Research Project Manager
Robyn Raban, Ph.D.
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
Contact: rraban@ucsd.edu Phone: (858) 246-2066 Google Scholar Click here for current CV
Research Data Analyst
Anna Buchman, Ph.D.
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 postdoctoral scholar in the Akbari lab since August 2015, she is currently working to develop 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
Contact: abuchman@ucsd.edu Google Scholar Click here for current CV
Assistant Project Scientist
Nikolay Kandul, Ph.D.
Nikolay Kandul received Ph.D. (2005) in Evolutionary and Organismic Biology at Harvard University for his studies of mechanisms by which new species originate. Later he shifted his research interests toward development and application of genetic tools in model organisms to experimentally address important biological questions, like aging. Together with Prof. Bruce Hay at Caltech, he developed an innovative approach to engineer specific mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) 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, he is a research assistant professor in the Akbari Lab, where he is testing CRISPR/Cas9-based gene drives for their limitations and engineering novel synthetic gene drives with better fit for specific applications.
Contact: nkandul@ucsd.edu Google Scholar Click here for current CV
Contact: nkandul@ucsd.edu Google Scholar Click here for current CV
Postdoctoral Scholar
Ming Li, Ph.D.
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
Contact: mingli@ucsd.edu Google Scholar Click here for current CV
Postdoctoral Scholar
Ting Yang, Ph.D
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
Contact: t1yang@ucsd.edu Google Scholar Click here for current CV
Graduate Student
Stephanie Gamez, B.S.
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
Graduate Student
Michelle Bui, B.S.
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
Lab Technician
Judy Ishikawa
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.
Contact: mishikawa@ucsd.edu
Contact: mishikawa@ucsd.edu
La Jolla, CA
