CTSC TL1 Pre and Postdoctoral Clinical Research Training Program Scholars | UC Davis CTSC

CTSC TL1 Program Scholars

Postdoctoral Scholars

2023-2025

  • Catrina Andaya Calub, Ph.D.
    Mentor: Julie Schweitzer, Ph.D., Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

2022-2024

  • David Young, Ph.D.
    Mentors: Carolynn Patten, Ph.D., P.T., F.A.P.T.A., Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Wilsaan Joiner, Ph.D., Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior

Medical Student Scholars

2023-2024

  • Matthew Lara, B.S.
    2023 Daniel T. O'Connor, M.D. Memorial Research Grant
    Mentors: Jonathan Riess, M.D., M.S., Internal Medicine; Frederick J. Meyers, M.D., M.A.C.P., Internal Medicine
  • Nithya Sivakumar, B.S.
    Mentors: Satyan Lakshminrusimha, M.D.; Cherie Ginwalla, M.D., Pediatrics
  • Benjamin K. Yang, B.S.
    Mentor: Ala Moshiri, M.D., Ph.D., Ophthalmology

Graduate Student Scholars

2023-2025

  • Yufei (David) Zhu, B.S.
    Mentor: Audrey Fan, Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering and Neurology

2022-2024

  • Justin James Fitzgerald, B.S.
    Mentor: Wilsaan Joiner, Ph.D., Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior
  • Casiana Gonzalez, B.S.
    Mentors: Kyle Fink, Ph.D., Neurology; Jan Nolta, Ph.D., Internal Medicine
  • Valerie Alexandria Porter, B.S.
    Mentors: Abhijit J. Chaudhari, Ph.D., Radiology; Pamela Lein, Ph.D., Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine

2022-2023

  • Yue Yu, Ph.D.
    Mentor: Aubyn Stahmer, Ph.D., Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

2020-2022

  • Benjamin Osipov, Ph.D., M.Sc.
    Mentor: Blaine Christiansen, Ph.D., Orthopaedic Surgery
  • Jacqueline Overton, Ph.D.
    Mentor: Ignacio Saez, Ph.D., Neurological Surgery

2019-2021

  • Mikel Delgado, Ph.D. (2017-2020)
    Mentors: Tony Buffington, D.V.M., M.S., Ph.D., DACVN; Melissa Bain, D.V.M., DACVB, DACAW, M.S.
  • Hannah Savage, Ph.D., D.V.M. (2019-2021)
    Mentor: Andreas Baumier, Ph.D.
  • Jared Stokes, Ph.D. (2017-2020)
    Mentors: Joy J. Geng, Ph.D.; Julie Schweitzer, Ph.D.; Arne Ekstrom, Ph.D.

2018-2020

  • Brandon Brown, Ph.D. (2017-2019)
    Mentor: Heike Wulff, Ph.D.
  • Mikel Delgado, Ph.D. (2017-2020)
    Mentors: Tony Buffington, D.V.M., M.S., Ph.D., DACVN; Melissa Bain, D.V.M., DACVB, DACAW, M.S.
  • Jared Stokes, Ph.D. (2017-2020)
    Mentors: Joy J. Geng, Ph.D.; Julie Schweitzer, Ph.D.; Arne Ekstrom, Ph.D.

2017-2018

  • Brandon Brown, Ph.D. (2017-2019)
    Mentor: Heike Wulff, Ph.D.
  • Erin Olsan, Ph.D.
    Mentor: Andreas Bäumler, Ph.D.
  • Shamira Sridharan, Ph.D.
    Mentors: Laura Marcu, Ph.D.; Marc Dall’Era, M.D.

2016-2018

  • Suren Bandara, Ph.D. (2016-2017)
    Mentors: Pamela J. Lein, Ph.D., Molecular Biosciences; Heike Wulff, Ph.D., Pharmacology
  • Brandon Brown, Ph.D. (2017-2019)
    Mentor: Heike Wulff, Ph.D., Pharmacology
  • Erin Olsan, Ph.D.
    Mentor: Andreas Bäumler, Ph.D., Medical Microbiology and Immunology
  • Shamira Sridharan, Ph.D.
    Mentors: Laura Marcu, Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering; Marc Dall’Era, M.D., Urology

2022-2023

  • Anna Awolope, B.S.
    Mentor: Javier Lopez, M.D., M.A.S., Internal Medicine
  • Dagoberto Pina, Jr., B.S.
    Mentor: Hai Le, M.D., M.P.H., Orthopaedic Surgery
  • Ernesto Javier Rivera, B.A.
    Mentor: Luis Fernando Santana, Physiology and Membrane Biology
  • Samantha Wong, M.S.
    2022 Daniel T. O'Connor, M.D. Memorial Research Grant
    Mentor: Elysia Alvarez, M.D., M.P.H., Pediatrics

2021-2022

  • Morgan Kumro, B.S.
    Mentor: Kia Shahlaie, M.D., Ph.D., Neurological Surgery
  • Niraj Punjya, B.S.
    Mentor: David Segal, Ph.D., Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine

2020-2021

  • Greg Disse, B.S.
    Mentor: Karen Moxon, Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering
  • Shering Torres, B.S. (2019-2021)
    Mentor: Paul Knoepfler, Ph.D., Cell Biology and Human Anatomy

2018-2019

  • Alejandra Gonzalez, B.S.
    Mentor: Bryn Mumma, M.D., M.A.S., Emergency Medicine
  • Monica Lieng, B.S.
    Mentors: James Marcin, M.D., M.P.H., Pediatric Critical Care; Peter Yellowlees, M.B.B.S., M.D., Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
  • Anna Sadovnikova, B.A., M.P.H., M.A.
    Mentors: Russell Hovey, Ph.D., Animal Science; Caroline Chantry, M.D., Pediatrics

2017-2018

  • Thinh Chau, B.S.
    Mentor: Maxwell A. Fung, M.D., Dermatology
  • Catherine Le, B.S.
    Mentor: William J. Murphy, Ph.D., Dermatology
  • Annica Stull-Lane, B.A.
    Mentor: Renee M. Tsolis, Ph.D., Medical Microbiology and Immunology

2016-2017

  • Ashley Clark
    Mentor: Raja Sivamani, M.D., M.S., Dermatology
  • Lucy Ogbu-Nwobodo
    Mentors: Kia Shahlaie, M.D., Ph.D.; Gene Gurkoff, Ph.D., Neurological Surgery
  • Lillian Zhang
    Mentor: Andreas Bäumler, Ph.D., Medical Microbiology and Immunology

2015-2016

  • Arjang Ahmadpour
    Mentor: Kiarash Shahlaie, M.D., Ph.D., Neurological Surgery
  • Nghiem B. Ha
    Mentors: Mindie H. Nguyen, M.D., M.A.S., FAASLD, Gastroenterology and Hematology, Liver Transplant — Stanford; Laurel A. Beckett, Ph.D., Public Health Sciences
  • Andrew Ligsay
    Mentor: Randi Hagerman, M.D., Pediatrics
  • Vivian Vuong
    Mentor: Glenn Yiu, M.D., Ph.D., Ophthalmology

2014-2015

  • Parker Beasant Goodell
    Mentors: Michelle James, M.D. and Andrea Bauer, M.D., Orthopedic Surgery — Shriners
  • Sven Gunther
    Mentor: David Greenhalgh, M.D., F.A.C.S., Burn Surgery
  • Jennifer Ornelas
    Mentor: Raja Sivamani, M.D., M.S., C.A.T., Dermatology
  • Michael Robbins
    Mentors: Eric Klineberg, M.D.; Dominik Haudenschild, Ph.D., Orthopedic Surgery

2013-2014

  • Jason Farrow
    Mentors: Christopher P. Evan, M.D., F.A.C.S.; Joy Yang, Ph.D., Urology and Surgical Oncology
  • Andrew Mamalis
    Mentors: Jared Jagdeo, M.D., M.S.; R. Rivkah Isseroff, M.D., Dermatology
  • Daniel O’Brien
    Mentors: Rodney Diaz, M.D., Otolaryngology; Deborah Diercks, M.D., M.Sc., Emergency Medicine
  • William Tuong
    Mentor: Audrey Wang, M.D., Dermatology

2012-2013

  • Sophia Fang
    Mentor: J. Kent Leach, Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering
  • Sascha Horowitz
    Mentor: Nicolas Kenyon, M.D., Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care
  • Arica Nesper
    Mentor: James F. Holmes, M.D., M.P.H., Emergency Medicine
  • Can Sungur
    Mentor: William J. Murphy, Ph.D., Dermatology
  • Greg Westin
    Mentor: Tina Palmieri, M.D., Burn Surgery

2011-2012

  • Sahar Doctorvaladan
    Mentor: Don Hilty, M.D., Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
  • Anna Peter
    Mentor: William Murphy, M.D., Internal Medicine
  • Russell Witt
    Mentor: Ming-Sing Si, M.D., Surgery
  • Andrew Wong
    Mentor: Katherine Ferrara, Ph.D., Biological Engineering

2010-2011

  • Vidya Atluri
    Mentor: Renee Tsolis, Ph.D., Medical Microbiology and Immunology
  • Andrew Bregman
    Mentor: Michael Minzenberg, M.D., Psychiatry
  • Jenny Lam
    Mentor: Heike Wulff, Ph.D., Pharmacology
  • Melissa Loja
    Mentor: N. Nitin, Ph.D., Department of Biological Engineering
  • Renu Rehal
    Mentor: Rivkah Isseroff, M.D., Dermatology

2009-2010

  • Cindy Chambers
    Mentor: April Armstrong, M.D., Dermatology
  • Hillary Davis
    Mentor: J. Kent Leach, Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering
  • Nicolas Prionas 
    Mentor: John Boone, Ph.D., Radiology and Biomedical Engineering
  • Lindsey Sheffler
    Mentor: Michelle James, M.D., Orthopedic Surgery
  • Nicholas Wettersten
    Mentor: Nipavan Chiamvimonvat, Ph.D., Molecular and Cellular Cardiology

2008-2009

  • Benjamin Lin
    Mentor: Jan Nolta, Ph.D., Internal Medicine
  • Yen Chen Liu
    Mentor: Rivkah Isseroff, M.D., Dermatology
  • Amilcar Rizzo
    Mentor: Rivkah Isseroff, M.D., Dermatology

2007-2008

  • Amir Abu-Khalil
    Mentor: Ronald Li, Ph.D., Cell Biology and Human Anatomy
  • Ranti S. Bolaji
    Mentor: Rivkah Isseroff, M.D., Dermatology
  • Randie Kim
    Mentor: Richard Bold, M.D., Surgery
  • Nhat To
    Mentor: Amir Jamali, M.D., Orthopedic Surgery

2022-2023

  • Victor Rivas, B.S.
    Mentor: Joshua Stern, D.V.M., Ph.D., Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine

2021-2023

  • Vanessa Hull, B.S., B.A. M.S.
    Mentor: David Pleasure, M.D., Neurology
  • Pablo Juarez, B.S.
    Mentor: Verónica Martinez-Cerdeño, Ph.D.

2020-2022

  • Kaitlin Clark B.S., M.A.
    Mentors: Diana Farmer, M.D., Surgery; Aijun Wang, Ph.D. Surgery
  • Gregory Wheeler, B.S.
    Mentor: Audrey Fan, Ph.D., Neurology and Biomedical Engineering

2019-2021

  • Aki Chaffin, B.A.
    Mentor: Karen K. Ryan, Ph.D., Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior
  • Marcus Deloney, B.S.E., M.S.E.
    Mentor: Alyssa Panitch, Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering
  • Peter Deng, B.S. (2018-2020)
    Mentor: Jan Nolta, Ph.D., Internal Medicine
  • Karen Holcomb, B.S.
    Mentor: Christopher M. Baker, Ph.D., Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology
  • Alexander Schmidt, B.S.
    Mentor: Cristina Davis, Ph.D., Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

2017-2019

  • Rajpreet Chahal, B.S.
    Mentor: Amanda E. Guyer, Ph.D., M.D., Human Ecology and Center for Mind and Brain
  • Nicholas Ellinwood, B.S., M.P.H. (2017-2018)
    Mentors: Eleonora Grandi, Ph.D., Pharmacology; Heike Wulff, Ph.D., Pharmacology
  • Albert (Chi-Kwong) Lee, B.S.
    Mentors: Konstantinos Zarbalis, Ph.D., Pathology and Lab Medicine ; Laura Borodinsky, Ph.D., Physiology and Membrane Biology
  • David Silberstein, B.S.
    Mentors: Karen McDonald, Ph.D., Chemical Engineering; Carroll Cross, M.D., Physiology and Membrane Biology

2015-2016

  • Phylicia Robins Aaron
    Mentor: Angela Gelli, Ph.D., Pharmacology
  • Carlos Ruvalcaba
    Mentor: J P Delplanque, Ph.D., Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  • Hannah Starcevich
    Mentor: Scott Dawson, Ph.D., Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
  • Jamie White
    Mentor: Kyriacos Athanasiou, Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering, Orthopedic Surgery

2014-2015

  • Dorothy Kieffer
    Mentors: Sean H. Adams, Ph.D. and Roy J. Martin, Ph.D., Nutrition
  • Nicole Narayan
    Mentor: Dennis Hartigan-O’Connor, M.D., Ph.D., Medical Microbiology and Immunology
  • Hannah Savage
    Mentor: Nicole Baumgarth, D.V.M., Ph.D., Veterinary Medicine
  • Catalina Simion
    Mentors: Colleen Sweeney, Ph.D., Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine and Fred Chedin, Ph.D., Molecular & Cellular Biology

2013-2014

  • Lisa Martinez
    Mentor: Adela de la Torre, Ph.D., Chicano Studies
  • Colin Shane McCoin
    Mentor: Sean H. Adams, Ph.D., Nutrition
  • Christopher Nosala
    Mentor: Scott Dawson, Ph.D., Microbiology
  • Erika Suzuki
    Mentor: Iannis E Adamopoulos, D.Phil., Internal Medicine
  • Kyla Walter
    Mentors: Issac Pessah, Ph.D.; Birgit Puschner, D.V.M, Ph.D., Molecular Biosciences

2012-2013

  • Terza Brostoff
    Mentors: Patricia Pesavento, Ph.D.; David Clark, Ph.D., Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology
  • Brad Elmer
    Mentor: Kimberly McAllister, Ph.D., Neurology
  • Brad Hartl
    Mentor: Laura Marcu, Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering
  • Eric Nonnecke
    Mentor: Bo Lönnerdal, Ph.D., Nutrition and Internal Medicine
  • Morteza Roodgar
    Mentor: David Glenn Smith, Ph.D., Anthropology

2011-2012

  • Bonnie Dixon
    Mentor: Bruce German, Ph.D., Food Science and Technology
  • Amy Fabritius
    Mentor: Francis McNally, Ph.D., Molecular and Cellular Biology
  • Zhen Luo
    Mentor: Nitin Nitin, Ph.D., Biological and Agricultural Engineering
  • Samantha McDonnel
    Mentor: Brian Murphy, D.V.M., Ph.D., Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology
  • Natalie Yuen
    Mentor: Martha O'Donnell, Ph.D., Physiology and Membrane Biology

2010-2011

  • Nanelle Barash
    Mentor: Scott Dawson, Ph.D., Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
  • Ryan Hunsaker
    Mentor: Robert Berman, Ph.D., Neurological Surgery
  • Diana Morales-Hernandez
    Mentor: Kent Leach, Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering
  • Jessica Morgan
    Mentor: Clare Yellowley, Ph.D., Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology

2009-2010

  • David Chin
    Mentor: Patrick Romano, M.D., Internal Medicine
  • Crystal Coolbaugh
    Mentor: David Hawkins, Ph.D., Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior
  • Collin Ellis 
    Mentor: John C. Rutledge, M.D., Internal Medicine
  • Amber Roegner
    Mentor: Birgit Puschner, D.V.M., Molecular Biosciences

2008-2009

  • Mia Afanador
    Mentor: David Amaral, Ph.D., Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
  • Shannon Matzinger
    Mentor: Chris Miller, D.V.M., Ph.D., Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology
  • Karina Nakayama
    Mentor: Alice Tarantal, Ph.D., Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Pediatrics
  • Christopher Schwarz
    Mentor: Owen Carmichael, Ph.D., Neuroscience
  • David Woessner
    Mentor: Scott Dawson, Ph.D., Microbiology and Molecular Genetics

2007-2008

  • Whitney Cheung
    Mentor: Kent Leach, Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering
  • Alexander Davies
    Mentor: Kenneth Kaplan, Ph.D., Molecular and Cellular Biology
  • Jennifer Neugebauer
    Mentor: David Hawkins, Ph.D., Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior
  • Arzu Ulu
    Mentor: Bruce Hammock, Ph.D., Entomology