Faculty and Staff
Full-time Faculty
The tenured and tenure-track faculty members of the Department of Biological Sciences are listed below. Visit the web page for faculty research for more information on the research interests of each person.
Andres Aguilar, Ph.D
Associate Professor, joined faculty in 2013
Ph.D., 2003, University of California, Los Angeles
Research: Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics
Office: ASCR 323E, ext: 3-2078
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: Aguilar Lab Website
Susan Cohen, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, joined faculty in 2017
Ph.D., 2009, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Research: Molecular Microbiology
Office: ASCL 354, ext: 3-2091
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: Cohen Lab Website
Robert A. Desharnais, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, joined faculty in 1988
Ph.D., 1982, University of Rhode Island
Research: Theoretical Population Biology
Office: ASCR 323D, ext: 3-2056
E-mail: [email protected]
Raul Diaz, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, joined faculty in 2019
Ph.D., 2012, Anatomy and Cell Biology. University of Kansas Medical Center
Research: Evolutionary Developmental Biology of Vertebrates
Office: LKH 394, ext: 3-2077
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: Diaz Lab Website
Edward Eivers, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, joined faculty in 2011
Ph.D., 2004, National University of Ireland, Galway
Research: Developmental Biology and Cell Signaling
Office: ASCL 392, ext: 3-2075
E-mail: [email protected]
Kirsten Fisher, Ph.D. (Chair, Biological Sciences)
Professor, joined faculty in 2008
Ph.D., 2004, University of California, Berkeley
Research: Bryophyte Ecology and Evolution
Office: ASCL 393, ext: 3-2089
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: Fisher Lab Website
Lawrence Fritz, Ph.D.
Professor, joined faculty in 2014
Ph.D., 1986, Rutgers University
Research: Bioluminescence and biorhythms
Office: ASCL 354, ext: 3-2036
E-mail: l[email protected]
Web: coming soon
Ashley Heers, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, joined faculty in 2018
Ph.D., 2013, University of Montana
Research: Ontogeny and evolution of vertebrate locomotion
Office: ASCL 316, ext: 3-2072
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: Heers Lab Website
Patrick Krug, Ph.D.
Professor, joined faculty in 2002
Ph.D., 1998, University of California, San Diego
Research: Ecology & Evolution of Marine Invertebrates
Office: ASCL 314, ext: 3-2076
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: Krug Lab Website
Nathan Lanning, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, joined faculty in 2014
Ph.D., 2010, University of Michigan
Research: Mitochondrial Systems Biology
Office: ASCL 317, ext: 3-2092
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: Lanning Lab Website
Nancy McQueen, Ph.D.
Professor, joined faculty in 1989
Ph.D., 1986, University of California, Los Angeles
Research: Viral Pathogenesis
Office: Rosser Hall Dean's Office, ext: 3-2000
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: McQueen Faculty Webpage
Paul Narguizian, Ed.D.
Professor, joined faculty in 2002
Ed.D., 2002, University of Southern California
Research: Evolution Education and the Nature of Science
Office: ASCR 323C, ext: 3-2054
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: Narguizian Faculty Website
Paul Nerenberg, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, joined faculty in 2016
Ph.D., 2010, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Research: Computational Biophysics
Office: ASCR 121D, ext: 3-2122
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: Nerenberg Lab Website
Robert Nissen, Ph.D.
Professor, joined faculty in 2005
Ph.D., 2000, University of California, San Francisco
Research: Molecular Mechanisms in Vertebrate Development
Office: BIOS 143 and ASCL 216, ext: 3-2050 and 3-2039
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: Nissen Faculty Webpage
Hyunsook Park, Ph.D.
Professor, joined faculty in 2007
Ph.D., Ewha Womans University
Research: Fungal Pathogenesis
Office: ASCL 353, ext: 3-2060
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: Park Faculty Webpage
Edith Porter, M.D. (Associate Chair, Biological Sciences)
Professor, joined faculty in 2001
M.D., 1989, University of Mainz, Germany
Research: Innate Mucosal Immunity
Office: ASCL 355, ext: 3-6353
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: Porter Faculty Webpage
Gustavo A. Ramírez, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, joined faculty in 2022
Ph.D., 2016, University of Southern California Research: Computational Biology and Microbial Ecology
Office: ASCL 218, ext: 3-2050 E-mail: [email protected] Web: Ramírez_Lab_Website
Amelia Russo-Neustadt, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor, joined faculty in 1999
Ph.D., 1988, M.D., 1990, University of California, Irvine
Research: Neurophysiology of the Brain
Office: ASCL 217, ext: 3-2074
E-mail: [email protected]
Jinae N. Roa, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, joined faculty in 2022
Ph.D., 2017, University of California, San Diego
Research: Comparative Cell Biology and Physiology
Office: ASCB 323D, ext: 3-2050 Email: [email protected] Web: jinaeroa.wixsite.com/jinaeroa
Tina Salmassi, Ph.D.
Professor, joined faculty in 2002
Ph.D., 2001, California Institute of Technology
Research: Environmental Microbiology
Office: ASCL 214, ext: 3-2065
E-mail: [email protected]
Christine Scoffoni, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, joined faculty in 2017
Ph.D., 2014, University of California, Los Angeles
Research: Plant Physiology, Anatomy, Ecology, and Evolution
Office: ASCR 323B, ext: 3-2059
E-mail: [email protected] Web: Scoffoni Lab Website
Sandra Sharp, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, joined faculty in 1986
Ph.D., 1981, University of California, Los Angeles
Research: Molecular Regulatory Mechanisms of Development
Office: ASCL 212, ext: 3-5857
E-mail: [email protected] Web: Sharp Faculty Webpage
Elizabeth Torres, Ph.D.
Professor, joined faculty in 1998
Ph.D., 1997, University of California, Los Angeles
Research: Taxonomy & Evolution of Marine Ostracodes
Office:ASCL 313, ext: 3-2179 E-mail:[email protected]
Eric Wood, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, joined faculty in 2015
Ph.D., 2011, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Research: Avian Ecology and Conservation
Office: ASCL 312, ext: 3-2055
E-mail: [email protected] Web: Wood Lab Website
Alexandra Wright, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, joined faculty in 2017
Ph.D., 2013, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Research: Plant Community Ecology, Ecophysiology
Office: ASCL 315, ext: 3-2065
E-mail: [email protected] Web: Wright Lab Website
Howard Xu, Ph.D.
Professor, joined faculty in 2004
Ph.D., 1992, University of Minnesota
Research: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
Office: ASCL 356, ext: 3-2188
E-mail: [email protected] Web: Xu Faculty Website
Katrina Yamazaki, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, joined faculty in 2011
Ph.D., 2009, University of California, San Diego
Research: Cardiovascular Metabolism
Office: ASCL 215, ext: 3-2086
E-mail: [email protected]
Office and Support Staff
Daisy Chau
Instructional Support Technician
Office: ASCB 350
Phone: (323) 343-2068
Email: [email protected]
Jean Chen
Instructional Support Technician
Office: ASCB 350
Phone: (323) 343-2069
Email: [email protected]
Evelin Avila
Administrative Support Assistant
Office: BIOS 143
Phone: (323) 343-2051
Email: [email protected]
Helen Fabian
Instructional Support Technician
Office: ASCL 218
Phone: (323) 343-2038
Email: [email protected]
Ruth Infante
Graduate Program Coordinator
Office: BIOS 143
Phone: (323) 343-2050
Email: [email protected]
John Harris
Instructional Support Technician
Office: ASCB 361A
Phone: (323) 343-2037
Email: [email protected]
Lilian Real Nunez
Instructional Support Technician
Office: ASCB 350
Phone: (323) 343-2069
Email: [email protected]
Judy Guzman
Administrative Support Coordinator
Office: BIOS 143
Phone: (323) 343-2031
Email: [email protected]
Lecturers
Ahmed Badr
Lecturer
[email protected]
Bita Bahrami, M.S.
Lecturer
[email protected]
Courses taught: BIOL 1010 (General Biology), BIOL 1100 (Cellular Basis of Life), MICR 1010 (Introduction to Microbiology), MICR 2020 (Microbiology lab Health-related Science), MICR 3300 (Microbial Genetics), MICR 3500 (Bacterial Physiology), MICR 3700 (Medical Microbiology), MICR 3900 (Applied and Environmental Microbiology), MICR 4600 (Immunology).
Ali Baroon
Lecturer
[email protected]
Michael Chen
Lecturer
[email protected]
Serj Danielian, Ph.D.
Lecturer
[email protected]
Courses taught: Cal State LA; BIOL 3000 (Biostatistics), BIOL 3200 (Professional Writing in the Life Sciences), UC Riverside; BIOL 0005C (Introductory Evolution and Ecology), BIOL 116 (Ecology and Conservation Biology), BIOL 166 (Global Change Biology)
Christopher DeMarco
Lecturer
[email protected]
Sanjay Jayachandran, Ph.D.
Lecturer
[email protected]
Courses taught: BIOL 1010 (General Biology), BIOL 3401 (Molecular and Cellular Laboratory), BIOL 3400 (Principles of Genetics), BIOL 4460 (Biotechnology Applications of Cell and Molecular Biology), BIOL 3084 (Biology of Human Aging), BIOL 1100 (Cellular Basis of Life), BIOL 2030 (Human Anatomy), BIOL 4170 (Gene Editing Theory and Applications), BIOL 4550 (Mammalogy)
Co-founder of Pace Diagnostics
Ali Jazirehi
Lecturer
[email protected]
Maral Keushkerian
Lecturer
[email protected]
Khalil Khollesi
Lecturer
[email protected]
Lisa Lugo, M.S.
Lecturer
[email protected]
Anahid Mirzatoni
Lecturer
[email protected]
Tigran Panasyan
Lecturer
[email protected]
Courses taught: BIOL 1010 Lab (General Biology), BIOL 1100 (Cellular Basis of Life), BIOL 1200 (Diversity of Life)
Shakila Rahman, M.S.
Lecturer
[email protected]
Courses taught: General Biology (BIOL 1010 lab), Cellular Basis of Life (BIOL 1100 recitation and lab), Introduction to Microbiology (MICR 1010 lab), General Microbiology (MICR 3100 lab), Microbiology Laboratory for Health Related Sciences (MICR 2020 lab), Applied and Environmental Microbiology (MICR 3900 lab), and Microbial Genetics (MICR 3300 lab)
Luis Rosa Jr.
Lecturer
[email protected]
Mayra Torres
Lecturer
[email protected]
Valerie Wong
Lecturer
[email protected]
Mohammed Youssef
Lecturer
[email protected]
Emeriti Faculty
The Department of Biological Sciences recognizes the Emeriti Faculty listed below for their many years of devoted service to the Department and its students.
Wayne Paul Alley, Ph.D. (1969–2000)
Kenneth Anderson, Ph.D. (1970–2000)
Roger R. Bowers, Ph.D. (1972–2007)
Samuel M. Caplin, Ph.D. (1960–1980)
Brian Capon, Ph.D. (1961–1992)
Theodore J. Crovello, Ph.D. (1987–2004)
Robert Desharnais, Ph.D (1988 - 2019)
Richard Fleming, Ph.D. (1972–2002)
John Gamon, Ph.D. (1991–2008)
William R. Hanson, Ph.D. (1960–1987)
Margaret J. Hartman, Ph.D. (1970–2000)
James W. Harvey, Ph.D. (1955–1971)
James Henrickson, Ph.D. (1966–2001)
George E. Jakway, Ph.D. (1961–1991)
Margaret Jefferson, Ph.D. (1977–2018)
Genaro A. Lopez, Ph.D. (1981–2004)
Daniel P. Mahoney, Ph.D. (1972–1998)
Rosemarie Marshall, Ph.D. (1978–2000)
Alan Muchlinski, Ph.D.(1979-2016)
Evan K. Oyakawa, Ph.D. (1961–1991)
Betsy Peitz, Ph.D. (1977–2007)
Carlos Robles, Ph.D. (1979–2016)
Howard Rosen, Ph.D. (1970–2002)
Mercer Price Russell, Ph.D. (1964-1992)
Joseph T. Seto, Ph.D. (1960–1988)
Sandra Sharp, Ph.D. (1986–2018)
David L. Soltz, Ph.D. (1973–1988, 1996–2001)
Richard M. Straw, Ph.D. (1956–1981)
Velma J. Vance, Ph.D. (1956–1991)
Richard J. Vogl, Ph.D. (1961–1994)
