School of Medicine, with interests in vascular biology, hematopoiesis and translational medicine. Originally from Wuhan, China, Jane enjoys running, exploring new cafés and spending time with her friends outside the laboratory. Microbiology & Molecular Genetics Michael Eso Hailing from Oceanside, California, Michael earned his B.S. in Molecular Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2023. After graduating, Michael worked as a research technician in Professor Christopher O. Barnes' lab at Stanford University, where he utilized CryoEM and other structural biology techniques to investigate HIV antibody binding. As a new graduate student in Professor Yao He's lab, Michael is excited to continue to develop as a structural biologist and work to uncover the mechanisms that drive dynamic macromolecular assemblies. When he's not in lab, you can find Michael surfing at the Huntington Beach pier or tending to his herb and vegetable garden. Paul Fernandez Paul earned his B.S. in Biology with a specialization in Biotechnology and a minor in Bioinformatics from the University of Florida. As an undergraduate, he worked at the ICBR Gene Expression and Genotyping Core under Dr. Yanping Zhang, supporting high-throughput sequencing quality control, and in the Space Plants Laboratory under Dr. Anna-Lisa Paul and Dr. Robert Ferl, where he used metagenomics to identify bacteria associated with human activity in a Martian analog environment. He is currently a graduate student in Dr. Eric Wang's laboratory, where he uses molecular and computational approaches to study RNA-binding protein–kinesin interactions underlying intracellular RNA localization and the mechanisms of alternative splicing. Outside of the lab, he enjoys metalworking, 3D printing and caring for his snakes. Alberto Herrera Rodarte Alberto received his B.S. in Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. There, he performed undergraduate research as a MARC Scholar in the laboratory of Dr. Needhi Bhalla, investigating the effect of the PCH-2 protein on meiotic recombination in C. elegans. He is now a graduate student in Dr. Nick Baker's lab, where his research will focus on mammalian cell competition. Originally from San Jose, Alberto enjoys cooking new things, listening to podcasts and gaming with friends. Wenjin Jiang Wenjin graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a B.S. in Molecular and Cell Biology and a minor in Business. As an undergraduate, she studied cytomegalovirus infection and its interactions with ILC1 cells at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology. Following graduation, she completed her master’s training in Immunology at Harvard Medical School, where she worked on developing HIV-1 Env mRNA vaccines. In 2025, she was admitted into UC Irvine’s Cellular and Molecular Biosciences Ph.D. program and joined the Marsden lab to pursue her Ph.D. Her current interests include HIV latency, viral persistence and cure strategies. Outside of the lab, Wenjin enjoys exploring good food, drawing, taking pictures and spending time with friends. Caitlin Tsang Caitlin earned her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Binghamton University. There, she worked in the lab of Dr. Kaiming Ye on a cancer vaccine for melanoma. After graduating, she worked in Dr. David Tuveson's lab for four years, drug screening patient-derived pancreatic cancer organoids. Recently, Caitlin joined Thomas Burke's lab, and her research will focus on investigating the role of intratumor bacteria and the gut microbiome in cancer. Outside of the lab, she enjoys aerial hoop, tennis and trying new recipes. Xiaoyu Wang Xiaoyu earned her M.S. in Chemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she worked in Dr. Juli Feigon’s lab studying the interaction between the non-coding 7SK RNA and HEXIM1 using biochemical and structural approaches. She is currently a graduate student in Dr. Yao He’s laboratory at UC Irvine, where she is interested in structural biology. Outside of the lab, she enjoys photography and exploring new restaurants. Physiology & Biophysics Fatima Bedier Fatima Bedier received her B.S., double majoring in Biochemistry and Microbiology. As an undergraduate, she conducted research in Dr. Yixian Wang’s laboratory, where she studied biological processes using surface plasmon resonance microscopy and investigated nanoparticle catalysis. She conducted research at the University of Southern California and Cedars-Sinai, where her work focused on the heterogeneity and molecular characteristics of tumor-derived extracellular vesicles. She is currently a graduate student in Dr. Francesco Marangoni’s laboratory, where her research interests center on understanding the dynamic behavior of immune cells within tissues using advanced imaging approaches. She is particularly interested in how immune cells sense and respond to changes within the local tumor microenvironment. Outside of the lab, Fatima enjoys going to the beach, reading, painting and spending time with friends and family. Alfredo Castro Alfredo Castro earned his B.S. in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, San Diego. During his undergraduate training in Dr. Chengbiao Wu’s laboratory, he studied the cellular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disease with an emphasis on axonal trafficking and neuronal function. He currently conducts research in Dr. Qin Yang’s laboratory at UC Irvine and will continue in the lab as a graduate student studying the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms regulating energy metabolism and insulin sensitivity in obesity and type 2 diabetes. Alfredo grew up in Riverside and enjoys surfing, working out and golfing with friends. Christina Curran Originally from Rhode Island, Christina earned her B.S. in Biochemistry from Northeastern University in 2023. While in Boston, she conducted research in Catherine Wu’s laboratory at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, studying the role of RPS15 mutations in B cell dysfunction and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. She later joined Dewpoint Therapeutics, where she contributed to the development of a TDP-43 condensate-modulating therapeutic candidate for ALS. At UC Irvine, Christina joins Lisa Wagar’s laboratory, where she is excited to investigate how vaccine adjuvants can enhance immunogenicity. Outside the lab, she enjoys cooking for friends, surfing and solving crossword puzzles. Jessica Herbert Jessica earned her B.S. in Biopsychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. There, she was in the laboratory of Dr. Karen Szumlinski, where she studied how drugs of abuse, such as alcohol or methamphetamine, contribute to cognitive decline. After she graduated, she joined Gladstone Institutes as a Research Associate, working in the laboratory of Dr. Jorge Palop to study circuit dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease. Currently, Jessica is a graduate student in Dr. Kevin Beier's lab, where she is looking at (1) how early life adversity increases vulnerability to nicotine use and (2) how neuronal senescence affects the spread of Alzheimer's disease pathology, such as tau. Outside of lab, she enjoys practicing her guitar or flute, watching horror movies and crocheting. Noelle Nieskens Noelle was raised in Hong Kong and Barcelona, Spain, before moving to Southern California as a teenager. She completed her Microbiology B.Sc. and Biology M.Sc. at the University of California, San Diego, while working under the mentorship of Dr. Lars Eckmann. There, she contributed to research on the host-pathogen interactions of protozoan parasites. Currently, Noelle is a Ph.D. student in Dr. Vladimir Kefalov's lab, where she is developing early detection methods for vision loss. Isabel Suarez Isabel (or "Izzy") earned her B.S. in Biological Sciences from UC Irvine in June 2025. She was an undergraduate student researcher in the MARC scholar program and worked in the laboratory of Dr. Luis Mota-Bravo, where she studied the dissemination of antibiotic resistance in environmental bacteria. Currently, Izzy is a second-year Ph.D. student in Dr. Eric Pearlman's lab, and her research focuses on the innate immune response to fungal infections in the cornea. Outside of the lab, she enjoys exploring new cafes, tennis, reading and going to the beach! Sonia Yeretzian Sonia obtained her bachelor's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences at UC Irvine. She worked with Dr. Palczewski and his lab at the Brunson Center for Translational Vision Research to investigate the pathways involved in age-related macular degeneration and pioneered a new standard for the lab to use for in vivo mouse models for neovascular angiogenesis and retinopathy of prematurity. Currently, she is collaborating with several labs under the direction of Dr. Palczewski and Dr. Lapinaite on genome editing projects that aim to slow the progression of and treat various eye diseases using research that utilizes prime editors, optogenetic and pharmacological interventions. Outside of the lab, Sonia enjoys playing piano, running and ice skating. Natalie Zane Natalie received a B.S. in Biology from the University of California, San Diego, where she studied modulators of tissue-resident memory CD8+ T cells in Dr. Ananda Goldrath's lab. As a graduate student in Dr. Lisa Wagar's lab, she will study how B cell aging affects vaccine response. Beyond science, Natalie can be found exploring new hotpot restaurants with friends and spending time with her cats. Media Contacts Matt Miller Director mrmille2@uci.edu Communications & PR Office