Christmas Dinner 2025
TEAM MEMBERS
lfpernas[at]mednet[dot]ucla[dot]edu
Lena Pernas, Ph.D
Principal Investigator
2023-Current, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Freeman Hrabowski Scholar
2023-Current, Assistant Professor at UCLA, Dept. of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics
2019-2025, Group Leader, Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany
2014–2018, LSRF-Simons Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Padua, Dept. of Biology
2008–2013, Ph.D. Stanford University, Dept. of Microbiology & Immunology
2004–2008, B.Sc. University of California, Los Angeles, Dept. of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics
See Lena’s TED talk: How mitochondria may protect us from disease
SKreimendahl{at}mednet[dot]ucla[dot]edu
Sebastian Kreimendahl, PhD
Postdoc
2020-2022, Postdoctoral fellow, Ruhr University Bochum, Medical Faculty
2015-2020, PhD in Biochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Medical Faculty
2012-2015, M.Sc. Biochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum
2009-2012, B.Sc. Biochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum
Interested in the interactions of mitochondrial proteins with intracellular pathogens.
TAdemolue[at]mednet[dot]ucla[dot]edu
Temitope Wilson Ademolue, PhD
Postdoc
2017-2023, PhD in Integrative Biology and Biomedicine, Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia, Portugal
2014-2017, M.Phil. Molecular and Cell Biiology of Infectious Pathogens, University of Ghana, Ghana
2008-2012, B.Sc. Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Studies the role of olfaction in immunity.
josedelgado[at]mednet[dot]ucla[dot]edu
Jose Delgado, PhD
Postdoc, LSRF- Innovative Genomics Institute Postdoctoral Fellow
2018-2024, Ph.D. Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Dartmouth College
2014-2018 B.S. Biological Sciences, University of California, Merced
Interested in how organelles sense intracellular pathogens and prompt the innate immune response.
aprichard[at]mednet[dot]ucla[dot]edu
Amy Prichard, PhD
Postdoc
2018-2024, Ph.D. in Biology (microbiology focus), University of California San Diego, School of Biological Sciences
2014-2018, B.S. in Biochemistry, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, College of Biological Sciences
Interested in interaction, competition, and collaboration between intracellular pathogens.
patrick.krueger[at]age[dot]mpg[dot]de
Patrick Krüger
Graduate Student - IMPRS fellow
2015-2020, M.Sc. in Life Science, University of Konstanz (Germany) and Mayo Clinic (Minnesota)
2012-2015, B.Sc. in Life Science, University of Konstanz (Germany) and Heidelberg University Hospital, German Cancer Research Center
Interested in the role of cellular senescence during Toxoplasma gondii infection.
timbartsch[at]g[dot]ucla[dot]edu
Tim Bartsch
Graduate Student Researcher
2019-2022, M.Sc. University of Cologne, Institute for Biochemistry
2016-2019, B.Sc. University of Cologne, Institute for Biochemistry
Interested in cellular responses to outer mitochondrial membrane stresses.
MelissaHeredia[at]mednet[dot]ucla[dot]edu
Melissa Heredia
Graduate Student Researcher
2022-2023, M.S. in Biology, University of California, San Diego
2018-2022, B.S. in Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, San Diego (Revelle College)
Interested in the mechanism and role of host mitochondrial ultrastructural remodeling during Toxoplasma gondii infection.
NellyEscalante[at]mednet[dot]ucla[dot]edu
Nelly Escalante
Graduate Student Researcher - Eugene Cota-Robles Graduate Fellow
2019-2023, B. Sc. in Molecular and Medical Microbiology, University of California, Davis
Interested in the role of nutritional immunity in Toxoplasma gondii infection
nickcoburn[at]g[dot]ucla[dot]edu
Nick Coburn
Graduate Student Researcher
2022-2024, MPH in Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, UC Berkeley
2017-2021, B.S. in Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University
Interested in how cells detect actively invading pathogens
samleistiko[at]g[dot]ucla[dot]edu
Sam Leistiko
Undergraduate Student Volunteer
2022-Current, B.S. in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, minor in Biomedical Research, UCLA
2024, Whitcome Fellow (Whitcome Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship)
2024, Biomedical Research Summer Scholarship (selected)
martakolson[at]g[dot]ucla[dot]edu
Marta Olson
Undergraduate Student Volunteer
2022-Current, B.Sc. Microbiology, Immunlogy and Molecular Genetics
Interested in the origins and mechanisms of mitochondrial stress response.
YubaiSun[at]mednet[dot]UCLA[dot]edu
Sarah Sun
Undergraduate Student Volunteer
2022-Current, B.S. in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics
Interested in mitochondrial responses to intracellular pathogens.
christianagu[at]g[dot]ucla[dot]edu
Christian Aguirre
Undergraduate Student Volunteer
2022-Current, B.S. in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics
Interested in the weaponization of host metabolites against Toxoplasma.
hannahriel[at]g[dot]ucla[dot]edu
Hannah Riel
Undergraduate Student Volunteer
2022-Current, B.S. in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics
Interested in the weaponization of host metabolites against Toxoplasma.
alvinxxchau1[at]g[dot]ucla[dot]edu
Alvin Chau
Undergraduate Student Volunteer
2022-Current, B.S. in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics
Interested in innate immune responses to infection.
karevelo[at]g[dot]ucla[dot]edu
Kate Arevalo
Undergraduate Student Volunteer
2024-Current, B.S. in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molegular Genetics
2022-2024, A.S. in Biological Sciences, Los Angeles Valley College
Interested in role of the microbiome in immunity and physiological basis of microbial infections.
gandhasri5[at]g[dot]ucla[dot]edu
Rishik Gandhasri
Undergraduate Student Volunteer
2024-Present, B.Sc in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics
Interested in changes in mitochondrial dynamics in response to parasitic infection.
bradyward[at]g[dot]ucla[dot]edu
Brady Ward
Undergraduate Student Volunteer
2025-Current, B.Sc. in Physiological Science
2022-2025, A.S. in Chemistry and Biological Sciences, Santa Barbara City College
Interested in viral replication strategies and host cell pathology.
sreato[at]mednet[dot]ucla[dot]edu
Silvia Reato
Laboratory Manager
2020-Current, Manager for Pernas Lab
2013-2015, M.Sc. in Medical Biology, University of Padua (Italy), Department of Biology
2010-2013, B.Sc. in Molecular Biology, University of Padua (Italy), Department of Biology