Claudio Villanueva, Ph.D.

Claudio J. Villanueva is an Associate Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology. Dr. Villanueva studies transcriptional regulation of metabolism and chromatin remodeling. His lab has identified genes that promote energy storage in adipocytes. His work highlights the role of TLE-family members in regulating gene expression in development of adipose tissue. His recent work highlights how developmental pathways regulated by TLE3 suppress mitochondrial gene expression. Dr. Villanueva was the chair of recruitment at the University of Utah and implemented several initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion for graduate students and postdocs. He has also participated in committees for graduate student admissions, MD/PhD admissions, faculty promotion, faculty recruitment, and advisory board for Diabetes and Metabolism Center at the University of Utah. He was instrumental in establishing the University of Utah SACNAS chapter and participated as the faculty advisor. He has participated in the organizing committee for the NIH Network of Minority Research Investigators where he has developed training workshops for graduate students and postdocs. As an underrepresented minority he has personal experience in the challenges and opportunities available to postdocs interested in academic science. With Dr. Carey he has developed an innovative training program for UCLA IRACDA postdocs.