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LAB MEMBERS

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MEDHA PATHAK, PhD

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

Medha is a biophysicist interested in how mechanical forces shape neural processes. She enjoys developing multi-disciplinary and novel approaches for studying complex biological processes. She also enjoys reading, hiking, yoga, cooking and exploring the local beaches.

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Bio | CV

medhap at uci.edu

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MITRADAS PANICKER, PhD

ASSOCIATE ADJUNCT PROFESSOR

Das Panicker (A.K.A. Panic in a previous avatar) is interested in the role of Piezo1 in neural stem cell differentiation. He likes ‘out of this world’ ideas in neurosciences, serotonin, and stem cells, but is still looking for the time to pursue all of them.

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mmpanick at uci.edu

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JAMI NOURSE, PhD

ASSISTANT PROJECT SCIENTIST

Jami is a cell biologist who enjoys developing and applying novel technologies to understand how cells interpret their environment to shape cell fate and function.  She also enjoys spending time with her husband and four daughters. Also on the list of passions is: improving in Crossfit, walking the dog, visiting the beach, visiting Pubs with her husband and friends, reading novels, and keeping up with the politics and policies that affect the health of the local and global environment and the strength of democracy in the U.S. and Europe.

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jnourse at uci.edu

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IGNASI CASANELLAS, PhD

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW

Ignasi is a Chemist and Bioengineer studying how physical environmental cues modulate processes such as cell migration, communication and differentiation. He moved from Catalonia to California to work on Piezo1 and learn more about microscopy, data analysis and neuroscience. Ignasi is a big movie fan who also enjoys eating out, going for walks in nature, and following the news on politics.

 

icasanel at uci.edu

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LAURA WILLIAMSON

MSTP STUDENT (PRIMARY ADVISOR: LISA FLANAGAN)

Laura is a SoCal native, born and raised in San Diego, CA. While at UCSD, she developed a passion for molecular biology and biophysics through her work in the Tezcan lab, and eventually received her BS in Biochemistry/Chemistry from UCSD in 2020. Laura’s current research interests center around how glycosylation affects neural stem cell differentiation, and through her work in the Pathak and Flanagan labs hopes to evaluate the role that N-glycan branching plays in modulating neural stem cell adhesion and response to mechanical stimuli. Outside of lab, Laura loves to climb, play DND and boardgames, and binge endless amount of TV while cuddling with her cats.

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lwillia5 at uci.edu

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GEORGE DICKINSON

PROGRAMMER

George completed a PhD at the University of York, UK investigating the role of calcium channels in higher plants. Since then, he has worked as a cell biologist studying calcium signaling at University College London and UCI, and DNA-based memory at Boise State University. His interests in calcium-channels, single-molecule imaging and data analysis are all being put to use helping with Piezo1 studies in the Pathak lab.

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george.dickinson at gmail.com

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CALEB WILSON HENDRICK

GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCHER

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cwhendri at uci.edu

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VIVIAN LEUNG

LAB MANAGER & RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Vivian graduated from UC Irvine with a B.S. in Biological Sciences. She has dedicated most of her time to volunteering and giving back to her community and is currently working towards her goal of becoming a family physician. If she's not busy studying or working in the lab, you'll most likely find her playing with her dog, Billy, or finding new foods to eat (while also stopping Billy from taking her food).

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vmleung at uci.edu

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KIANNA SATARI

LAB MANAGER & POST-BAC RESEARCHER

Kianna graduated from UCLA with a B.S. in Human Biology and Society. While at UCLA, she worked in a historical food studies lab which examined enzymes and proteins in food additives. When she's not in the lab or working towards her goal of attending medical school, you can find Kianna spending time with friends and finding new cafes to try.

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kiannasatari at gmail.com

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ALICIA MARGARET LIN

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER

Alicia is a first year biological sciences major at UCI. She hopes to follow a career path in neuroscience or psychology someday. She is especially interested in possible biological and psychological factors contributing to neurological disorders that affect psychology and behavior, and how the two types of factors can intertwine for better treatments. Alicia greatly enjoys drawing, playing JRPGs, and taking pictures of her cat.

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aliciml1 at uci.edu

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ELSA FLUDYN

DOGTOR OF PLAY TIME

Elsa (named after Elsa the Lioness from Born Free) loves to explore the world, play with fellow dogs, and meet new people. She specializes in driving away "failed experiment blues".

ALUMNI

Post-doctoral Fellows

BETH EVANS

Post-doctoral Fellow – Jan 2021 - Nov 2023

 

Graduate Students

GABRIELLA BERTACCINI

Graduate Researcher – Jan 2020 - Nov 2024

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ALAN LY

Graduate Researcher – Jan 2019 - Nov 2024

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JESSE HOLT

Graduate Researcher – Apr 2017 - June 2023

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Medical Students

TRUC TRAN

Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA – Summer 2017

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DAI TRANG THI LE

University of Central Florida – Summer 2016

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Research Staff

KIMBERLY MAAS

CIRM Intern, Lab Manager, Research Technician – Jan 2023 - August 2024

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HAMID ABUWARDA

Junior Specialist – Sept 2016 - July 2020

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ESMERALDA IZQUIERDO

Junior Specialist – Aug 2016 - March 2020

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SOUMYA HUNAGUND

Lab Manager – Sept 2017 - June 2018

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NHU NGUYEN

Post-Baccalaureate Student – Dec 2015 - May 2017

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Undergraduate Students

NAOMI FERRER

Undergraduate Researcher – Mar 2022 - Sept 2024

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ANH NGUYEN

Undergraduate Workstudy – Oct 2023 - Jun 2024

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ELAINE LAI

CIRM Bridges Intern & Lab Manager – Jan 2021 - Aug 2023

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KIANNA SATARI

Undergraduate Summer Intern – Jun 2023 - Sept 2023

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KELLY GISELLE GARCIA CAMACHO

Undergraduate Workstudy – Nov 2021 - June 2023

 

ASHLEY NGUYEN

Undergraduate Workstudy – Oct 2022 - April 2023

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EDEN VOLD

Undergraduate Researcher – Sept 2022 - Feb 2023

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MICHAEL THANH-PHONG VU

Undergraduate Researcher – Jan 2021 - Sept 2022

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DAVID LEE PHAM

Undergraduate Workstudy – Nov 2019 - June 2022

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SOPHIA TRAN

Undergraduate Workstudy – Nov 2021 - June 2022

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SHAYAN FINI

Undergraduate Researcher – Sept 2018 - June 2021

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KAITLYN MANH

CIRM Bridges Intern – Jan 2020 - Dec 2020

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MARIZE RIZKALLA

Undergraduate Workstudy – Nov 2019 - Sept 2020

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HAMID ABUWARDA

Junior Specialist – Sept 2016 - July 2020

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NGUYEN MINH TRUONG

Undergraduate Researcher – Aug 2017 - July 2020

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HARSH BHAVSAR

Undergraduate Researcher – April 2018 - July 2020

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SAMI SMITH

Undergraduate Researcher – Sept 2018 - July 2020

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ABHISHEK KULKARNI

Undergraduate Researcher – Oct 2019 - July 2020

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JUHI GOPAL

Undergraduate Researcher

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ZOE DU

Undergraduate Researcher – June 2017 - April 2019

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LADELYN BOONLUA

Undergraduate Researcher – Aug 2017 - July 2019

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KLARA ZAKERY

Undergraduate Researcher

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BRIAN NGUYEN

Undergraduate Researcher

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MAHAZABIN AZAD

UCI Undergraduate Work Study Student

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ADRIJA CHAKRABARTY

UCLA Undergraduate Research Student – Summer 2017

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COLLEEN CHAU

UCI Undergraduate Research Student – 2015 - 2016

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High School Students

RIA BAHADUR

Eastside Preparatory School, Kirkland, WA

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TIA DESARKAR

Beckman High School, Tustin, CA 

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KIANNA MARIA DOMINICK

Sage Hill High School, Newport Coast, CA

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ALLY MENDELHALL

Tesoro High School, Las Flores, CA  – Summer 2017

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JESSICA PARPANA

Tesoro High School, Las Flores, CA – Summer 2016

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ADAM CLEMENTS

El Toro High School, Lake Forest, CA  – 2016 - 2017

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LOCATION

Pathak Lab

2200 Gross Hall
845 Health Sciences Road
Irvine, CA 92697
Tel: (949) 824-7260

Medha Pathak's Office

3026 Gross Hall
845 Health Sciences Road
Irvine, CA 92697
Tel: (949) 824-6623

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