I grew up in Portland, Oregon and completed my undergraduate at Harvard in physics. While I loved the beauty and elegance of physics, the messiness of biology suited me better. After four field seasons at Antarctic research stations studying biological antifreeze in fish, I set on a path toward biomedical research in less remote places but still maintained my initial confusion of science and adventure. During my graduate work atStanford, I studied a marine ascidian that undergoes full body regeneration and isolated stem cells that parasitize the germline. For my postdoctoral work atSloan Kettering Institute, I turned to the development of the germline in mammals, conducting a genetic screen in mice. Outside of the lab, I enjoy being outdoors in the Bay Area, traveling to far-flung places, and sometimes even fish for fun.

Photo by Christopher Michel.

UCSF Discovery Fellowship

BARI-Hillblom Fellowship

NIH F31 Fellowship

I earned my BS in Biotechnology at James Madison University in Harrisonburg VA. There, I had my first taste of research while in Dr. Robert McKown’s lab studying the protein Lacritin as a biomarker for dry eye syndrome. After pursuing a biotechnology internship in Dr. Leah Johnson's lab at RTI International, I moved cross-country to work as a Lab Manager in the labs of Drs. Sarah Knox and Nancy McNamara at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). There, I fell in love with developmental biology while studying the molecular mechanisms underlying the morphogenesis and regeneration of epithelial organs. Now as a Developmental and Stem Cell Biology graduate candidate in the Laird lab, I am eager to uncover the role of sympathetic nerves in ovarian folliculogenesis. Outside of school, I love to hang out in the park, attempt to bake things, and binge my favorite tv shows with my husband and our kitty, Rosebud.

NIH F31 Diversity Graduate Fellowship

I’m an MD/PhD student co-mentored by Diana Laird and Tippi MacKenzie. I was born in Honduras and grew up in Los Angeles. I studied at UCLA, where I worked in Amander Clark’s lab on primate PGC-like cell derivations. After a gap year continuing that work, I started medical school at UCSF in 2019. At UCSF, I became active in the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA), where I now serve as a Senior Advisor, after many years as Chief Information Officer. For my PhD thesis, I studied the origins of sacrococcygeal teratomas, a germ cell tumor, and explored how primordial germ cells, pluripotency, and tumor biology intersect. Looking ahead, I hope to continue working in early development as a surgeon–scientist.

NIH F30 Fellowship

I grew up splitting my time between Manhattan and Long Island, New York and went to Duke University for undergrad, where I studied Biophysics and Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies. At Duke, I worked in Dr. Dave Sherwood’s lab identifying mechanisms of germline stem cell niche exit and investigating how gonadal basement membrane components contribute to mechanical properties during ovulation in C. elegans. I began my MD-PhD at UCSF in 2020 and developed evidence-based guidelines for gender- and sex-inclusivity in clinical documentation and medical education during my preclinical years. My PhD work co-advised by Diana Laird and Dan Wagner is focused on understanding what selective forces shape the fetal ovarian germ cell population during establishment of the initial ovarian reserve to regulate oocyte quality and quantity. Outside the lab, I love cooking diverse cuisines and birding and hiking around the Bay Area with my partner. As a physician-scientist, I aspire to provide affirming fertility care to LGBTQIA+ communities.

Jane Coffin Childs Fellowship

I grew up in Minnesota pronouncing bag like bayg (sometimes I still do) before moving to the east coast for college where I got my bachelors degree in Applied Math-Biology at Brown University. By my senior year I realized I liked doing research way more than taking classes and took it as a sign that I should go to grad school. I got my PhD at Princeton in Molecular Biology and am now in the Laird lab studying how intrinsic and extrinsic factors influence oocyte competency. When I'm not in lab you can find me either doing yoga or at Costco.

I earned my Bachelors in Integrative Biology from UC Berkeley. At UCB's Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, under the guidance of Dr. Natalie Marchant, I investigated the relationship between Alzheimer's Disease, genotype, and ethnicity. After graduation, I worked at UCSF, coordinating clinical trials for breast cancer chemotherapy regimens. I then transitioned into education, working as ObGyn instructor for Bay Area medical schools. Last year, I returned to school at Berkeley City College, earning a Biotechnology degree and admission to the CA Institute of Regenerative Medicine internship. My goal at the Laird lab is to model ovarian reserve in non-human primates under the mentorship of Dr. Nainoa Richardson. Post-internship, I'm interested in studying endocrine disruptors and their immunological effects. In my free time, I like to find a beach I can put my feet in, love on the house pets (terrier puppy, elder cat and baby cat), and indulge in an art project (currently falling into the quilt world!)

I grew up in Bengaluru, where Iearned my undergraduate degree in Biotechnology at R.V. College of Engineering,India. Along the way, I had the opportunity to work on Hydra regeneration, prion protein oligomerization, and plant biochemistry/molecular biology – allof which contributed to a growing interest in biology and scientific research.This led me to apply for a M.Sc-Thesis degree in Dr. Yojiro Yamanaka’s lab atMcGill University, Canada, where I used mouse embryonic stem cells and oviduct epithelium-derived organoids as models to understand the role of Lkb1 in morphogenesis and homeostasis. In this work, I uncovered previously unrecognized anatomical and cellular heterogeneity along the mouse fallopian tube/oviduct, which motivated me to transfer to a PhD to further investigate these findings across development, adulthood, and aging, using a combination ofin vivo and in vitro techniques. As a postdoc in Dr. Diana Laird’s lab, I am interested in the contribution of the ovarian microenvironment to anovulation phenotypes in aging and disease conditions. When not in the lab, I enjoy staying in, reading, watching shows, the occasional walk/hike, and living my best introvert life!

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I grew up in rainy Seattle, Washington but moved to sunny California to attend Claremont McKenna College and have lived here ever since. After graduating with my BA, I joined Maggie Feeney’s lab where I worked on a placental malaria project and fell in love with reproductive biology. Motivated by the number of clinically important yet virtually untouched questions in the field, I joined Adrian Erlebacher’s lab at UCSF for my PhD. There, I focused on how epigenetic programming of uterine fibroblasts regulates labor timing in mice. As a postdoc in the Laird lab, I’m excited to continue thinking about biological timers in the context of reproductive aging and fertility. Outside of lab, I love making my son laugh, swimming (in the ocean or any pool), and sampling pastries around the city.

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IRACDA Fellowship

I grew up in the Bay Area, where I enjoyed learning about animals while hiking and tide pooling. After earning my bachelor’s degree in biology, I began volunteering at The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito and worked as a seal nurse intern at the Seal Rehabilitation and Research Center in the Netherlands. I earned my master’s degree in marine science from the Estuary and Ocean Science Center at San Francisco State University, where I studied the ecophysiology of reproductive porcelain crabs. For my PhD research in the Vázquez-Medina Lab at UC Berkeley, I conducted a field study monitoring elephant seal cows and their pups at Point Reyes, Año Nuevo, and the Farallon Islands. During my doctoral work, I became interested in cellular modeling of non-model species and developed a protocol to reprogram cells derived from cetaceans and elephant seals. I am excited to use primary cell culture and stem cell technologies to study the mechanisms regulating reproductive activation in naked mole-rats and to characterize the phenotypic differences between subordinates and queens. When I’m not in the lab, I enjoy traveling, snorkeling, and practicing aerial circus arts.

After growing up in the beach town of Encinitas, California, I made my way to University of California, Davis where I received my bachelor's degree in Animal Science with an emphasis in animal behavior. While at UC Davis, I had the opportunity to intern at the UC Davis Horse Barn, where I did estrous cycle manipulation, ultrasounds, and artificial insemination in horses. I also have additional experience in equines and other exotic anomals, primarily focusing on hoofstock. Here, in conjunction with the Laird Lab and the Bakar Aging Research Institute, I am focusing on the husbandry and management of the UCSF Naked Mole Rat Colony, for research in longevity and reproduction. In my free time you can find me exploring the city or spending time outdoors, often visiting national parks and camping with my dog, Katy.

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