In May of 2005, Omar S. Akbari received a B.S./M.S. in Biotechnology from the University of Nevada, Reno.
In December of 2008, he received a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Nevada, Reno where he studied the role cis-regulatory modules play in cellular identity along the anterio-posterior axis in developing Drosophila melanogaster embryos. In May of 2009, he joined the laboratory of professor Bruce A. Hay at the California Institute of Technology as a Postdoctoral Scholar to innovate synthetic biology of disease vectors. In summer of 2015, he became an Assistant Professor of Entomology in the Center for Infectious Disease Vector Research (CIDVR) at the University of California, Riverside. In fall of 2017, he joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor in the Cell and Developmental Biology Section, within the Division of Biological Sciences, and an active member of the TATA institute for Genetics and Society at the University of California, San Diego. In 2018 he co-founded and became a scientific advisor for Agragene a biotechnology based startup in San Diego, CA. |
Principal Investigator
Omar S. Akbari, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Division of Biological Sciences Cell and Developmental Biology Section University of California, San Diego Link to UCSD Profile Link to Linkedin Profile Link to ResearchGate Profile Link to Twitter Profile Link to ORCID Link to Google Scholar Mailing Address University of California, San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla, CA 92093-0335 Email Address oakbari@ucsd.edu Office Location: 5101 Tata Hall Office Phone: (858) 246-0640 Lab Location: 5th floor Tata Hall Lab Phone: (858) 246-2700 Click here for current CV |
Robyn Raban, Ph.D.
Research Project Manager
Robyn Raban recieved her B.S. in Environmental Science/Ecology from UC Berkeley. She also received an M.S. in Entomology from the University of Florida and a Ph.D. in Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology from Colorado State University. Before joining the Akbari lab in 2017, she worked in industry and academia as a project manager, scientist and grant writer.
Contact: rraban@ucsd.edu Phone: (858) 246-2066 Google Scholar Click here for current CV
Robyn Raban recieved her B.S. in Environmental Science/Ecology from UC Berkeley. She also received an M.S. in Entomology from the University of Florida and a Ph.D. in Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology from Colorado State University. Before joining the Akbari lab in 2017, she worked in industry and academia as a project manager, scientist and grant writer.
Contact: rraban@ucsd.edu Phone: (858) 246-2066 Google Scholar Click here for current CV
Anna Buchman, Ph.D.
Research Data Analyst
Anna Buchman received her B.S. (2006) and M.S. (2008) in Biology at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, and her Ph.D (2014) at Caltech in Pasadena, California, where she worked in the laboratory of professor Bruce A. Hay. A researcher in the Akbari lab since August 2015, Anna is broadly interested in developing effective, evolutionarily stable genetic control strategies for mosquitoes and various pest insects, such as D. suzukii. She is currently working to develop synthetic Medea systems outside the fruit fly and is also investigating novel ways to generate chromosomal translocations for use as gene drives.
Contact: abuchman@ucsd.edu Google Scholar
Click here for current CV
Anna Buchman received her B.S. (2006) and M.S. (2008) in Biology at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, and her Ph.D (2014) at Caltech in Pasadena, California, where she worked in the laboratory of professor Bruce A. Hay. A researcher in the Akbari lab since August 2015, Anna is broadly interested in developing effective, evolutionarily stable genetic control strategies for mosquitoes and various pest insects, such as D. suzukii. She is currently working to develop synthetic Medea systems outside the fruit fly and is also investigating novel ways to generate chromosomal translocations for use as gene drives.
Contact: abuchman@ucsd.edu Google Scholar
Click here for current CV
Nikolay Kandul, Ph.D.
Assistant Project Scientist
Contact: nkandul@ucsd.edu Google Scholar Click here for current CV
- Nikolay Kandul received his Ph.D. at Harvard University, where he was studying the role of chromosomal rearrangements in origins of new species. Later he became interested in engineering and building genetic tools in model organisms with an ultimate goal to establish the relationship between cause and effect in Biology. At Caltech, he developed an innovative approach to engineer specific mitochondrial DNA deletions and found that our cells have a capacity to selectively remove mutant mtDNA in vivo, rejuvenate themselves, and slow aging at the cellular level. Now, at UCSD with Dr. Omar Akbari, he is developing novel technologies to suppress / replace insect populations, such as the precision guided Sterile Insect Technique (pgSIT) and CRISPR/Cas9-based gene drives, and tackling many other challenging biological questions.
Contact: nkandul@ucsd.edu Google Scholar Click here for current CV
Ming Li, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Scholar
Ming Li received his B.S (2006) and M.S. (2009) in Plant Protection and Insecticide Resistance, respectively, from Southwest University of China, Chongqing. He then moved to the United States to purse his Ph.D in Entomology at Auburn University and graduated in 2014. A postdoctoral scholar in the Akbari lab since January 2016, he is currently developing gene drive and suppression techniques in mosquitoes.
Contact: mingli@ucsd.edu Google Scholar Click here for current CV
Ming Li received his B.S (2006) and M.S. (2009) in Plant Protection and Insecticide Resistance, respectively, from Southwest University of China, Chongqing. He then moved to the United States to purse his Ph.D in Entomology at Auburn University and graduated in 2014. A postdoctoral scholar in the Akbari lab since January 2016, he is currently developing gene drive and suppression techniques in mosquitoes.
Contact: mingli@ucsd.edu Google Scholar Click here for current CV
Ting Yang, Ph.D
Postdoctoral Scholar
Ting Yang received her B.S.(2006) in Plant Protection at Hebei Agricultural University in Baoding, China, and M.S.(2009) in Insect Toxicology at China Agricultural University in Beijing, China. She continued with her doctoral study right after and received her Ph.D (2013) in Entomology at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. She then worked as an assistant professor at the Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Beijing, China. Ting Yang joined in the Akbari lab in September 2016 as a postdoctoral scholar.
Contact: t1yang@ucsd.edu Google Scholar Click here for current CV
Ting Yang received her B.S.(2006) in Plant Protection at Hebei Agricultural University in Baoding, China, and M.S.(2009) in Insect Toxicology at China Agricultural University in Beijing, China. She continued with her doctoral study right after and received her Ph.D (2013) in Entomology at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. She then worked as an assistant professor at the Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Beijing, China. Ting Yang joined in the Akbari lab in September 2016 as a postdoctoral scholar.
Contact: t1yang@ucsd.edu Google Scholar Click here for current CV
Sitara Roy, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Scholar
Sitara Roy received her B.S. and M.S. in Genetics and Molecular Biology from Osmania University, India and her Ph.D (2016) work on genetic factors associated with brain stroke was carried out at Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB) and Institute of Genetics and Hospital for Genetic Diseases, India. She then worked as a postdoctoral scholar on DNA damage response and global genome organization at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), India. Sitara Roy joined the Akbari lab in June 2018 as a postdoctoral scholar and is working on gene drives.
Contact: sir001@ucsd.edu Google Scholar Click here for current CV
Sitara Roy received her B.S. and M.S. in Genetics and Molecular Biology from Osmania University, India and her Ph.D (2016) work on genetic factors associated with brain stroke was carried out at Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB) and Institute of Genetics and Hospital for Genetic Diseases, India. She then worked as a postdoctoral scholar on DNA damage response and global genome organization at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), India. Sitara Roy joined the Akbari lab in June 2018 as a postdoctoral scholar and is working on gene drives.
Contact: sir001@ucsd.edu Google Scholar Click here for current CV
Elena Dalla Benetta, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Scholar
Elena Dalla Benetta received her B.S (2011) and M.S. (2013) in Molecular Biology at the University of Padova, Italy, and her PhD (2018) at University of Groningen, the Netherlands within the Marie Curie Initial Training Network “INsecTIME”. She is currently a postoctoral research fellow at Claremont McKenna College, in collaboration with the Akbari lab, studying the mechanism of genome elimination by selfish chromosomes in Nasonia vitripennis.
Contact: dallabenetta.elena@gmail.com Google Scholar
Elena Dalla Benetta received her B.S (2011) and M.S. (2013) in Molecular Biology at the University of Padova, Italy, and her PhD (2018) at University of Groningen, the Netherlands within the Marie Curie Initial Training Network “INsecTIME”. She is currently a postoctoral research fellow at Claremont McKenna College, in collaboration with the Akbari lab, studying the mechanism of genome elimination by selfish chromosomes in Nasonia vitripennis.
Contact: dallabenetta.elena@gmail.com Google Scholar
Jyotheeswara Reddy Edula, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Scholar
Jyotheeswara Reddy Edula received his B.S. (2002) in Medical Lab Technology from Sri Venkateswara University, and M.S. (2004) in Biotechnology from Bangalore University, India. Until 2007 he worked as a research fellow and later in 2013 he received his Ph.D. in Biotechnology from JN Tech University, India. In-between 2011 to 2013 he also worked as a research associate at International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), India. He then moved to Japan to purse his postdoctoral work at RIKEN (2013-2014) and Osaka University (2014-2018). Jyotheeswara Reddy Edula joined in the Akbari lab in July 2018 as a TIGS visiting scientist and is currently developing gene drive and suppression techniques in mosquitoes.
Contact: jedula@ucsd.edu Google Scholar Click here for Current CV
Jyotheeswara Reddy Edula received his B.S. (2002) in Medical Lab Technology from Sri Venkateswara University, and M.S. (2004) in Biotechnology from Bangalore University, India. Until 2007 he worked as a research fellow and later in 2013 he received his Ph.D. in Biotechnology from JN Tech University, India. In-between 2011 to 2013 he also worked as a research associate at International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), India. He then moved to Japan to purse his postdoctoral work at RIKEN (2013-2014) and Osaka University (2014-2018). Jyotheeswara Reddy Edula joined in the Akbari lab in July 2018 as a TIGS visiting scientist and is currently developing gene drive and suppression techniques in mosquitoes.
Contact: jedula@ucsd.edu Google Scholar Click here for Current CV
Stephanie Gamez, B.S.
Graduate Student
Stephanie Gamez received her B.S. in Biology at the University of California, Riverside (2015).
She worked as a research assistant in the lab of Dr. Bradley White studying the population genomics of malaria vectors from 2013-2016. In fall of 2016, she joined the Akbari lab and is currently working on developing genetic control strategies for mosquito vectors.
Contact: sgamez@ucsd.edu Google Scholar Click here for current CV Link to ResearchGate Profile
Stephanie Gamez received her B.S. in Biology at the University of California, Riverside (2015).
She worked as a research assistant in the lab of Dr. Bradley White studying the population genomics of malaria vectors from 2013-2016. In fall of 2016, she joined the Akbari lab and is currently working on developing genetic control strategies for mosquito vectors.
Contact: sgamez@ucsd.edu Google Scholar Click here for current CV Link to ResearchGate Profile
Michelle Bui, B.S.
Graduate Student
Michelle Bui received her B.S. in Entomology at the University of California, Riverside (2016). Following her undergraduate research in the Bradley White Lab (2015-2016), she joined the Akbari Lab. She is interested in developing novel vector control tools and methodologies as well as further understanding arthropod biology using genetic and molecular approaches.
Contact: mpbui@ucsd.edu Google Scholar Click here for current CV
Michelle Bui received her B.S. in Entomology at the University of California, Riverside (2016). Following her undergraduate research in the Bradley White Lab (2015-2016), she joined the Akbari Lab. She is interested in developing novel vector control tools and methodologies as well as further understanding arthropod biology using genetic and molecular approaches.
Contact: mpbui@ucsd.edu Google Scholar Click here for current CV
Dan Brogan, B.S.
Rotating Graduate Student
Dan Brogan received his B.S. in Neuroscience at Ursinus College (2016). He then worked at Johns Hopkins University under Dr. Bin Wu (2016-2018) exploring genetic differences of microvascular endothelial cells susceptible to bacterial invasion using fluorescence microscopy. Dan is interested in applying and improving gene editing technologies to combat the spread of vector-borne diseases.
Contact: djbrogan@ucsd.edu
Dan Brogan received his B.S. in Neuroscience at Ursinus College (2016). He then worked at Johns Hopkins University under Dr. Bin Wu (2016-2018) exploring genetic differences of microvascular endothelial cells susceptible to bacterial invasion using fluorescence microscopy. Dan is interested in applying and improving gene editing technologies to combat the spread of vector-borne diseases.
Contact: djbrogan@ucsd.edu
Judy Ishikawa
Lab Technician
Judy Ishikawa joined the Akbari Lab in 2016 and is currently the head Lab Technician. She is in charge of mosquito rearing and insectary maintenance and husbandry.
Contact: mishikawa@ucsd.edu
Judy Ishikawa joined the Akbari Lab in 2016 and is currently the head Lab Technician. She is in charge of mosquito rearing and insectary maintenance and husbandry.
Contact: mishikawa@ucsd.edu
Sierra Corban, B.S.
Lab Technician
Sierra Corban received her B.S. in Biology from Biola University (La Mirada, California, 2017). She was a student researcher in the lab of Dr. Bezhad Varamini studying the gene expression links between diet, circadian rhythm genes, and stress genes in Drosophila melanogaster (2016-2017). Sierra joined the Akbari Lab in 2018 and is currently a technician focused on research in gene cloning.
Contact: scorban@ucsd.edu
Sierra Corban received her B.S. in Biology from Biola University (La Mirada, California, 2017). She was a student researcher in the lab of Dr. Bezhad Varamini studying the gene expression links between diet, circadian rhythm genes, and stress genes in Drosophila melanogaster (2016-2017). Sierra joined the Akbari Lab in 2018 and is currently a technician focused on research in gene cloning.
Contact: scorban@ucsd.edu
Undergraduate Researchers
 Farin Ahmed
Joined: January 2018 Major: Microbiology (Exp. Grad. 2020) Contact: f1ahmed@ucsd.edu  Hoa Nguyen
Joined: February 2018 Major: Molecular Biology (Exp. Grad. 2020) Contact: hqn015@ucsd.edu  Wenhao Li
Joined: March, 2018 Major: Molec & Cell Biology (Exp. Grad. 2019) Contact: wel318@ucsd.edu  Spencer Louie
Joined: July 2018 Major: Biochem/Cell Biology (Exp. Grad. 2020) Contact: smlouie@ucsd.edu |
 Junru Liu
Joined: February 2018 Major: Human Biology (Exp. Grad. 2018) Contact: JUL217@ucsd.edu  Jiaxin Luo
Joined:
March 2018 Major: Bioengineering, Biosystems (Exp. Grad. 2020) Contact: jiaxinjasonluo@163.com  Daniel Joseph Melko
Joined: April 2018 Major: Nanoengineering (Exp. Grad. 2020) Contact: dmelko@ucsd.edu  Maya Gopalakrishnan
Joined: August 2018 Major: Molecular Biology (Exp. Grad. 2021) Contact: magopala@ucsd.edu |
 Daphne Liu
Joined:
August 2018 Major: Physiology and Neuroscience (Exp. Grad. 2020) Contact: dal179@ucsd.edu
|
 Isaiah Shriner
Joined:
August 2018 Major: Ecol and Evol Biology, CU Boulder (Grad. May 2018) Contact: Isaiah.shriner@gmail.com  Anna Stuhlfire
Joined:
November 2018 Major: Molecular Biology (Exp. Grad. 2020) Contact: asthulfi@ucsd.edu  Swapnil Mittal
Joined: November 2018 Major: Molecular Biology (Exp. Grad. 2021) Contact: swmittal@ucsd.edu
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Link to Lab Alumni
Akbari Lab UCSD - 8/2/18
La Jolla, CA
