WHO WE ARE

Bright, Motivated, Committed

Principal Investigator

Dr. Alexander Payumo, Ph.D.

B.S.  Chemistry, emphasis in Biochemistry;  San Jose State University (2001-2008)  with  Dr. Daryl K. Eggers

Ph.D. Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University (2008-2016) with Dr. James K. Chen

Postdoctoral training, Cardiovascular Research Institute at the University of California, San Francisco (2016-2020) with  Dr. Guo N. Huang 

My Academic Tree


I joined the Department of Biological Sciences at San Jose State University in Fall 2020.  As a Bay Area native, I'm  honored to be back at my undergraduate institution and excited to serve as a mentor to my students.  I am proud to be 1st generation Filipino-American and am committed to increasing diversity in the sciences.  I believe that everyone has a special "superhero" power.  It's our job as mentors to help our students discover that they have one.

Graduate Students

Ines Ross Tacco

M.S. Systems Physiology

(Joined Spring 2021) 

Curt Bautista

M.S. Molecular Biology

(Joined Spring 2021) 


Herman Huang

M.S. Molecular Biology 

(Joined Fall 2021) 


Jacquelyn Simmons

M.S. Systems Physiology

(Joined Fall 2021) 


Undergraduate Students

Kevin Agpoon

B.S. Biochemistry

(Joined Fall 2021) 


Jona Delos Reyes

B.S. Systems Physiology

(Joined Fall 2021) 


Shanthi Dave

B.S. Molecular Biology

(Joined Spring 2022) 


Andy Tran

B.S. Systems Physiology

(Joined Spring 2022) 


Rafa Fernandez

B.S. Microbiology

(Joined Fall 2022) 


Cailin Karotkin

 B.S. Systems Physiology 

(Joined Fall 2022) 


Tianna Young

B.S. Marine Biology

(Joined Fall 2022) 


Maia Quan

B.S. Systems Physiology 

(Joined Fall 2022) 


Justin Vo

B.S. Systems Physiology 

(Joined Fall 2022) 


Biann Shehadeh

B.A. Biological Sciences 

(Joined Fall 2022) 


Previous Members

Ayessa Gomez, B.S. Systems Physiology, Spring 2022

Berenice Barragan-Rocha, B.A. Biological Sciences, Fall 2021 - Spring 2022

Andrew Caampued, B.S. Forensics Science, Fall 2021 - Spring 2022

Hafsanoor Vanya, B.A. Biological Sciences, Fall 2021 - Spring 2022

Nanak Pabla, B.S. Molecular Biology, Spring 2021 - Spring 2022

Tina Truong, B.A. Biological Sciences, Spring 2021

Christa Maria Dalan, B.S. Molecular Biology, Spring 2021

Karen Davila, B.S. Systems Physiology, Fall 2020

Denzel Omengan, B.S. Systems Physiology, Fall 2020

Crimsun Kessler, B.S. Systems Physiology, Fall 2020

We are always actively recruiting but please be aware that space may be limited. If you are a current or future SJSU student interested in joining the team, please visit the Contact page for more information.