People

Lucas is an Associate Professor at UC Davis in the Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, & Behavior and the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. He began conducting research as an undergraduate at the University of Washington in Bioengineering. After working as a research technician for a year, Lucas served as a logistics officer in the United States Air Force while stationed at McChord AFB. He returned to research by entering the Bioengineering graduate program at UC San Diego. His thesis work with Dr. Richard Lieber centered on understanding the adaptations of muscle in children with cerebral palsy. For his postdoctoral fellowship, Lucas moved to University of Pennsylvania. Lucas worked in labs that studied fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, and mechanobiology before integrating those studies into the MyoMatrix Lab at UC Davis. When not in the lab, Lucas enjoys spending time with his family and bringing them to Aggie sporting events. He also likes taking advantage of the beautiful areas around Davis for biking, camping, and hiking.

Justin is a graduate student in Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology. He graduated from UC Davis with a B.S. in Exercise Biology in 2015 with a minor in Music. He received his M.S. in Exercise Physiology in 2020 from the University of Alberta where he researched sympathetic vasoconstrictor responsiveness after a high fat meal. His previous research looked at changes in metabolic flexibility with aging using stable isotope tracers at UC Berkeley and wearable device validation at Fitbit. In his free time, Justin enjoys lifting weights, trying new restaurants, and playing video games. 

Herman is a graduate student in the Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (BMCDB) graduate group. Born and raised in San Francisco, Herman graduated from San Jose State University with a B.S. in Molecular Biology. Exposure to research in his last year as an undergraduate in the Payumo lab helped him discover his passion for research. This experience led him to pursue an M.S. in Molecular Biology and Microbiology in the same lab, where he developed a novel approach using digital holographic microscopy to investigate proliferation and cellular dynamics in primary heart muscle cell cultures. Through this experience, he had the opportunity to train and collaborate extensively with undergraduate and graduate students from various backgrounds. Beyond his interest in research and collaboration, Herman enjoys tending to his large plant collection.   

Madison is a graduate student in the Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (BMCDB) group. She graduated from Cal State University San Marcos with a B.S. in Biotechnology. Madison’s undergraduate research investigated the relationship between the soil microbiome and the nutritional content of tomatoes. In the MyoMatrix lab, her research focuses on characterizing and optimizing bovine cells for use in cultivated meat. Outside of lab, Madison enjoys spending time with her friends and playing D&D. 

Sangini is a second year Genetics and Genomics student at UC Davis. She hopes to attend medical school after completing her undergraduate degree. Outside of lab, she volunteers at Paul Hom Asian Clinic and helps first-year students as a Residential Peer Mentor. During her free-time, she enjoys dancing, thrifting, and trying new recipes. 

Alessandra is a third year Biological Science student at UC Davis. She is hoping to attend dental school after completing her undergraduate degree. Aside from assisting in the lab, she is part of cultural clubs such as Filipinx Association for Health Careers (FAHC) and Mga Kapatid. She serves as the community service coordinator for Filipinx Association for Health Careers (FAHC). She is also part of the Biology Undergraduate Scholars Program (BUSP). Outside of school, she enjoys cooking, drawing, and thrift shopping with her friends. 

Sathvik is a third year Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior major. Outside of being a research assistant, Sathvik is a part of the American Medical Association at UC Davis and looks to be involved with more organizations at Davis. Sathvik is currently a pre-med student and hopes to pursue a career in orthopedics in the future. In his free time, you can find Sathvik working out at the ARC, playing any sport with his friends, or just out in nature!