Alison Frand

Associate Professor, Biological Chemistry

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Frand Lab

Lab Website:

www.frandlab.com 

Plans to hire a postdoc:

18 months at the earliest. Happy to help regardless.

Research Keywords:

extracellular matrix, cytoskeleton, biomechanics, organogenesis, model organisms

Research Focus/Interest:

Molecular and mechanical bases of animal development and related disorders of skin and connective tissue.

Ambre Bertholet

Assistant Professor, Physiology

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Bertholet lab

Lab Website:

https://labs.dgsom.ucla.edu/bertholet/pages/

Plans to hire a postdoc:

ASAP – as soon as possible

Research Keywords:

mitochondria, bioenergetics, electrophysiology, metabolism, transporter

Research Focus/Interest:

Mitochondrial Bioenergetics

Mentoring Philosophy:

Team work

Anna Matynia

Researcher, Jules Stein Eye Institute

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Biology and Genetics of Retinal Disease

Lab Website:

https://www.uclahealth.org/departments/eye/research/research-laboratories/biology-and-genetics-retinal-disease 

Plans to hire a postdoc:

Plan to hire 1 post-doc in the next 1-6 months

Research Keywords:

eye, cornea, neuroscience, imaging, behavior

Research Focus/Interest:

Corneal innervation and neural circuits for blink and lacrimation at the cellular, behavioral and transcriptomics levels.

Mentoring Philosophy:

My mentoring philosophy is to provide an open door to scientific discussions, to give strong guidance at the initial stages, and to foster a sense of ownership and the value of the individual’s ideas to shape their project. Each individual is different, so I strive to assess their specific needs while ensuring a pathway to achieve the goals of grants and professional development.

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

A new post-doc has been in the lab for approximately 6 months. Previously, I had a postdoc that based on their competencies and maturity, I could not renew their contract.

EDI Statement:

I have a strong commitment to EDI, and look forward to welcoming a new post-doctoral fellow that will further add diversity. My team is almost completely composed of people that are BIPOC, and I am eager to increase gender diversity at the post-doctoral level.

Motivations for Participating: 

I have funding for a new grant that will need an additional post-doctoral fellow. I have been advertising and have hired a new post-doctoral fellow and missed out on a second to UCSF. In order to achieve our goals and perform the exciting experiments for the grant, a skilled and critical thinker is needed.

Brigitte Gomperts

Professor, Pediatrics

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Gomperts lab

Lab Website:

https://stemcell.ucla.edu/member/gomperts 

Plans to hire a postdoc:

We are currently looking for a postdoctoral scholar for fall 2023.

Research Keywords:

lung stem cell biology, lung repair and regeneration, fibrosis, aging, mucociliary airway

Research Focus/Interest:

Lung stem cell biology and repair and regeneration. Special focus on finding therapies for lung diseases like Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Cystic Fibrosis and precancerous lesions.

Mentoring Philosophy:

Encouraging and inspiring students to become the best scientists they can be. Building on teamwork and expertise across the lab so we work together to answer questions on basic lung biology and lung diseases.

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

All of my 10 prior postdocs are all in academia or industry and all are incredibly successful. I am so proud of them.

EDI Statement:

My lab group is committed to training and mentoring all our students, and we are especially mindful of the special needs of women and underrepresented minorities in science. We are an inclusive group of scientists from all over the world and embrace diversity and strive for equity and inclusion in all that we do.

Motivations for Participating: 

We would like to recruit a motivated, enthusiastic, committed postdoctoral scholar to use the multidisciplinary models and technologies available in the lab to find new therapies for lung diseases. We believe that the mentoring in our lab can help any postdoctoral scholar become a successful independent scientist in academia or in industry.

Carrie Bearden

Professor, Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences/Semel Institute

I co-direct a T32 Neurogenetics training grant and would be happy to talk to prospective students about the program & many faculty mentors, not just my lab.

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Bearden Lab

Lab Website:

https://www.beardenlabucla.org 

Plans to hire a postdoc:

rolling basis / anytime

Research Keywords:

psychosis; brain development; neurogenetics; developmental psychopathology; biomarkers

Research Focus/Interest:

Our lab aims to elucidate neurobiological risk factors for developmental neuropsychiatric disorders.

Mentoring Philosophy:

We have a very supportive team environment in the lab. I have a very flexible mentorship style. Postdocs typically have a lot of independence in the lab to pursue their own particular interests and projects, with more hands-on guidance and training if desired.

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

The vast majority of former postdocs have gone onto tenure-track faculty positions (at Northwestern, University of Washington, UCSF, UC Davis, Boston Children’s /Harvard Medical School). Some have gone into industry (health technology), and one is the head of a large nonprofit foundation.

EDI Statement:

As a woman in neuroscience, I now fully appreciate the importance of being a supportive role model for more junior women and other traditionally under-represented and minoritized scientists. In my lab, I have dedicated efforts toward facilitating the ‘training pipeline’ for undergraduate and graduate students from under-represented minority backgrounds, via my participation in the UCLA PREP Scholar program, the UCLA-HBCU Neuroscience Pathways Program, Competitive Edge Summer Transition Program, and as a Training Grant Director, where I participate in outreach programs for minoritized undergraduates to increase awareness of training opportunities in Neurogenetics. Now that I’m beginning my tenth year as Co-Director of the program, URM students make up half or more of the predoctoral program applicants, and in the past 2 years 3⁄4 of the appointed trainees are URM students. I know that I have benefited from working with a highly culturally and ethnically diverse group of trainees in my career, and I am firmly committed to continuing to foster such diversity in my lab and in science more broadly. At a national level, in 2019 I became the Chair of the Womens’ Leadership Group for the Society of Biological Psychiatry, where we have been focused on increasing the visibility of women in leadership roles throughout psychiatry and neuroscience. We have fostered a community of diverse women leaders in the field who are dedicated to ‘paying it forward’ in a variety of concrete ways to pave the way for the next generation.

Motivations for Participating: 

I would like to actively encourage more postdoctoral applicants both to my lab and to our T32 Neurogenetics Training Program, which has ~30 faculty mentors

Debora Sobreira

Assistant Professor, Biological Chemistry and Human Genetics

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Sobreira Lab

Plans to hire a postdoc:

Yes. 2 years.

Research Keywords:

Metabolism, Bioinformatics, Genomics, Gene regulation, Epigenetics

Research Focus/Interest:

The Sobreira lab employs a multi-disciplinary approach that integrates genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, and molecular biology to study the genetic basis of complex traits and diseases. Our research aims to identify functional units within genetic systems and understand how they interact to generate complex phenotypes. Our aim is to develop a vibrant research program that will pursue genetic leads to complex traits as well as developing novel strategies to bridge the technical and data gaps that variant-to-function efforts have encountered in the past years. The long-term goal is to aid in the mechanistic understanding of genetic associations with human diseases.

Mentoring Philosophy:

Creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment has always been my priority as an educator. I believe that every student deserves to feel heard, valued, and empowered to succeed. To achieve this, I strive to incorporate micro-affirmations into my teaching practice and foster diversity as a key asset in the learning process. As a mentor, I am committed to listening to my mentee and providing them with ample opportunities to deepen their understanding of the material. I aim to engage actively with their learning process and demonstrate my belief in their potential for success. My teaching philosophy is guided by four key learning objectives: building confidence and knowledge through hands-on experience, fostering creativity to bridge diverse fields, developing strong logical reasoning to evaluate data, and motivating and training students to become independent thinkers and doers.

EDI Statement:

Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to promoting diversity and increasing the representation of underrepresented minorities (URMs) in academia and biomedical research. I strongly believe that early education and mentorship are key to achieving this goal. To this end, I have been involved in a variety of educational and training programs. One of the programs I am most passionate about is Expanding Your Horizons (EYH), an organization that hosts conferences aimed at introducing young women to career options in STEM fields. As a member of the EYH organizing committee and individual & corporate donations co-chair, I co-led a human genetics workshop focused on introducing basic genetics concepts through hands-on activities. Through this avenue, I am able to encourage girls to become interested in STEM and discuss gender-related challenges in society, work, and science. For the past four years, I have volunteered at Franklin Fine Arts Center Chicago public school, leading students through basic hands-on science activities in their traditional classrooms. Despite not having access to laboratory rooms, I set up experiments and assisted elementary grade students as needed. Through this position, I aim to spark curiosity and excitement in young students and show them that science is more fun and less intimidating than they might think. I also attend events organized by Friends of Franklin to talk to high school students about future options in STEM fields and gender-related challenges in science. In addition to my work with EYH and Franklin Fine Arts Center, I have also mentored many undergraduate students from the Leadership Alliance program during my postdoctoral training at the University of Chicago. The goal of this program is to provide research and networking experiences to more than 4,000 young scholars with the aim of increasing the participation of underrepresented minority groups in higher levels of education and research. Moving forward, I plan to continue fostering inclusion and equity by participating in research, education, and community engagement programs, such as the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) program at UCLA. As a faculty member, I am committed to creating a thoughtful environment for discussions about the core values of diversity and inclusion in science, and I am excited about the impact I can have in promoting these values.

Motivations for Participating: 

As a faculty member, I recognize the critical role that postdoctoral scholars play in advancing research and innovation, and I am committed to supporting the professional development and success of these individuals. By participating in this initiative, I have the opportunity to engage with a diverse pool of candidates and contribute to the recruitment of highly qualified individuals who bring unique perspectives and experiences to our community. I am also motivated by the chance to learn from and collaborate with postdocs from different backgrounds and disciplines, which can lead to new insights and approaches to scientific inquiry. Overall, I see this initiative as an important step towards creating a more inclusive and equitable academic environment that benefits us all.

Diana Marquez-Garban

Assistant Professor, Medicine

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Pietras Lab

Plans to hire a postdoc:

ASAP – as soon as possible

Research Keywords:

breast cancer, lung cancer, estrogen receptor, metformin, tumor microenvironment

Research Focus/Interest:

Basic research lab focus on developing small molecules for cancer therapeutics. Use of preclinical cancer models, study of immune cell signatures in  the tumor microenvironment.

Mentoring Philosophy:

I will work closely with the postdoc to design experiments and guide the research progress. 

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

Become an independent investigator either in Academia or Industry.

EDI Statement:

I have been committed to diversity and inclusion for the past 14 years. My lab has been part of a collaboration between Charles Drew University and UCLA to increase participation of underrepresented minorities in cancer research.

Motivations for Participating: 

I have had a very difficult time finding a postdoctoral fellow and I am still looking for one.

Grace Xiao

Professor, Integrative Biology and Physiology

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Xiao Lab

Lab Website:

https://www.xiao-lab.org/ 

Plans to hire a postdoc:

Multiple postdoc positions are available in our lab on research related to Bioinformatics and/or Molecular Biology (RNA biology), focusing on cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.

Research Keywords:

RNA, Bioinformatics, Genomics, Cancer, Alzheimer’s

Research Focus/Interest:

We are looking for motivated bench scientists with strong expertise in molecular or cell biology. The projects aim to study RNA biology using molecular, cellular and high-throughput genomic approaches. We investigate a wide range of topics in the regulation and function of splicing, RNA editing and non-coding RNAs, with applications to cancer, neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Genes and Development, 2014; Clinical Chemistry, 2015; Nature Medicine, 2016; eLife, 2016; Cell Research, 2017; Nature Neuroscience, 2019; Genome Biology, 2021). In general, our work closely integrates experimental, high-throughput genomic methods, bioinformatics and functional studies in human and mouse cells.

Hua Linda Cai

Professor and Director of Translational Research, Anesthesiology and Medicine

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Hua Linda Cai Lab

Lab Website:

https://labs.dgsom.ucla.edu/cai/pages/publications 

Plans to hire a postdoc:

Any time

Research Keywords:

oxidative stress, aortic aneurysm, hypertension, diabetes, heart failure

Research Focus/Interest:

cardiovascular, respiratory and metabolic research; translational

Mentoring Philosophy:

Hands-on, encouraging and very caring of all aspects of career development.

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

40

EDI Statement:

I have always had a diversity group for the past 20 years since the establishment of my independent lab.

Motivations for Participating: 

Actively recruiting

Karen Reue

Professor and Vice Chair, Human Genetics

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Reue Lab

Lab Website:

https://reue.genetics.ucla.edu/ 

Plans to hire a postdoc:

Plan to hire 1 postdoc to start at UCLA summer 2023 or later.

Kathrin Plath

Professor, Biological Chemistry

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Plath lab

Lab Website:

https://plathlab.dgsom.ucla.edu

Plans to hire a postdoc:

ASAP – as soon as possible

Research Keywords:

pluripotent stem cells, epigenetic, genomics, bioinformatics, lncRNAs

Research Focus/Interest:

The Plath lab focuses on the epigenetic mechanisms that maintain pluripotency and control differentiation and reprogramming processes. Within this context, we are studying six fundamental problems: (i) How do long-noncoding (lnc) RNAs build nuclear compartments and regulate chromatin changes during differentiation and reprogramming? This aspect of our work particularly centers on understanding how the X chromosome dosage compensation is regulated by the lncRNA Xist in mouse and human. (ii) We are dissecting the cellular decision-making governing reprogramming to induced pluripotency as a means to understand how transcription factors drive cell fate changes and induce new chromatin and gene expression states. (iii) We are examining how the three-dimensional organization of the genome changes during differentiation and reprogramming processes, how transcriptional networks and lncRNAs regulate 3D genome organization, and how 3D genome organization in turn influences gene expression, chromatin states, and lncRNA function. (iv) We are aiming to understand how nutrients that vary with diet can regulate stem cell states and cell fate decisions, particularly those during development, with the ultimate goal to define dietary alterations that enable more accurate models of differentiation in the culture dish or lead to new treatments of pregnancy complications and diseases. (v) We are using embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells and new embryo models to understand the gene regulatory networks underlying cellular specification during development and pathophysiologies. (vi) We aim to develop new single cell genomics technologies and to apply them to diverse biological model systems to, for instance, understand the difference between the healthy and disease lung.

Mentoring Philosophy:

Looking forward to working closely on anything from science to developing a great path towards the next career step.

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

Great jobs in industry and faculty jobs in academia.

EDI Statement:

I am committed to improving diversity, equity and inclusion in everything I do.

Motivations for Participating: 

Really looking for motivated people who want to join our team.

Ketema Paul

Professor, Integrative Biology and Physiology

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Paul Lab

Lab Website:

https://uclapaullab.wixsite.com/ucla-paul-lab 

Plans to hire a postdoc:

Would like to hire as soon as possible

Research Keywords:

Sleep; homeostasis; genetic heterogeneity; sex differences; electroencephalography

Research Focus/Interest:

My lab examines the genetic regulation of sleep and how genetic heterogeneity influences the ability to recover from sleep loss. Our research currently has two foci: 1) determining if disruptions of biological timing result in sleep-wake disorders and if so, which specific genes are involved and 2) determining if sex differences in the risk and severity of sleep abnormalities are chromosomally driven. The lab is currently examining sex differences in sleep and mapping tools to identify novel sleep-regulatory genes.

Mentoring Philosophy:

My lab collaborates with Drs. Gina Poe and Chris Colwell to provide a holistic training opportunity for our postdoctoral fellows. As a collaborative team, we bring multiple aspects of training together to ensure our postdoctoral fellows receive a comprehensive mentorship experience.

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

During my scientific career, I have trained multiple postdoctoral fellows who have held positions in academia and industry since their training. A few examples include Dr. Christopher Ehlen who is an Associate Professor at Morehouse School of Medicine, Dr. Allison Brager, who is a Senior Scientist in the US Army, and my latest postdoctoral fellow, Dr. India Nichols who is an Instructor at Spelman College.

EDI Statement:

During my career, I have been able to access exceptional students and postdoctoral fellows from all backgrounds in a variety of different fields of study. The main objective of my teaching and mentoring efforts over the past eleven years has been to encourage trainees from underrepresented populations to pursue biomedical research careers. Success in such an objective depends on early exposure to Neuroscience research as well as rigorous training, not only on the discipline of Neuroscience, but also on the component parts of idea development and grant writing as well as dissemination of scientific progress through oral presentation and manuscript preparation. I have made the training of underrepresented minority scientists a priority and I work extensively with the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Office of Diversity Training and Workforce, the Life Sciences Anti-Racism Task Force (Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, UCLA), and the UCLA-HBCU Neuroscience Pathways Summer Program (Brain Research Institute, UCLA) to help determine how to help determine ways to create active research and teaching partnerships and recruit faculty members and postdoctoral fellows from underserved backgrounds at UCLA.

Motivations for Participating: 

My team has started a few new projects that provide great opportunities for a postdoctoral  to get trained in leadership, student training, and experimental design in a highly diverse lab setting.

Marlin Touma

Associate Professor In Residence, Pediatrics

Lab or Research Group Name: 

UCLA Congenital Heart Defects Research Program

Lab Website:

https://www.uclahealth.org/departments/pediatrics/touma-lab

Plans to hire a postdoc:

Yes

Research Keywords:

Gen regulation, long noncoding RNA, Developmental Genomics, Congenital Heart Defects, Neonatal Heart Maturation

Research Focus/Interest:

Long Noncoding RNA, Gene environment Interaction, Genomic basis of congenital heart defects, Wnt signaling.Neonatal Heart Maturation.

Mentoring Philosophy:

Foster career development and research growth towards independence. Building their own strength. Fostering autonomy and acknowledging their contribution

EDI Statement:

As a mentor, I follow the roles of EDI in enrolment, training, and teaching. I offer equal opportunities and support in lab projects and research support. Equal opportunity for career growth.   

Motivations for Participating: 

I am motivated to participate. Thank you for the opportunity.

Marta Epeldegui

Associate Professor, OB-GYN

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Epeldgui Lab.

Research Keywords:

AIDS, Lymphoma, HIV, B cells, NHL

Research Focus/Interest:

Dr. Marta Epeldegui’s research for several years has focused on better elucidating the immunopathogenesis of HIV/AIDS, especially that of AIDS-associated lymphoma.

Mentoring Philosophy:

I thrive to give postdocs the tools to become independent investigators and go on on the next steps of their careers.

EDI Statement:

Committed to EDI. I have undergraduates and postdocs of underrepresented minorities in the lab.

Motivations for Participating: 

Find a postdoc that would be interested in working with us.

Michael Wells

Assistant Professor, Human Genetics

I am a First-gen, Salvadoran American, from a low income background.

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Wells lab

Lab Website:

http://wellslab.dgsom.ucla.edu/ 

Plans to hire a postdoc:

Looking to hire up to two postdocs immediately

Research Keywords:

neurodevelopment; human stem cell models; autism; high throughput genetic screens; cell villages

Research Focus/Interest:

Our lab uses villages of human stem cell-derived neural cells to investigate the genetic and molecular origins of phenotypic heterogeneity. We have a particular interest in neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and intellectual disability.

Mentoring Philosophy:

We have adopted a people-first approach to all collaborations inside and outside of the lab. This manifests as lab policies that protect work-life balance, whole-group activities that improve the ways we communicate with each other, and guidelines that help establish clear timelines and expectations for projects.  We emphasize the importance of mentorship and seek team mates who are generous with their time and knowledge.   All members of the Wells lab craft mentor-mentee agreements that are reviewed and renewed each year. This document ensures that every person in the lab is being properly trained and is making progress towards their scientific and professional goals.

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

We are a new lab looking to hire our first postdoc.

EDI Statement:

Diversity sits at the core of our research, team, and mission. We are led by a Salvadoran-American principal investigator who was the first in his family to graduate from college.   We use cell lines from human donors of disparate ancestral backgrounds to ensure that our biological results are widely applicable to many populations.  We actively recruit scientists from underrepresented groups, and pride ourselves on our DEI efforts outside the laboratory including SACNAS, BRAINS, Intersections, and the UCLA Human Genetics JEDI committee.

Motivations for Participating: 

I am committed to improving the outcomes of young scientists, especially those from first-generation, low-income, and/or minority backgrounds.

Neil Harris

Professor, Neurosurgery

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Harris Lab

Lab Website:

https://labs.dgsom.ucla.edu/harris/pages/

Plans to hire a postdoc:

Possibly (funding dependent) 2023-24

Research Keywords:

signal processing; network theory; brain injury; cognition; circuit plasticity

Research Focus/Interest:

Traumatic Brain Injury and circuit plasticity related to recovery of function

Mentoring Philosophy:

Grant wiring; manuscript writing; experimental design; work-life balance

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

Industry and academia

EDI Statement:

The Harris Lab is committed to help to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion within all aspects of campus life from undergraduate to faculty and staff.

Motivations for Participating: 

Meet new and interesting people with new perspectives and new ideas

Nicole Valenzuela

Assistant Professor in Residence, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Valenzuela lab

Plans to hire a postdoc:

One position will be posted soon with a start in Fall 2023

Research Keywords:

endothelial, transplantation, immunology, inflammation, vascular

Research Focus/Interest:

mechanisms regulating endothelial cell inflammation, particularly focused on organ transplant rejection

Mentoring Philosophy:

As mentor, my job is to: • impart technical and scientific expertise • ensure your safety, responsible conduct of research and competence in the laboratory • link you with any needed resources (personnel needs, training, equipment, reagents) • answer questions and guidance on experimental design and result interpretation • critically review and provide constructive feedback on manuscripts, abstracts and grants you prepare • help gain recognition in the field and build a network of colleagues • support your exploration of areas of interest while also providing input on feasibility of planned activities • provide a written review at least once every year summarizing research progress, achievements and personal development • sponsor your applications for awards and grants  We will maintain a spirit of open communication. I will be available at least weekly to meet one-on-one to review your progress, and additionally available by email for questions that arise throughout the week. 

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

1 current postdoc

EDI Statement:

My goals are centered around developing a scientific identity, identifying resources and funding opportunities that will advance their career trajectories, and establishing an inclusive research environment that is sensitive to the unique challenges individuals from URM backgrounds face when embarking on their scientific career.

Motivations for Participating: 

Act as a resource for transitioning trainees while they consider various career paths

Olujimi Ajijola

Associate Professor, Medicine – Cardiology and Neuroscience IDP

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Neurocardiology Research Program

Lab Website:

https://ajijolalab.dgsom.ucla.edu/pages/ 

Plans to hire a postdoc:

Immediately or near future – Recently funded NIH grants

Research Keywords:

Ventricular arrhythmia, sympathetic neurons, bioinformatics, neuroinflammation, glia

Research Focus/Interest:

Neural circuits that regulate cardiac function

Roxana Radu

Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Retina Biochemistry and Clinical Disease Modeling Laboratory

Lab Website:

https://www.uclahealth.org/departments/eye/research/research-laboratories/retina-biochemistry-clinical-disease-modeling-laboratory

Plans to hire a postdoc:

3-12 months

Research Keywords:

retinal degeneration, retinoid biochemistry, mouse models, regenerative medicine, drug development

Research Focus/Interest:

Genetic advances to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of retinal degenerations and use of gained knowledge to develop new therapies for blinding diseases such as recessive Stargardt disease (STGD1), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and other retinal dystrophies. We utilize a multifaceted approach including innovative genetics, molecular & cell biology, biochemistry, and small molecule analyses.   Our research program aims to address an urgent unmet need of new experimental models for macular degenerations for which no therapies are currently available. My group generated mouse models and human iPSC-derived cell lines to evaluate fundamental biological processes at the intersection of complement system, retinoid-lipid metabolism, mitochondria-endolysosome cross-talk.  Future research involves innovative and translational studies directed towards dissecting the intercellular organelle dynamics in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) with a focus on lysosomes maturation, recycling of retinoids and lipids relevant to cell bioenergetics, identifying complement-mediated signaling pathways, and investigating the role of epigenetic factors to aging under normal and disease status.

Mentoring Philosophy:

My research advancement is intimately connected to my innate drive to instil scientific knowledge and acquired technology to our younger trainees. With my current trainees, besides our weekly group meeting, I also have weekly one-on-one and as-needed conversations to discuss approaches to troubleshot/optimize experiments as well as personal struggles. Funding opportunities for my trainees are also supported. I strongly encourage and actively work with all my trainees to prepare fellowship applications to further advance their independent research career. Being a dedicated mentor, I expanded my role to provide career and scientific advice to every trainee in our department. At UCLA, I have been involved in teaching and mentoring a variety of students at different levels of education: undergraduate, medical (MD), and graduate (PhD), and postdoctoral fellows.

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

industry and academic settings

EDI Statement:

I am in complete alignment with the Cultural North Star principles: “Do what’s right; Make things better, and Be kind”. I am delighted that as a full-time faculty I can promote these values on a daily basis, during my interactions with my trainees, staff research associates, and colleagues. As an immigrant myself, raised under a communist regime in Romania, I am aware of the lack of opportunities that minorities and women encounter throughout their lives. The harmony in my laboratory is driven by our diverse cultural and educational background that provides a safe and enjoyable workplace. I take every opportunity to praise my lab members’ efforts to help others improve their views about diversity, equity, and inclusion values.

Motivations for Participating: 

Lots of exciting projects and desire to expand my group

Sandra Orsulic

Professor in Residence, OB/GYN

I was raised in a rural town in Croatia.

Lab or Research Group Name: 

The Orsulic Lab

Lab Website:

Orsuliclab.com

Plans to hire a postdoc:

Always interested in promising applicants who have demonstrated excellence in graduate or medical school (first-author publications). Require 3-5 year commitment.

Research Keywords:

ovarian cancer, cancer initiation, biomarkers, computational pathology, mouse models

Research Focus/Interest:

My laboratory focuses on the development of mouse models in which ovarian cancer can be induced and studied during its early stages of growth and metastatic progression. We are also involved in the study of genetic alterations and their roles in ovarian cancer progression as well as the development of drug resistance to targeted therapy. We use diverse technologies, such as organ culture systems, Cre-lox and tetracycline inducible systems, ovary transplantation techniques, and in vivo imaging, to recapitulate the development and pathophysiological manifestations of human ovarian cancer in order to study the complexity of ovarian epithelial-stromal interactions and tumor-host interactions. Recently, our laboratory has made an investment in developing infrastructure and expertise in AI-assisted spatial imaging and systems biology in order to correlate visual and subvisual morphometric features with underlying molecular pathways.  Our research has yielded several key insights into the molecular mechanisms of cancer. Our most significant contributions include: development of the first genetically defined mouse model of ovarian carcinoma; elucidation of the genetic events that are sufficient for the transformation of normal ovarian surface epithelial cells in the mouse; generation of the first syngeneic BRCA1-deficient ovarian cancer cell lines; and identification of molecular markers for individualized therapeutic strategies in ovarian cancer (Molecular Signatures of Ovarian Cancer, patents US010253368 and EU2908913).

Mentoring Philosophy:

Postdoctoral fellows are free to explore their own hypotheses as the main project or side projects. I aim to inspire my trainees to study the mechanisms of cancer in novel ways and experience the enjoyment of discovery and success. More importantly, I instill in my trainees the value of a commitment to high, rigorous research standards, a fundamental quality that I acquired from my mentors.

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

Publications, fellowships, obtaining faculty positions

EDI Statement:

I am an active member of the EDI Committee in the Department of OB/GYN. The majority of my trainees were born outside of the United States and many were the first in their families to attend college. Most of my US-born students and postdoctoral fellows are/were minorities (three Pacific Islanders, one African American and one Latinx). As an openly gay woman, I actively provide a woman and LGBTQ+ friendly and safe environment for my trainees.

Motivations for Participating: 

Availability of funds and projects in the lab

Stephen Smale

Professor, Microbiology Immunology & Molecular Genetics

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Smale lab

Lab Website:

https://profiles.ucla.edu/stephen.smale

Plans to hire a postdoc:

Interesting in hiring a postdoc at any time with HHMI funds if a strong candidate and good fit can be identified.

Research Keywords:

inflammation, transcription, chromatin, epigenetics, immunology

Research Focus/Interest:

Transcriptional and epigenetic gene regulation during inflammatory and innate immune responses.

Mentoring Philosophy:

I now have a small lab and would provide direct one-on-one mentorship, strongly prioritizing the training and career development of the postdoc. I strive to maintain an inclusive lab environment that values diversity and have a strong track-record of doing so.

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

Former postdoc in faculty positions at UCSF (Hilde Schjerven), UCLA (Phil Scumpia), and Penn State (Sinisa Dovat), and also in strong biotech positions at Genentech (Vladimir Ramirez-Carrozzi and Teresita Arenzana) and elsewhere.

EDI Statement:

I have a long commitment to DEI through my prior roles in leading my lab, directing the UCLA-Caltech MSTP, and overseeing a number of initiatives as Vice Dean for Research at DGSOM.  Most recently, I am employed part-time by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and am leading the development of their new $1.5 billion Freeman Hrabowski Scholars Program, which is designed to support outstanding early-career faculty who exhibit a strong commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and increasing the representation of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups in science.

Motivations for Participating: 

My motivation is twofold. My lab downsized dramatically during my time as Vice Dean for Research in DGSOM and I am eager to rebuild. In addition, my prior roles and my current role with HHMI have exposed me to past and existing systemic inequities and lack of representation in science and have motivated me to help address these issues through my own mentorship.

Steven Jonas

Assistant Professor, Pediatrics

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Jonas Group

Lab Website:

https://stemcell.ucla.edu/member/jonas 

Plans to hire a postdoc:

Yes, plan to hire new postdocs during the upcoming academic year.

Research Keywords:

nanotechnology, gene & cellular therapy, intracellular delivery, microfluidics, cancer immunotherapy

Research Focus/Interest:

Our group focuses on developing nanotechnology-enabled solutions that enable rapid, safe, cost-effective, and efficient delivery of genes and genome-editing machinery to immune and stem cells for manufacturing new gene and stem cell-based therapies directed at disease targets spanning the spectrum of children’s health.

Mentoring Philosophy:

I am committed to the training and advancement of junior scientists in my lab. The heart of my mentoring and teaching philosophy is to foster the development and exploration of learning practices and problem-solving skills in my trainees that best cater to their personal learning styles and interests, while simultaneously seeking career development opportunities that allow them to thrive and gain independence. Part of my role in organizing and setting our research group’s scientific agenda involves leading the formation of collaborative partnerships with clinician-scientists, mentoring & cross training team members across multiple fields, and securing sustainable funding to execute these projects successfully. My primary goal is to provide postdocs and students in our group with the fundamental tools required to become successful investigators and develop their independence so that they are capable of attaining self-growth in whichever field they ultimately choose whether it is in academia or industry, STEM or non-STEM relate fields, or clinical practice. Project teams in our laboratory are structured to blend the expertise of trainees and other research personnel. I work closely with trainees in my lab oversee their own project planning and management, and I personally work with all trainees to discuss professional aspirations and set specific goals to guide them to independence. My objective for each graduate student mentee is to identify attainable and actionable goals as they progress through their projects, to facilitate collaborations as needed, and to anticipate future needs and development by ensuring (via 360-degree feedback and guidance) that all resources were in place to advance their careers forward. These interactions occur in multiple formats, including our weekly group meetings and in biweekly one-on-one meetings (focusing on individual career development and establishing a framework for their transition to independence). In each forum, we emphasize building skills in scientific communication, troubleshooting project-specific tasks, preparation of manuscripts and presentations, preparing for upcoming career development milestones, and fostering collaborations between team members or outside our group. Collectively, these activities are meant to establish a framework of support that can be tailored to the needs of each trainee and to empower them to find their voice as they develop their careers, execute their research, and reach their goals successfully.

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

1. Dr. Ruby Sims (current postdoc at UCLA); 2. Dr. Naihao Chiang (K99 awardee, now starting his lab at U. Houston); 3. Dr. Jae Park (Senior scientist, FL85 Therapeutics)

EDI Statement:

As a pediatric resident and pediatric hematology/oncology fellow and now attending physician, I encountered the powerful reach and capabilities of our healthcare system. Some of these experiences have shed light on inequities that remain barriers to providing the best possible care to the children and families we serve. As a pediatrician, addressing these issues is vital because we serve as the gateway for children into the system and advocates for promoting lifelong healthy practices that will inform their interaction and relationships with healthcare providers throughout their lives. In providing the best possible care for our patients, we are all tasked to learn, understand, and prioritize addressing implicit bias in our practice to minimize its effects on children’s health and improve outcomes. Now as a junior faculty member, I continue to seek opportunities to make a positive difference in the lives of individual students, postdocs, and clinical trainees along with my patients and their families. One of the most rewarding aspects of being a physician scientist is that I have the privilege to mentor and train outstanding young clinicians, scientists, and engineers at all stages along their academic journeys. In this mission, I, along with my colleagues in the Department of Pediatrics, believe strongly and are committed in fostering a diverse talent pool of clinicians and researchers.  Altogether, these experiences have reinforced that part of my responsibility as a physician scientist is to ensure that the principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion extend not just to my close colleagues and trainees but also to my patients, their families, and the communities we serve . The intersection of this effort with my clinical duties adds entirely new and relevant dimensions to both my research program and my practice as a pediatric hematology/oncology physician scientist. I am committed to addressing these challenges and by engaging more broadly in identifying solutions and fostering these efforts with the entire UCLA community.

Motivations for Participating: 

As a recently appointed junior faculty member, I am interested in meeting and engaging with creative and enthusiastic postdoctoral candidates as I expand my growing laboratory. A key next goal for me has been to prioritize the recruitment and assembly of an inclusive interdisciplinary research group that is committed to opening opportunities for trainees from all walks of life to reach their career goals and transition to independent scientific investigators.

Tara TeSlaa

Assistant Professor, Molecular and Medical Pharmacology

Lab or Research Group Name: 

TeSlaa Lab

Lab Website:

www.teslaalab.com

Plans to hire a postdoc:

I plan to recruit and hire 1-2 postdocs!

Research Keywords:

metabolism, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, mass spectrometry, isotope tracing

Research Focus/Interest:

I am interested in how metabolic fluxes change in disease and how metabolism impacts cellular fate and function.

Mentoring Philosophy:

As a mentor I want to be open minded and supportive. I hope to pass on my expertise and provide the resources that my trainees need to be successful.

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

none, new PI

EDI Statement:

I plan to help with DEI efforts by being available to help with any DEI efforts on campus and by having regular forums in my lab to discuss DEI issues (e.g. journal clubs to discuss papers on the topic).

Motivations for Participating: 

To recruit people to my lab and to UCLA in general.

Thomas Graeber

Professor, Molecular & Medical Pharmacology

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Graeber Lab

Lab Website:

https://systems.crump.ucla.edu

Plans to hire a postdoc:

Regularly hiring postdocs, lab size 15 grad students, postdocs and staff

Research Keywords:

cancer systems biology signaling metabolism

Research Focus/Interest:

Systems biology of disease, cancer and immune signaling and metabolism Our group is working to understand cancer signaling and metabolism from a systems view. We focus on developing genome-, proteome- and metabolome-wide assays, and applying these assays to measuring and computationally modeling aberrant function in cancer cells. Through collaboration with clinical scientists, we work directly with patient samples and aim to translate our discoveries to clinical applications. We collect high dimensionality data using mass spectrometry-based phosphoproteomic and metabolomic profiling. To integratively analyze this data, we develop computational approaches aimed at overlaying the raw data with known signaling and metabolic network structures. A point of emphasis is how cellular signaling and metabolism is rewired when cancers become resistant to molecularly targeted therapies (e.g. the mutant BRAF kinase inhibitor used in melanoma). Our results have pointed us to the contributions of feedback loops in maintaining cancer signaling and metabolism homeostasis, and we are exploring therapeutic approaches to perturbing these loops synergistically to disrupt cellular equilibrium and induce death in cancer cells. In modeling cancer, one of our goals is to identify minimal sets of informative components that best reflect the state of the cell and serve as molecular targets for diagnostics, imaging, and patient tailored treatment. As with all of systems biology, our research relies on an interdisciplinary approach that merges biology, chemistry, mathematics and computation / bioinformatics.  We have a multidisciplinary lab with connections to the clinic, and emphasizing collecting large datasets in a well-designed fashion so that we can pull out informative patterns using computer algorithms. We primarily study the complexity of mis-wired cancer cells, and the elegance of systems programs enacted by immune cells to accomplish their specialized functions. We have expanding projects in the lab related to genomic instability in cancer, the associated DNA repair deficiencies, disrupting cancer trans-differentiation as a therapy escape route, and in cancer metabolism. We attempt to keep projects like these, and others on tumor immunology closely linked to current medical questions through collaborations with clinical scientists.

Mentoring Philosophy:

The best research plans come from a balance of collective brain storming and individual ideas.

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

faculty and industry

EDI Statement:

A welcoming environment, with efforts to further educate ourselves.

Motivations for Participating: 

To find a great match.

Yi Yin

Assistant Professor, Human Genetics

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Yin lab – Recombination and DNA Repair lab

Lab Website:

https://recombination.dev/

Plans to hire a postdoc:

Yes

Research Keywords:

Single cell sequencing, DNA repair, genome instability, structural variation, functional genomics

Research Focus/Interest:

We focus on studying mitotic recombinations by developing and applying novel single-cell sequencing technologies.

Mentoring Philosophy:

Postdocs will take full ownership of their projects. We have weekly lab meeting as well as one-on-one meetings such that the postdocs can get prompt feedback on their projects.

EDI Statement:

The Yin lab provides an inclusive environment that appreciates unique background and experience of all individuals.

Motivations for Participating: 

Recruiting postdocs interested in genetic variation and technology development.

Yirong Peng

Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology and Neurobiology

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Peng lab

Lab Website:

www.yirongpeng.com

Plans to hire a postdoc:

One or two postdocs within a year or two.

Research Keywords:

high throughput sequencing, big data analysis, visual system, neuron, retina

Research Focus/Interest:

Using advanced molecular tool to understand the development and degeneration of the visual system

Mentoring Philosophy:

The academic success of postdocs is the top priority of my lab

EDI Statement:

We are committed to improving the diversity, equity, and inclusion in my lab.

Motivations for Participating: 

Forster the next generation of scientists in biosciences.