Leonila Lagunes

Bio:

I am from Southern California, born and raised. Earned my Bachelor of Arts in Applied Mathematics at California State University Fullerton. I received my PhD in Biological Sciences with a focus on computational biology from the University of California Irvine under the supervision of both Drs. Lee Bardwell (Developmental and Cell Biology) and German Enciso (Mathematics). My PhD dissertation focused on understanding protein regulatory mechanisms in cell signaling. We used both mathematical modeling and experimental analyses to understand how protein post-translational modifications influence protein activity.

Currently, I am working in Dr. Eric Deeds’ lab, studying the proteasome assembly from both a systems biology approach and an experimental one. My professional goals include pursuing a career as a research professor and both teach and conduct research.

When I am not in the lab, I spend time bullet journaling, creating stationary and taking care of my many houseplants. Having a highly interdisciplinary training, I hope to provide an inclusive and equitable environment for all students, including those with similar backgrounds and identities as my own.