José Pablo Vázquez-Medina

I am a broadly trained biologist with a strong interest in redox physiology. I have led research projects investigating the role of redox biology in adaptation and disease in a variety of systems, from humans to invertebrates, rodent models of diabetes, hypertension, and lung disease, and marine vertebrates.

Julia María Torres Velarde

UC MEXUS Postdoctoral Fellow

I am from Mazatlán, a small port city in Northwest México. I earned my BS in Chemistry and Pharmacy from Universidad de Guadalajara. I then completed my MS and PhD work at Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, where I studied the regulation of myogenesis and atrophy in a commercially important fish. At UC Berkeley, I want to understand the effects of exposure to glucocorticoids on pathways of muscular atrophy in marine mammals.

Diana Daniela Moreno-Santillan

Postdoctoral researcher

I am an evolutionary biologist from Mexico City, where I obtained my BS in Biology from Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM).  During my MS and PhD programs at the Instituto Politecnico Nacional, I developed an interest in evolutionary biology. My research focuses on the dynamics of aging and immunity from an evolutionary perspective, using comparative and integrative studies in mammals. For this, I have been performing comparative analysis at genomic and transcriptomic levels in mammals, with bats being my main species of interest. In the Vazquez-Medina lab, I am conducting comparative genomic analyses to understand diving adaptations in pinnipeds.

Diana Xing

Postdoctoral researcher

I received my BA in Economics and Biological Chemistry from Grinnell College. Afterwards, I earned my PhD in the Biomedical Sciences from The University of Alabama at Birmingham under the guidance of Dr. Victor Darley-Usmar. I studied the effects of mitochondrial metabolites and redox signaling molecules on regulating cancer metabolism and bioenergetics in a hypoxia-reoxygenation model. Now at UC Berkeley with the Vázquez-Medina lab, I am interested in understanding the role of Peroxiredoxin-6 in regulating mitochondrial responses to oxidative stress using novel transgenic mice models.

Kaitlin Allen

NSF GRFP Fellow

Berkeley Fellow

I received my BS in biology from MIT, where I worked in Sangeeta Bhatia’s lab on an engineered bacterial chemotherapeutics system. I changed gears after graduation, moving to the Anesthesia Center for Critical Care Research at the Massachusetts General Hospital with Allyson Hindle and Emmanuel Buys. Here I studied the physiological and molecular effects of the NO-cGMP pathway, including two field seasons in Antarctica working on the diving response in Weddell seals. At UC Berkeley, I’m interested in exploring oxidative stress and mechanisms of ischemia/reperfusion tolerance in diving mammals.

Elizabeth Piotrowski

Berkeley Fellow

DOD NDSEG Fellow

I received my BS in Marine Biology from the University of Maine, Orono, where I conducted research in Kristina Cammen’s lab focused on developing new protocols that use environmental DNA for marine mammal studies. I then completed my MS in Biology at the University of the Pacific in Jane Khudyakov's lab, where I profiled muscle and blood gene expression related to carbon monoxide signaling and production across ontogeny and examined muscle and blubber transcriptome and proteome responses to swimming and diving in northern elephant seals. I'm interested in exploring adaptive mechanisms that protect diving mammals from hypoxia-induced oxidative stress and regulate energy balance. I enjoy volunteering at The Marine Mammal Center and hiking in my spare time.

Sarah Villa

I am a junior undergraduate majoring in molecular and cell biology and minoring in nutritional science. I’m currently working with Manny to understand the metabolic response in bats when subjected to hypoxic and normoxic conditions. In my free time, I enjoy staying active, playing with my dog, and drinking coffee.

Dua Shoaib

I am currently pursuing a major in Molecular and Cell Biology with a strong emphasis on neurobiology at UC Berkeley. Throughout my academic journey, I have been captivated by the intricate workings of biological systems and my passion for the subject has fueled my commitment to hands-on scientific research. I have had the privilege of working at the Vazquez-Medina Lab alongside Gaby where we investigate and compare the physiological adaptations of sea turtles and lizards. In my free time, I enjoy learning new languages, traveling and skiing.

Heidi Avalos

I am a senior undergraduate in Molecular and Cell Biology, with an emphasis in Cell Biology, Development, and Physiology. I work with José Arevalo investigating mitochondrial function and lipid peroxidation in skeletal muscle cells. In my free time, I enjoy writing, taking long walks, and cuddling with my pets. 

Federico Kong-Gonzalez

Fede studies the physiological mechanisms of how air-breathing animals are able to dive for prolonged periods of time.

Malavika Garimella (Mala)

I am currently a sophomore studying Molecular and Cell Biology and Business Administration. I work with Kaitlin Allen in a project to understand and characterize adipose-derived stem cells isolated from the blubber of northern elephant seal pups during the post-weaning fasting period and develop a differentiation protocol for these stem cells. In my free time, I enjoy going out dancing, going cafe hopping and learning new languages. 

Juan Manuel Vazquez

NSF PRB Fellow, Sudmant Lab

I am a Puerto Rican scientist focused on evolution and longevity-associated traits in extraordinary animals. I study the within-species relationship between chromatin, gene expression, and aging in vivo using single-cell technologies in mice. Using functional genomics and primary cell culture in bats, whales, and elephants, I study the role of genomic stability and stress response in mediating between-species differences in lifespan.

Adi Domer

HFSP Fellow, Dudley Lab

I am an ecologist and a nature enthusiast from Israel. My fields of study include classical ecology and ecophysiology, particularly the evolutionary consequences of flight for animals' physiological traits. For this, I use a broad range of flying animals, including insects and birds. Currently, my research at UC Berkeley focuses on evaluating avian blood glucose regulation and its physiological consequences for flight performance and migratory behavior. When I am not doing science, I enjoy listening to music, going hiking and birdwatching, and rearing my own brood.

Giovanna Selleghin Veiga

Visiting Scholar, Nery Lab

I’m a PhD student from Brazil interested in studying comparative evolutionary genomics of marine mammals. I did my BS at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) where I’m also doing my PhD at the Laboratory of Evolutionary Genomics under the supervision of Dr. Mariana Nery. The main focus of my work is to use bioinformatics and genomes to understand the evolution of antioxidant enzymes. Recently, I am currently a Visiting Scholar at the Vázquez-Medina lab where I am comparing the gene expression signatures of whale and seal primary cells under hypoxia and reoxygenation, trying to understand how these different mammalian groups respond to low oxygen tensions.

Maxine Mouly

Undergraduate Alumni

Maxine assessed the effects of warming on the thermoregulatory capacity of elephant seals and their potential for behavioral adjustments.

Queenie Li

Undergraduate Alumni

Queenie studied mitochondrial dysfunction in Prdx6 knock-out mice under Jose Arevalo’s mentorship.

Yuka Takahashi

Undergraduate Alumni

Yuka studied the thermoregulatory capacity of elephant seals in the field, as well as using cell culture lab techniques.

Ana Castello

Undergraduate Alumni

Anna graduated with a BS in Molecular Cellular Biology and minored in History. Anna analized thermal images of elephant seals to determine how thermoregulation and thermal stress change with warming temperatures.

Kyra Henderson

Undergraduate Alumni

Kyra studied Molecular and Cellular Biology, with an emphasis on Neurobiology. Kyra conducted cell research on elephant seals, California sea lions, and sea turtles. 

Marvin Miller

Undergraduate Alumni

Marvin researched the effect of aging on the lactate receptor GPR81 and metabolic inflexibility.

Alexander Li

Undergraduate Alumni

Alex studied how endothelial cells derived from seals adapt to hypoxia and oxidative stress. Alex is now a Staff Research Associate at UCSF.

Lauren Zane

Undergraduate Alumni

Lauren studied the relationship between glucocorticoids and telomeres across non-primate vertebrates. Lauren is now a PhD student at the University of Rhode Island.

Diamond Luong

Undergraduate Alumni

Diamond studied the role of peroxiredoxin 6 (Prdx6) in the response to lipid peroxidation in seal and human placenta cells. Diamond is now a Staff Research Associate at UCSF.

Emily Gibson

Undergraduate Alumni

Emily studied DNA methylation and gene expression in response to fasting in elephant seals. Emily now works in biotech.

Noemi Reyes

Undergraduate Alumni

Noemi worked to develop a novel model system using primary cell cultures derived from marine mammals to study the effects of chronic stress on muscle atrophy. Noemi now works in biotech.

Esmeralda Garcia-Orosco

Undergraduate Alumni

Esmeralda studied oxidative stress and ischemic tolerance in seal and human cells. Esme went to grad school at Thomas Jefferson University and now works in biotech.