PhD Students
Jingyu “Sophia” Chen
Undergraduate Education: Bachelor of Science, Biological Engineering, China Agricultural University
Graduate Education: Master of Science, Regulatory Science, University of Southern California; Master of Science, Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Southern California
Research Interests: Cancer, Molecular Biology
Research Project or Thesis Title: SOX9+ hybrid hepatocytes (HybHP) act as cancer stem cells giving rise to intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC)
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Bangyan Stiles
Year of Study: 4th
Melanie Galano
Undergraduate Education: Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry and Cell Biology (Double Major), University of California, San Diego
Research Interests: Cell Biology, Pharmacology, Steroids, Therapeutic Targets
Research Project or Thesis Title: CRISPR/Cas9-mediated steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (STAR) knockout in MA-10 cells
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Vassilios Papadopoulos
Year of Study: 3rd
Yiqi “Christina” Lin
Undergraduate Education: Bachelor of Science, Pharmacology Honours, Computer Science Minor, McGill University
Research Interests: Biochemistry, Neurodegeneration, Steroids
Research Project or Thesis Title: CYP11A1-independent synthesis of pregnenolone in the brain
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Vassilios Papadopoulos
Year of Study: 3rd
Amy Tran
Undergraduate Education: Bachelor of Science, Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine
Graduate Education: Master of Science, Regulatory Science, University of Southern California
Research Interests: Cancer, Molecular Biology, Pharmacology, Regulatory Science, Toxicology
Research Project or Thesis Title: Evaluating the role of the eicosanoid biosynthetic pathway in spermatogonial stem cell development
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Martine Culty
Year of Study: 3rd
Anh Tan Truong
Undergraduate Education: Bachelor of Arts, Biological Sciences, Molecular Biology (Double Major), San Jose State University
Graduate Education: Doctor of Pharmacy, University of Southern California
Research Interests: Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Protein Engineering
Research Project or Thesis Title: An alternative approach modulating signaling utilizing thermo-responsive biopolymers
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Andrew MacKay
Year of Study: 3rd
Casandra Walker
Education: Bachelor of Science, Molecular/Cellular Biology, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Research Interests: Reproductive Biology, Toxicology
Research Project or Thesis Title: Analysis of testis transcriptome from adult rats exposed in utero to low dose mixtures of genistein and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Martine Culty
Year of Study: 3rd