{"id":38,"date":"2023-12-11T15:38:42","date_gmt":"2023-12-11T23:38:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.lifesci.ucla.edu\/mcdb-siekhaus\/?page_id=38"},"modified":"2026-03-10T18:04:42","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T01:04:42","slug":"current","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.lifesci.ucla.edu\/mcdb-siekhaus\/current\/","title":{"rendered":"Current"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Daria Siekhaus, PhD.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Associate Professor, Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Email<\/u><\/a> \/\u00a0Press<\/u><\/a> \/ Profile<\/u><\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Daria did her undergraduate studies at Harvard-Radcliffe College, working in Roberto Kolter\u2019s lab and then spent two years as a DAAD fellow at the Max Planck Institute for biophysical Chemistry in Goettingen, Germany in Peter Gruss\u2019 lab.\u00a0 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. \u00a0She worked on S. cerevisiae gradient detection pathways in David Drubin\u2019s lab at UC Berkeley. She pioneered Drosophila macrophages as a model for tissue invasion in Ruth Lehmann\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n

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Allison Birnbaum, PhD.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Post Doctoral Fellow<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Origin:<\/strong> New York, USA
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Background: <\/strong>Allison received her B.S. and M.S. at SUNY Binghamton University, and completed her PhD at Iowa State University. <\/span><\/p>\n

Project Title:<\/strong> Atos regulation of mitochondrial dynamics in response to infection and Alzheimer’s pathology.
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Interests:<\/strong> Pub trivia, Volleyball, Cornhole, and Art<\/span><\/span>
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Jasmine Stanley-Ahmed, PhD.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Post Doctoral Fellow<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Origin:<\/strong> Birmingham, United Kingdom
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Background:\u00a0<\/strong>Studied Biomedical Sciences (BSc) and Applied Sciences (MRes) at the University of Chester. Completed her PhD at the University of Warwick. <\/span><\/p>\n

Interests:<\/strong> Netball, weightlifting, gym and all other outdoor activities! Also listening to podcasts, audiobooks and reading actual books.
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Khaled Nassman, B.S.
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Biosciences Graduate Student<\/span>
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Origin: <\/strong>West Covina, CA
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Background: <\/strong>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.
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Interests:<\/span><\/strong> 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.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Contact: <\/strong>knassman@g.ucla.edu<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n

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Sarah Edelmon, B<\/span>.S.
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Lab Manager<\/span>
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Origin:<\/strong> Austin, TX, USA
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Background:<\/strong> 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. <\/span><\/p>\n

Interests:<\/span><\/strong> Hiking with her<\/span> dog\u00a0 around the LA area, watching movies at art house cinemas, listening to music, cooking, and learning new things!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Contact:<\/strong> sedelmon@ucla.edu<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n

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Satviki Chaturvedi<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Undergraduate Student<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Programme:<\/strong> MCDB Major<\/span><\/p>\n

Origin:<\/strong> Dublin, CA (East Bay) <\/span><\/p>\n

Interests:<\/strong> I\u2019m 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\u2014 or just relax by spending time with my friends or watching movies!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n

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Steve Chung
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Undergraduate Student<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Programme:<\/strong> MCDB Major<\/span><\/p>\n

Origin:<\/strong> Danville, CA<\/span><\/p>\n

Interests: <\/strong>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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Maria George
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Undergraduate Student<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Programme:<\/strong> MCDB Major, Biomedical Research Minor
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Origin:<\/strong> San Jose, CA
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Interests: <\/strong>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!<\/span><\/p>\n

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Leah Finkelstein<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Undergraduate Student<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Programme:<\/strong> MIMG Major, Biomedical Research Minor<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Origin:<\/strong> Laguna Niguel, CA<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Interests: <\/strong>I\u2019m interested in learning more about genetics and the impact of mutations on diseases. I enjoy baking, playing board games and card games, and spending time with my family and friends. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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