In May of 2005, Omar 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 transcriptional regulation during development. He then joined the laboratory of professor Bruce A. Hay at the California Institute of Technology as a Postdoctoral Scholar to develop population control technologies for animals. In 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, at the University of California, San Diego. In 2018 he co-founded Agragene a biotechnology based startup in San Diego, CA. In 2019 he was promoted to Associate Professor (w/Tenure), and in 2021 he was promoted to Professor.
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Principal Investigator
Omar S. Akbari, Ph.D. 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 MC 0335 5101 TATA Hall La Jolla, CA 92093 United States of America Office Phone: +1 (858) 246-0640 Email Address: oakbari@ucsd.edu Office Location: 5101 Tata Hall Lab Location: 5th floor Tata Hall Click here for current CV |
Robyn Raban, Ph.D.
Research Data Analyst
Robyn Raban received 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 received 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
Nikolay Kandul, Ph.D.
Associate Project Scientist
Dr. Kandul grew up in Russia, was educated in Russia and USA, and received his Ph.D. from Harvard University. As a student, he was interested in evolution and was studying the role of chromosomal rearrangements in origins of new butterfly species. Later Dr. Kandul became interested in engineering genetic tools in model organisms with an ultimate goal to address applied biological questions and societal challenges. At Caltech, he developed an innovative approach to engineer specific mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations in a fraction of mtDNA, and showed that irreplaceable muscle fibers have a capacity to selectively remove mutant mtDNA, rejuvenate themselves, and slow aging at the cellular level. Now, at the UC San Diego, he is developing novel technologies to suppress or replace insect populations, such as the precision guided Sterile Insect Technique (pgSIT) and CRISPR-mediated gene drives, to tackle insect threats to food security and spread of vector-borne diseases.
Contact: nkandul@ucsd.edu Google Scholar Click here for current CV
Dr. Kandul grew up in Russia, was educated in Russia and USA, and received his Ph.D. from Harvard University. As a student, he was interested in evolution and was studying the role of chromosomal rearrangements in origins of new butterfly species. Later Dr. Kandul became interested in engineering genetic tools in model organisms with an ultimate goal to address applied biological questions and societal challenges. At Caltech, he developed an innovative approach to engineer specific mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations in a fraction of mtDNA, and showed that irreplaceable muscle fibers have a capacity to selectively remove mutant mtDNA, rejuvenate themselves, and slow aging at the cellular level. Now, at the UC San Diego, he is developing novel technologies to suppress or replace insect populations, such as the precision guided Sterile Insect Technique (pgSIT) and CRISPR-mediated gene drives, to tackle insect threats to food security and spread of vector-borne diseases.
Contact: nkandul@ucsd.edu Google Scholar Click here for current CV
Ming Li, Ph.D.
Assistant Project Scientist
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
Assistant Project Scientist
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
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 previously worked as postdoctoral research fellow at Claremont McKenna College in collaboration with the Akbari lab, studying the mechanism of genome elimination by selfish chromosomes in Nasonia vitripennis. Elena joined the Akbari lab, as a postdoctoral research fellow, in January 2021 to develop novel CRISPR-based gene editing tools in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Additionally, Elena is very interested in synthetic biology involving novel CRISPR technologies and their wider application in the life science sector.
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 previously worked as postdoctoral research fellow at Claremont McKenna College in collaboration with the Akbari lab, studying the mechanism of genome elimination by selfish chromosomes in Nasonia vitripennis. Elena joined the Akbari lab, as a postdoctoral research fellow, in January 2021 to develop novel CRISPR-based gene editing tools in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Additionally, Elena is very interested in synthetic biology involving novel CRISPR technologies and their wider application in the life science sector.
Contact: dallabenetta.elena@gmail.com Google Scholar
Duverney Chaverra Rodriguez, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Scholar
Duverney Chaverra Rodriguez received his B.S. and his Masters in Biology from the University of Antioquia, Colombia. He obtained his Ph.D. in Entomology from the Pennsylvania State University (2018). During his time at Penn State he optimized the method termed Receptor-Mediated Ovary Transduction of Cargo (ReMOT Control) to produce germ line gene editing by injecting adult females in the mosquito Ae. aegypti. He joined the Akbari lab in June 2019 to develop gene drive and other innovative control systems in insects.
Contact: dchaverrarodriguez@ucsd.edu Google Scholar
Duverney Chaverra Rodriguez received his B.S. and his Masters in Biology from the University of Antioquia, Colombia. He obtained his Ph.D. in Entomology from the Pennsylvania State University (2018). During his time at Penn State he optimized the method termed Receptor-Mediated Ovary Transduction of Cargo (ReMOT Control) to produce germ line gene editing by injecting adult females in the mosquito Ae. aegypti. He joined the Akbari lab in June 2019 to develop gene drive and other innovative control systems in insects.
Contact: dchaverrarodriguez@ucsd.edu Google Scholar
Andie Smidler, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Scholar
Andie (Andrea) Smidler received her B.S. in Biology from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill in 2011, where she completed her honors thesis on the topic of plant cell death. Soon after, she became interested in using GM technologies to control vector-borne disease and began research on the topic at the University of Strasbourg, France. While there she earned her M.Res, and pioneered the use of TAL-endonucleases to create targeted gene knockouts in Anopheles gambiae. After returning to the US, she pursued a Ph.D. at Harvard University jointly between the Flaminia Catteruccia and George Church Labs, and graduated in 2019. Her dissertation research focused on developing transgenic tools for vector control, including CRISPR-based gene drive and genetic sterilization technologies, a line of research she is continuing at UCSD.
Contact: asmidler@gmail.com Google Scholar
Andie (Andrea) Smidler received her B.S. in Biology from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill in 2011, where she completed her honors thesis on the topic of plant cell death. Soon after, she became interested in using GM technologies to control vector-borne disease and began research on the topic at the University of Strasbourg, France. While there she earned her M.Res, and pioneered the use of TAL-endonucleases to create targeted gene knockouts in Anopheles gambiae. After returning to the US, she pursued a Ph.D. at Harvard University jointly between the Flaminia Catteruccia and George Church Labs, and graduated in 2019. Her dissertation research focused on developing transgenic tools for vector control, including CRISPR-based gene drive and genetic sterilization technologies, a line of research she is continuing at UCSD.
Contact: asmidler@gmail.com Google Scholar
Natalie Warsinger-Pepe, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Scholar
Natalie Warsinger-Pepe received her BS in Molecular Biology in 2014 and her MS in Biology in 2015 at UCSD where she completed both her honors thesis and Masters thesis on neural injury and repair in rodents. She received her PhD in Molecular and Integrative Physiology at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 2020 where she worked with Yukiko Yamashita on satellite DNA diversity and the regulation of ribosomal DNA through the phenomenon called nucleolar dominance in Drosophila. Natalie is interested in studying mechanisms of gene drive, adaptations to drive, and species barriers.
Contact: nwarsingerpepe@ucsd.edu
Natalie Warsinger-Pepe received her BS in Molecular Biology in 2014 and her MS in Biology in 2015 at UCSD where she completed both her honors thesis and Masters thesis on neural injury and repair in rodents. She received her PhD in Molecular and Integrative Physiology at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 2020 where she worked with Yukiko Yamashita on satellite DNA diversity and the regulation of ribosomal DNA through the phenomenon called nucleolar dominance in Drosophila. Natalie is interested in studying mechanisms of gene drive, adaptations to drive, and species barriers.
Contact: nwarsingerpepe@ucsd.edu
Feng Liu, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Scholar
Feng Liu received his B.S.(2008) in Plant Protection at Shenyang Agricultural University in Shenyang, China, and M.S.(2011) (Advisor: Drs. Qingjun Wu, Youjun Zhang) in Insect Toxicology and Management at Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Beijing, China. He received his Ph.D. (2016) (Advisor: Dr. Nannan Liu) in investigating the olfactory physiology of bed bugs and mosquitoes at Auburn University in Alabama. He then worked as a postdoctoral research scholar by focusing on the molecular basis of pyrethrum repellency in Aedes aegypti at Michigan State University (2016-2018) (Advisor: Dr. Ke Dong) and the mechanisms of carbon dioxide reception in Anopheles coluzzii at Vanderbilt University (2018-2021) (Advisor: Dr. Laurence Zwiebel). In the Akbari lab, Feng is working as a postdoctoral scholar in developing gene drive technologies and testing mosquito olfaction-mediated behaviors.
Email address: f7liu@ucsd.edu; Google Scholar
Feng Liu received his B.S.(2008) in Plant Protection at Shenyang Agricultural University in Shenyang, China, and M.S.(2011) (Advisor: Drs. Qingjun Wu, Youjun Zhang) in Insect Toxicology and Management at Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Beijing, China. He received his Ph.D. (2016) (Advisor: Dr. Nannan Liu) in investigating the olfactory physiology of bed bugs and mosquitoes at Auburn University in Alabama. He then worked as a postdoctoral research scholar by focusing on the molecular basis of pyrethrum repellency in Aedes aegypti at Michigan State University (2016-2018) (Advisor: Dr. Ke Dong) and the mechanisms of carbon dioxide reception in Anopheles coluzzii at Vanderbilt University (2018-2021) (Advisor: Dr. Laurence Zwiebel). In the Akbari lab, Feng is working as a postdoctoral scholar in developing gene drive technologies and testing mosquito olfaction-mediated behaviors.
Email address: f7liu@ucsd.edu; Google Scholar
Neha Thakre, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Scholar
Neha Thakre received her B.S in biology (2006) at R.T.M. Nagpur University, India, and M.S. in Biotechnology (2008) at the Bangalore University, India. Accomplished her PhD (2017) at R.T.M. Nagpur University, India on “Biosensor Technology”. She previously worked as postdoc at University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA and her research was focused on utilizing vector genetics and molecular tools for controlling mosquitoes and in turn mosquito borne diseases. She joined Prof. Akbari’s lab as a postdoctoral research fellow in May 2021 to work on various interesting projects to control insect disease vectors by using CRISPR, RNA biology and synthetic viral sensors.
Email address: nthakre@ucsd.edu
Neha Thakre received her B.S in biology (2006) at R.T.M. Nagpur University, India, and M.S. in Biotechnology (2008) at the Bangalore University, India. Accomplished her PhD (2017) at R.T.M. Nagpur University, India on “Biosensor Technology”. She previously worked as postdoc at University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA and her research was focused on utilizing vector genetics and molecular tools for controlling mosquitoes and in turn mosquito borne diseases. She joined Prof. Akbari’s lab as a postdoctoral research fellow in May 2021 to work on various interesting projects to control insect disease vectors by using CRISPR, RNA biology and synthetic viral sensors.
Email address: nthakre@ucsd.edu
Hsing-Han (Jade) Li, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Scholar
Hsing-Han (Jade) received her B.S in Department of Biotechnology (2010) at Asia University, Taiwan, and M.S. in Institute of Biological Science and Technology (2012) at the China Medical University, Taiwan, Ph.D. in Institution of Biotechnology Science and Technology (2020) at National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan, while working with Chun-Hong Chen at the National Institute of Infectious Disease and Vaccinology at the National Health Research Institute (NHRI) in Taiwan. During her Ph.D. she worked on using CRISPR in mosquitoes. She joined the Akbari lab in late 2021 and is interested in working on gene-editing transgenic tools for vector-borne disease and pest control, including CRISPR-based gene drive technologies.
Email address: ligigi1026@gmail.com
Hsing-Han (Jade) received her B.S in Department of Biotechnology (2010) at Asia University, Taiwan, and M.S. in Institute of Biological Science and Technology (2012) at the China Medical University, Taiwan, Ph.D. in Institution of Biotechnology Science and Technology (2020) at National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan, while working with Chun-Hong Chen at the National Institute of Infectious Disease and Vaccinology at the National Health Research Institute (NHRI) in Taiwan. During her Ph.D. she worked on using CRISPR in mosquitoes. She joined the Akbari lab in late 2021 and is interested in working on gene-editing transgenic tools for vector-borne disease and pest control, including CRISPR-based gene drive technologies.
Email address: ligigi1026@gmail.com
Shih-Che Weng, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Scholar
Shih-Che Weng received his B.S. in Life Sciences from the National Dong Hwa University, Taiwan at 2011 and M.S. in Microbiology from the National Taiwan University at 2013. Soon after, he joined Dr. Shin-Hong Shiao’s Lab as a research assistant (2013-2014) and became interested in the study of developmental biology of mosquitoes and vector-pathogen interactions. After that, he applied for the Ph. D. program in the National Taiwan University under supervision of Dr. Shiao and graduated in 2020. His dissertation research involved two major directions: (1) molecular signaling of reproduction control in the mosquitoes. (2) arbovirus-mosquito interactions and characterization of mosquito host factors on arbovirus transmission. In the Akbari lab, Shih-Che would like to focus on developing transgenic tools for molecular virology and vector control, and investigating the olfactory physiology of blood-feeding vector mosquitoes.
Email address: d03445007@ntu.edu.tw
Shih-Che Weng received his B.S. in Life Sciences from the National Dong Hwa University, Taiwan at 2011 and M.S. in Microbiology from the National Taiwan University at 2013. Soon after, he joined Dr. Shin-Hong Shiao’s Lab as a research assistant (2013-2014) and became interested in the study of developmental biology of mosquitoes and vector-pathogen interactions. After that, he applied for the Ph. D. program in the National Taiwan University under supervision of Dr. Shiao and graduated in 2020. His dissertation research involved two major directions: (1) molecular signaling of reproduction control in the mosquitoes. (2) arbovirus-mosquito interactions and characterization of mosquito host factors on arbovirus transmission. In the Akbari lab, Shih-Che would like to focus on developing transgenic tools for molecular virology and vector control, and investigating the olfactory physiology of blood-feeding vector mosquitoes.
Email address: d03445007@ntu.edu.tw
Reem Masri, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Scholar
Reem Masri received her B.S. (2013) and M.S. (2016) in Biology from the American University of Beirut. Her thesis focused on pyrethroid resistance in the house mosquito, Culex pipiens. She then obtained my Ph.D. in Entomology from Virginia Tech in 2021 working in the lab of Dr. Sharakhova. During her time at Virginia Tech, she optimized a new gene-based method for the cytogenetics mapping of repeat-rich mosquito genomes. Moreover, she had the chance to study whole-genome and chromosome differentiation between members of the Culex pipiens complex, specifically Cx. p. pipiens and Cx. p. molestus.
Email address: reemm7@vt.edu
Reem Masri received her B.S. (2013) and M.S. (2016) in Biology from the American University of Beirut. Her thesis focused on pyrethroid resistance in the house mosquito, Culex pipiens. She then obtained my Ph.D. in Entomology from Virginia Tech in 2021 working in the lab of Dr. Sharakhova. During her time at Virginia Tech, she optimized a new gene-based method for the cytogenetics mapping of repeat-rich mosquito genomes. Moreover, she had the chance to study whole-genome and chromosome differentiation between members of the Culex pipiens complex, specifically Cx. p. pipiens and Cx. p. molestus.
Email address: reemm7@vt.edu
Michelle Bui, B.S.
Graduate Student (Ph.D)
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.
Graduate Student (Ph.D)
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 joined the Akbari lab in 2018 and 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 joined the Akbari lab in 2018 and is interested in applying and improving gene editing technologies to combat the spread of vector-borne diseases.
Contact: djbrogan@ucsd.edu
Junru Liu, B.S.
Graduate Student (Ph.D)
Junru Liu received her B.S. in Human Biology from the University of California, San Diego (2018). She worked as a student researcher in the lab of Dr. Newmeyer in La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology studying the apoptosis cascade in liver cancer cells (2017-2018). Junru joined the Akbari Lab in 2018 and is currently focusing on developing gene-editing technologies for vector-borne disease and pest control.
Contact: JUL217@ucsd.edu Click here for current CV
Junru Liu received her B.S. in Human Biology from the University of California, San Diego (2018). She worked as a student researcher in the lab of Dr. Newmeyer in La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology studying the apoptosis cascade in liver cancer cells (2017-2018). Junru joined the Akbari Lab in 2018 and is currently focusing on developing gene-editing technologies for vector-borne disease and pest control.
Contact: JUL217@ucsd.edu Click here for current CV
James Pai, B.S.
Graduate Student (MS)
James will graduate from UC San Diego in Biochemistry and Cell Biology in 2021 and will continue his research as a master student in the Akbari lab. He joined the Akabri lab as an undergraduate researcher in 2019. He is interested in exploring new genes that are valuable in developing transgenic tools for pest control.
Contact: japai@ucsd.edu
James will graduate from UC San Diego in Biochemistry and Cell Biology in 2021 and will continue his research as a master student in the Akbari lab. He joined the Akabri lab as an undergraduate researcher in 2019. He is interested in exploring new genes that are valuable in developing transgenic tools for pest control.
Contact: japai@ucsd.edu
Judy Ishikawa
Staff Research Associate (SRA)
Judy Ishikawa joined the Akbari Lab in 2016 and is currently the head Lab Technician of the Akbari mosquito insectary space. Her work is the maintenance and rearing of wildtype and transgenic Aedes and Anopheles mosquitos.
Contact: mishikawa@ucsd.edu
Judy Ishikawa joined the Akbari Lab in 2016 and is currently the head Lab Technician of the Akbari mosquito insectary space. Her work is the maintenance and rearing of wildtype and transgenic Aedes and Anopheles mosquitos.
Contact: mishikawa@ucsd.edu
Iliano Coutinho-Abreu, Ph.D.
Staff Research Associate (SRA)
Iliano Coutinho-Abreu received his B.S. in Biology and M.S. in Genetics from the Federal University of Pernambuco (Brazil). In 2011, Iliano Coutinho-Abreu finished his PhD in Entomology at Kansas State University, with the dissertation entitled “Molecular aspects of sand fly-based vaccine development”. In the same year, Dr. Coutinho-Abreu joined the Ray Lab at UC Riverside as a postdoc to investigate the olfactory systems of the Asian citrus psyllid and mosquitoes for the development of odor-based control methods. In 2014, Dr. Coutinho-Abreu moved to the Valenzuela Lab at NIH and as a postdoc studied Leishmania-sand fly molecular interaction, the evolution of salivary proteins, and the development of saliva-based vaccines. As a SRA in the Akbari Lab at UCSD since September 2020, Dr. Coutinho-Abreu has been working on the development of novel genetic strategies for the control of insect disease vectors.
Contact: iliano.coutinho@gmail.com Google Scholar
Iliano Coutinho-Abreu received his B.S. in Biology and M.S. in Genetics from the Federal University of Pernambuco (Brazil). In 2011, Iliano Coutinho-Abreu finished his PhD in Entomology at Kansas State University, with the dissertation entitled “Molecular aspects of sand fly-based vaccine development”. In the same year, Dr. Coutinho-Abreu joined the Ray Lab at UC Riverside as a postdoc to investigate the olfactory systems of the Asian citrus psyllid and mosquitoes for the development of odor-based control methods. In 2014, Dr. Coutinho-Abreu moved to the Valenzuela Lab at NIH and as a postdoc studied Leishmania-sand fly molecular interaction, the evolution of salivary proteins, and the development of saliva-based vaccines. As a SRA in the Akbari Lab at UCSD since September 2020, Dr. Coutinho-Abreu has been working on the development of novel genetic strategies for the control of insect disease vectors.
Contact: iliano.coutinho@gmail.com Google Scholar
Kritin Karkare, B.S.
Staff Research Associate (SRA)
Kritin Karkare received his B.S. in Bioengineering with a specialization in Bioinformatics and a minor in Cognitive Science from UCSD in 2019. He soon joined the UCSD Biology Undergraduate Teaching Labs a few months later as a Bioinformatics Staff Research Associate. As a SRA, he helps prep experiments for the microbiology and intro to biology lab courses as well as provide bioinformatics expertise for the various lab classes - he also sequences class samples using the lab's Illumina MiSeq. In the future, Kritin plans to pursue a Ph.D. in bioinformatics and potentially combine it with his other interest in neuroscience. With most lab classes remote, he's currently helping the Akbari lab with their experiments and tasks.
Contact: kkarkare@ucsd.edu
Kritin Karkare received his B.S. in Bioengineering with a specialization in Bioinformatics and a minor in Cognitive Science from UCSD in 2019. He soon joined the UCSD Biology Undergraduate Teaching Labs a few months later as a Bioinformatics Staff Research Associate. As a SRA, he helps prep experiments for the microbiology and intro to biology lab courses as well as provide bioinformatics expertise for the various lab classes - he also sequences class samples using the lab's Illumina MiSeq. In the future, Kritin plans to pursue a Ph.D. in bioinformatics and potentially combine it with his other interest in neuroscience. With most lab classes remote, he's currently helping the Akbari lab with their experiments and tasks.
Contact: kkarkare@ucsd.edu
Lenissa Alcantara, B.S.
Lab Assistant (LA)
Lenissa Alcantara received her B.S. in General Biology from University of California, San Diego (2019). She initially joined the Akbari Lab as a volunteer undergraduate researcher in November 2018 assisting with the lab's molecular biology procedures. As a lab specialist, Lenissa is now currently focusing on the development of gene-editing technologies to prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases and pest control.
Contact: lmalay@ucsd.edu
Lenissa Alcantara received her B.S. in General Biology from University of California, San Diego (2019). She initially joined the Akbari Lab as a volunteer undergraduate researcher in November 2018 assisting with the lab's molecular biology procedures. As a lab specialist, Lenissa is now currently focusing on the development of gene-editing technologies to prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases and pest control.
Contact: lmalay@ucsd.edu
Tyler Wise, B.S.
Lab Assistant (LA)
Tyler Wise graduated from UC San Diego with a B.S. in Biochemistry and Cell Biology in 2019. He volunteered as an undergraduate researcher for the Akbari lab, before joining in 2020 as a lab specialist. He is interested in developing gene-editing technologies for vector borne diseases and pest control.
Contact: trwise@ucsd.edu
Tyler Wise graduated from UC San Diego with a B.S. in Biochemistry and Cell Biology in 2019. He volunteered as an undergraduate researcher for the Akbari lab, before joining in 2020 as a lab specialist. He is interested in developing gene-editing technologies for vector borne diseases and pest control.
Contact: trwise@ucsd.edu
Haena Lee, B.S.
Lab Assistant (LA)
Haena Lee (preferred name Hannah) graduated from Scripps college with a B.S. in Biology in 2019. During her undergraduate she studied chromosome defects in Wolbachia induced cytoplasmic incompatibility in jewel wasps. Haena joined the Akbari Lab as a lab specialist in 2020. She is interested in developing gene-editing technologies for vector borne diseases and pest control.
Contact: hal075@UCSD.EDU
Haena Lee (preferred name Hannah) graduated from Scripps college with a B.S. in Biology in 2019. During her undergraduate she studied chromosome defects in Wolbachia induced cytoplasmic incompatibility in jewel wasps. Haena joined the Akbari Lab as a lab specialist in 2020. She is interested in developing gene-editing technologies for vector borne diseases and pest control.
Contact: hal075@UCSD.EDU
Jamie Sanchez, B.S.
Lab Assistant (LA)
Jamie Sanchez joined the UCSD Biology Undergraduate Teaching Laboratories as Lab Assistant III in 2006. As a Lab Assistant, Jamie is the primary person responsible for preparing media for all lab courses of the Undergraduate Biology labs. She also supports and is the lab contact for the UCSD Extension Anatomy lab and Ecology Lab. Jamie helps maintain laboratories clean and sanitized as well as collecting biohazard and chemical waste and is currently helping and supporting the Akbari lab with their experiments and tasks.
Contact: j6sanchez@ucsd.edu
Jamie Sanchez joined the UCSD Biology Undergraduate Teaching Laboratories as Lab Assistant III in 2006. As a Lab Assistant, Jamie is the primary person responsible for preparing media for all lab courses of the Undergraduate Biology labs. She also supports and is the lab contact for the UCSD Extension Anatomy lab and Ecology Lab. Jamie helps maintain laboratories clean and sanitized as well as collecting biohazard and chemical waste and is currently helping and supporting the Akbari lab with their experiments and tasks.
Contact: j6sanchez@ucsd.edu
Cody Gilleland, Ph.D.
Collaborator
Cody Gilleland is founder of Hive Biosystems Inc., a company focused on solving experimental bottlenecks in gene editing and drug discovery. He received his S.M. (2009) and Ph.D. (2014) in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT. He spent more than 12 years at MIT as a graduate student, research scientist and principal investigator where he developed robotic and microfluidic systems to enhance the speed, precision and scale of biological discovery. He joined the Akbari Lab in Fall 2019 to provide new instrumentation to accelerate the design-build-test cycle for creating transgenic mosquitoes to mitigate vector-borne diseases.
Contact Cody at: hivebiosystems.com Google Scholar
Cody Gilleland is founder of Hive Biosystems Inc., a company focused on solving experimental bottlenecks in gene editing and drug discovery. He received his S.M. (2009) and Ph.D. (2014) in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT. He spent more than 12 years at MIT as a graduate student, research scientist and principal investigator where he developed robotic and microfluidic systems to enhance the speed, precision and scale of biological discovery. He joined the Akbari Lab in Fall 2019 to provide new instrumentation to accelerate the design-build-test cycle for creating transgenic mosquitoes to mitigate vector-borne diseases.
Contact Cody at: hivebiosystems.com Google Scholar
Undergraduate Researchers
Aayush Somani
Undergraduate Researcher
Aayush Somani is currently a third year pursuing his B.S. in Bioengineering: Biotechnology as well as a business minor at University of California, San Diego. He initially joined the Akbari Lab as a volunteer undergraduate researcher in October 2019 assisting with the lab's molecular biology procedures. He is interested in the development of gene-editing technologies to prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases and pest control.
Contact: a1somani@ucsd.edu
Aayush Somani is currently a third year pursuing his B.S. in Bioengineering: Biotechnology as well as a business minor at University of California, San Diego. He initially joined the Akbari Lab as a volunteer undergraduate researcher in October 2019 assisting with the lab's molecular biology procedures. He is interested in the development of gene-editing technologies to prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases and pest control.
Contact: a1somani@ucsd.edu
Undergraduate Researcher
Asim Godil will graduate from the University of California, San Diego with a B.S. in Biology with a specialization in Bioinformatics in 2024. Asim joined the lab as an undergraduate researcher in January of 2021 and is assisting with the lab's molecular biology procedures. He is interested in gene-editing techniques and how they can be used to prevent mosquito borne human diseases.
Contact: agodil@ucsd.edu
Asim Godil will graduate from the University of California, San Diego with a B.S. in Biology with a specialization in Bioinformatics in 2024. Asim joined the lab as an undergraduate researcher in January of 2021 and is assisting with the lab's molecular biology procedures. He is interested in gene-editing techniques and how they can be used to prevent mosquito borne human diseases.
Contact: agodil@ucsd.edu
Reema Apte
Undergraduate Researcher
Reema is a Molecular and Cell Biology Major planning to graduate in 2022 and continue in the Akbari Lab as a masters student. She joined the lab in January 2020 and is interested in developing insect population suppression technologies to curb the spread of insect-borne disease.
Contact: rapte@ucsd.edu
Reema is a Molecular and Cell Biology Major planning to graduate in 2022 and continue in the Akbari Lab as a masters student. She joined the lab in January 2020 and is interested in developing insect population suppression technologies to curb the spread of insect-borne disease.
Contact: rapte@ucsd.edu
Sarah Baghdasarian
Undergraduate Researcher
Sarah Baghdasarian will graduate from UC San Diego with a B.S. in Molecular and Cell Biology in 2024. Sarah joined the Akbari Lab as an undergraduate researcher in 2021 assisting with the lab’s molecular biology procedures. She is interested in exploring the development of gene-editing tools to prevent the spread of diseases.
Contact: sbaghdasarian@ucsd.edu
Sarah Baghdasarian will graduate from UC San Diego with a B.S. in Molecular and Cell Biology in 2024. Sarah joined the Akbari Lab as an undergraduate researcher in 2021 assisting with the lab’s molecular biology procedures. She is interested in exploring the development of gene-editing tools to prevent the spread of diseases.
Contact: sbaghdasarian@ucsd.edu
Tevykah Pouv
Undergraduate Researcher
Tevykah Pouv is currently completing her B.S. in General Biology at UC San Diego (2022). She initially joined the Akbari Lab in summer of 2021 through UC San Diego’s Undergraduate Research Scholarship program. She was awarded the Julia Brown Research Scholarship for Health and Medical Professions. She is focusing on developing population control technologies in Malaria mosquitoes under the mentorship of Andie Smidler and team.
Contact: tpouv@ucsd.edu
Tevykah Pouv is currently completing her B.S. in General Biology at UC San Diego (2022). She initially joined the Akbari Lab in summer of 2021 through UC San Diego’s Undergraduate Research Scholarship program. She was awarded the Julia Brown Research Scholarship for Health and Medical Professions. She is focusing on developing population control technologies in Malaria mosquitoes under the mentorship of Andie Smidler and team.
Contact: tpouv@ucsd.edu
Tianqi Wang
Undergraduate Researcher
Tianqi Wang (preferred name Nancy) is currently a third year pursuing her B.S. in General Biology at University of California, San Diego. She initially joined the Akbari Lab as a volunteer undergraduate researcher in June 2021 assisting with the lab's molecular biology procedures. She is interested in bioinformatics and the development of gene-editing technologies to prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases.
Contact: tiw024@ucsd.edu
Tianqi Wang (preferred name Nancy) is currently a third year pursuing her B.S. in General Biology at University of California, San Diego. She initially joined the Akbari Lab as a volunteer undergraduate researcher in June 2021 assisting with the lab's molecular biology procedures. She is interested in bioinformatics and the development of gene-editing technologies to prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases.
Contact: tiw024@ucsd.edu
Link to Lab Alumni
Akbari Lab - Year 6 - July 2021 (UCSD) - First in person gathering in over 1 year due to Covid-19 pandemic.
Akbari Lab - Year 5, March 2020 (UCSD)
Akbari Lab -Year 4, August 2019 (UCSD) - Note Shirt- "TENURED AND DANGEROUS"
Akbari Lab - Year 3, August 2018 (UCSD)
Akbari Lab - Year 2, 2017 (UCR)
Akbari Lab - Year 1, 2016 (UCR)
Akbari Lab - Year 0, 2015 (UCR) - The Start!
La Jolla, CA
