Lab members

vccortez at ucsc.edu

Val Cortez, PhD MS

Assistant Professor MCD Biology, UC Santa Cruz

Core Faculty, Global and Community Health

Postdoctorate, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Fogarty Fellow, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit-6

Ph.D. Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Washington

M.S. Epidemiology, University of Washington

B.S. Biology, Texas A&M University

jgulman at ucsc.edu

Jacob Gulman, BS

Research Specialist

Hobbies: piano, soccer, football

Music: Rap

Hometown: Palo Alto, CA

B.S. MCD Biology, UC Santa Cruz

npedicin at ucsc.edu

Natalie Pedicino, MS

Graduate Student, MCD Biology

Hobbies: climbing, archery, photography, hiking, ukulele

Music: Latin, Pop, Hip hop (anything you can dance to!)

Hometown: Arcata, CA

M.S. Biology, Cal Poly Humboldt

B.A. Molecular Biology, Scripps College

mkirkpa1 at ucsc.edu

Melanie Kirkpatrick, BA

Graduate Student, MCD Biology

Hobbies: hiking, reading, baking, watching Formula 1

Music: Alternative/Indie, Pop

Hometown: Bel Air, MD

B.A. Biological Sciences, University of Delaware

mapablo at ucsc.edu

Michelle Pablo, MS

Graduate Student, MCD Biology

Hobbies: yoga, hiking, wildflower photography, beach, singing, arts & crafts

Music: R&B, pop, musicals

Hometown: Oakland/San Leandro, CA

M.S. Biomedical Science, San Francisco State University

B.S. Biology, San Francisco State University

apoot at ucsc.edu

Alejandro Poot, BS

Graduate Student, MCD Biology

Hobbies: climbing, soccer, and cooking

Music: Hip-Hop, Jazz Fusion, R&B

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

B.S. Biochemisrty & Molecular Biology, UC Santa Cruz

Former Lab Members

Nicole Heredia-Osuna, Undergraduate & Research Specialist, 2024-2025--> PhD student, U Nevada

Matteo Anicetti, MARC & Koret Undergraduate Scholar, 2023-2025--> PhD student, Mayo Clinic

Shivani Rajavaram, Undergraduate Student, Winter-Spring 2025 --> Undergraduate, UCLA

Danny Cruz, MARC Undergraduate Scholar, 2022-2024 --> PhD student, U Michigan

Sam Hernandez, Undergraduate & Research Specialist, 2022-2023 --> Dental School

Skar Lopez, MARC Undergraduate Scholar, 2022-2023 --> PhD student, Rutgers

Angelina Fernando, ACCESS Summer Student 2023

Gabby White, ACCESS Summer Student 2022

Ben Rosales, Research Specialist, Fall 2022

Ayaka Lopez, Research Specialist, Feb-July 2022 --> Nursing, St. Louis University

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