Our lab welcomes scientists from all backgrounds regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic background, or other historically marginalized groups. We strive to foster an inclusive lab environment where black, brown, and underrepresented scientists will thrive in. We celebrate diversity and its power to drive the creativity needed to make innovative scientific discoveries.
James Nuñez, PhD
Principal Investigator
James is an Assistant Professor in the Molecular and Cell Biology Department at UC Berkeley, a Hanna Gray Fellow of HHMI, and an Investigator of the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub. Previously, he was a postdoc fellow with Jonathan Weissman at UCSF and earned his PhD at UC Berkeley in Jennifer Doudna's lab. James is interested in all things CRISPR and chromatin biology. Outside the lab, you will likely find James on a tennis court or outdoors on his bike or hiking boots.
contact: jamesnunez[at]berkeley.edu
Nikita Divekar, PhD
Postdoc
Nikita earned her PhD from Northwestern University.
contact: nsd178[at]berkeley.edu
🤣💃🎭🌏
Da Xu, PhD
Postdoc
Da earned his PhD at the University of Science and Technology of China.
contact: xd101928@berkeley.edu
Scarleth Chalen Ulloa
Research Assistant
Scarleth earned her bachelor's degree at the University of San Francisco.
contact: scarleth[at]berkeley.edu
☠️🐻❄️
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Rithu Pattali
MCB Graduate Student
Rithu is a second year PhD student in the Molecular and Cell Biology Department, jointly advised by Dr. Jennifer Doudna.
contact: rithupattali[at]berkeley.edu
🔬🏖️
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Izaiah Ornelas
MCB Graduate Student
Izaiah is a second year PhD student in the Molecular and Cell Biology Department and a recipient of a NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and a UC Berkeley Mentored Research Award.
contact: izaiah_ornelas[at]berkeley.edu
😎🧬
Anna Christenson
MCB Graduate Student
Anna is a first year PhD student in the Molecular and Cell Biology Department.
contact: anna_christenson[at]berkeley.edu
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Eric Bass
Undergraduate Student
Eric is a third year studying Business Administration and MCB with an emphasis in biochemistry and molecular biology.
contact: ericbass[at]berkeley.edu
Carolyn Nguyen
Undergraduate Student
Carolyn is a first-year studying Molecular and Cell Biology.
contact: carolyndvn[at]berkeley.edu
Peter Colias
Undergraduate Student
Peter is a third year Molecular and Cell Biology major with an emphasis on Genetics, Genomics & Development.
contact: pjcolias[at]berkeley.edu
Jerry Roberts
Undergraduate Student
Jerry is a third year studying Molecular and Cell Biology with an Emphasis in Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology.
contact: jerryroberts[at]berkeley.edu
You!
Postdoc • Graduate Student • Research Assistant • Undergraduate Student • Visiting Scholar
We accept graduate students from the Molecular and Cell Biology PhD program. Postdocs, research assistants, undergraduate students, and visiting scholars should reach out to James: jamesnunez [at] berkeley [dot] edu
Alumni
Former Undergraduate Students
Anatori Prieto, Ted Llera (McNair Scholar), Paulina Rios (Summer Amgen Scholar), Michelle Adutwum (Summer UCSF SSRP/CIRM Scholar), Lily Baulete (Summer Intern)