
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
🤣💃🎭🌏

Scarleth Chalen
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 Grad Student
Rithu is a first year PhD student in the Molecular and Cell Biology Department, joint with Jennifer Doudna.
contact: rithupattali[at]berkeley.edu

Ted Daniel Llera
Undergraduate Student
Ted is a senior in Molecular and Cell Biology: Immunology and Pathogenesis and Minoring in Toxicology. When he's not doing research, he likes to play tennis and enjoys traveling.
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Eric Bass
Undergraduate Student
Eric is a sophomore in the MCB Department at UC Berkeley. Outside of the lab, you may find him with his dog or working on this lab website.
contact: ericbass[at]berkeley.edu
🐍

You!
Postdoc • Graduate Student • Research Assistant • Undergraduate Student • Visiting Scholar
We are building our young lab and recruiting new members! 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 Rotation Students
Former Undergraduate Students
Anatori Prieto
Maria Torres-Colon, Anna Horacek, Kevin Wasko, Sergio Mares, Michael Young