Daria Siekhaus, PhD.
Associate Professor, Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology
Daria seeks to understand how cells dynamically interact with their environment and each other, enabling successful development and robust physiology. Her favorite scientific activity is to uncover previously unexplored cell biological pathways.
Daria did her undergraduate studies at Harvard-Radcliffe College, working in Roberto Kolter’s lab and then spent two years as a DAAD fellow at the Max Planck Institute for biophysical Chemistry in Goettingen, Germany in Peter Gruss’ lab. She obtained her Ph.D. from the Department of Biochemistry at Stanford University Medical School working on proteolytic control of neuropeptides and behavior in Drosophila in the labs of Roberta Fuller and Mark Krasnow. She worked on S. cerevisiae gradient detection pathways in David Drubin’s lab at UC Berkeley. She pioneered Drosophila macrophages as a model for tissue invasion in Ruth Lehmann’s lab at the Skirball Institute in NYU School of Medicine. She started her own lab using Drosophila and mouse at IST Austria near Vienna and then moved to UCLA.
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Allison Birnbaum, PhD.
Post Doctoral Fellow
Origin: New York, USA
Background: Allison received her B.S. and M.S. at SUNY Binghamton University, and completed her PhD at Iowa State University.
Project Title: Atos regulation of mitochondrial dynamics in response to infection and Alzheimer’s pathology.
Interests: Pub trivia, Volleyball, Cornhole, and Art
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Khaled Nassman, B.S.
Biosciences Graduate Student
Origin: West Covina, CA
Background: Studied Molecular, Cell, and Development Biology (B.S.) at UCLA. Afterwards, worked as a Staff Research Associate in academia for 2-3 years before joining graduate school.
Interests: Investigating how developmental processes give rise to fully functioning systems by examining cellular behaviors through patterning, migration, and interaction studies. Likes to play the piano, cat lover, birdwatching, listening to music, watching shows and movies.
Contact: knassman@g.ucla.edu
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Sarah Edelmon, B.S.
Lab Manager
Origin: Austin, TX, USA
Background: Studied Microbiology and Infectious Disease (B.S.) at the University of Texas at Austin. Worked in biotech industry for 5+ years in early stage research, operations, and product development.
Interests: Hiking with her dog around the LA area, watching movies at art house cinemas, listening to music, cooking, and learning new things!
Contact: sedelmon@ucla.edu
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Satviki Chaturvedi
Undergraduate Student
Programme: MCDB Major
Origin: Dublin, CA (East Bay)
Interests: I’m interested in learning more about cellular interactions and how something so small can impact us on such a large scale. In my free time I love to go to the beach, embroider, swim— or just relax by spending time with my friends or watching movies!
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Steve Chung
Undergraduate Student
Programme: MCDB Major
Origin: Danville, CA
Interests: Learning about what influences the efficiency of immune cells and how these new research discoveries can be applied to and benefit humans. Likes to sing, play piano/guitar and tennis, and spend time with family and friends.
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Maria George
Undergraduate Student
Programme: MCDB Major, Biomedical Research Minor
Origin: San Jose, CA
Interests: I’m interested in learning more about immunology and bioenergetics. I like baking, playing the flute & piano, practicing henna art, and trying new boba places!