Meet our Board

Ruben Calderon

Graduate President(he/him/el)Biological Sciences PhD CandidateSoncin LabFun Fact: "I've photographed an absurd amount of fire hydrants around the country."

Andrea Sama

Graduate Vice President(she/her)Biological Sciences PhD CandidateDickinson LabFun Fact: "I love camping and making ceramics!"

Sophia Trujillo

Undergraduate President(she/her)Molecular and Cellular Biology MajorWildonger LabFun Fact: "I am learning the banjo!"

Pedro Luis Sanchez

Undergraduate Vice President(he/him)Biochemistry and Global Health MajorFun Fact: "I have a Dalmatian named LilyDog that has been my best friend for 8 years."

Evan Sandoval

Secretary(he/him)Biological Sciences PhD CandidateHuffaker LabFun Fact: "I love plants in and outside of lab, nature and animals"

Gabrielle Meza

Graduate Treasurer(she/her)Biological Sciences PhD StudentDickinson LabFun Fact: "I am an avid coin collector, with my oldest coin from 1909!"

Jenna Hall

Undergraduate Treasurer(she/her)Human Biology MajorRivera-Chávez LabFun Fact: "I love reading and going on hikes!"

Isabel Mejia

Graduate Outreach Coordinator(she/her)Biological Sciences PhD StudentDaugherty LabFun Fact: "My parents were inspired by a telenovela when deciding my name"

Juan Gonzalez

Graduate Events Coordinator(he/him)Biological Sciences PhD StudentMuroyama LabFun Fact: "I am an avid board game player and YouTube watcher :D"

Alexandra Rodriguez

Undergraduate Events and Outreach Coordinator (she/her)Major: Public HealthFun Fact: "My dog's name is Luna!"

Zaida Rodriguez

Graduate Social Media Liaison (she/her)Biological Sciences PhD StudentLyumkis LabFun Fact: "I adopted my dog at a farmers market!"

Talisa Wines

Undergraduate Social Media Liaison(she/her)Major: Psychology- Cognitive and Behavioral NeuroscienceMinor: Language-SpanishFun Fact: "I am an avid runner!"

Sindy Chavez

National Liaison(she/her)Biological Sciences PhD StudentErnst LabFun Fact: "My favorite movie is Mean Girls"

Jocelyn Olvera

Graduate Communications Officer(she/her)Biological Sciences PhD StudentLyumkis LabFun Fact: "I enjoy freediving and scuba!"

jeremiah Aquino

Undergraduate Communications Officer()Major: Human BiologyFun Fact:

Faculty Advisors

Alberto Vazquez, Ed.D.

Director of CSSI Outreach and Community EngagementCREATE STEM Success Initiative
Research Focus: Graduate School: Undergraduate: Hometown: Fun Fact:

Sinai Cota, M.A.

Outreach, Access, Recruitment and Retention Advisor in Graduate Division
(she/her/ella)Research Focus: First generation doctoral student success and how to overcome barriers.Graduate School: UCSD, USDUndergraduate: SDSUHometown: San Diego, CAFun Fact: "I am a poet and self-published author. The funds from my poetry books create scholarships for inner-city youth in San Diego."

Javier Duarte, PhD

Associate Professor in Physics

(he/him/el)

Research Focus: Machine Learning and experimental high energy physics.

Lab Website

Graduate School: Caltech

Undergraduate: MIT

Hometown: Coram, NY (born in Rubio, Venezuela)

Fun Fact: "I like long-distance running, and have run 7 marathons."

Alex Chaim, PhD

Assistant Professor in Cell and Developmental Biology
(he/him/el)Research Focus: RNA damage in neurodegeneration and cancer. Lab WebsiteGraduate School: MITUndergraduate: Universidad Simón BolivarHometown: Caracas, VenezuelaFun Fact: "I love fútbol! (The one you actually play with your feet!)"

Nabora Reyes de barboza, phd

Assistant Professor in Cell and Developmental Biology
(she/her/ella)Research Focus: Cellular senescence and lung regenerationLab WebsiteGraduate School: UC IrvineUndergraduate: UC Merced and Merced Community CollegeHometown: Merced, CA (born in Mexico)Fun Fact: "Love hiking and reading books!"

Fabian rivera-chávez, PhD

Assistant Professor in Molecular Biology
(he/him/el)Research Focus: Lab WebsiteGraduate School: Undergraduate: Hometown: Fun Fact:

Page updated

Report abuse