Statement from Student Rep: Priti Prasad, M.S.

UCLA offers students with various options to pursue specific scientific interests. For students keen on pursuing a career in Toxicology, the Molecular Toxicology Interdepartmental Doctoral Program provides the optimum research environment to gain vast knowledge and develop into premier Toxicologists. The courses cover molecular mechanisms of human diseases, fundamentals of toxicology, cellular and molecular pharmacology, and toxicodynamics. Students are able to attain presentation skills and critical analysis by attending/presenting at journal clubs and internal seminar series. Diverse laboratories (such as carcinogenesis, cardiology, immunology, neuroscience) are available for students to pursue research utilizing in vitro and in vivo models. UCLA core research facilities provide the opportunity to learn innovative techniques (DNA/RNA sequencing, microscopy, mass spectrometry, high-throughput screening). Students and faculty participate in many organizations such as the Society of Toxicology (SOT), American College of Toxicology (ACT), and various non-profit organizations, that provides students to present their research work and interact with people from industry, government and academia. Above all, the program size ensures that the students are provided with a supportive and collaborative environment.

Current Molecular Toxicology Graduate Students

Aaron Chapman

Aaron Chapman is a New Orleans, Louisiana native and a 2007 graduate of Tuskegee University. He joined Dr. Robert Schiestl's lab and the Molecular Toxicology PhD program at UCLA in 2008. His projects involve elucidating the inverse correlation in Parkinson disease and smoking related cancers, as well as further investigating the role environmental tobacco smoke plays in increased lung cancer susceptibility in DNA repair deficiencies in animals.

Aaron Lulla

Aaron Lulla is a native of East Windsor, New Jersey. Aaron graduated from Rutgers the State University of New Jersey (Cook College) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry. He joined the UCLA Molecular Toxicology Program in 2010, and works in Dr. Jeff Bronstein's lab. Aaron is studying how the environment effects the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease, specifically the effect of fungicide ziram utilizing zebrafish as a model.

Austin Dean

Austin graduated from the Colorado School of Mines in 2012, with a B.S. in biochemical and chemical engineering. During his undergraduate years his lab work included phospholipid detection and characterization in the human tear film. In 2012, he joined the Molecular Toxicology PhD program and is working at Dr. Ben Glasgow's lab, his current research focuses on elucidating the mechanism by which Tear Lipocalin interacts with cell membrane receptors. He received the FSPH nonresident graduate student scholarship at UCLA in 2012.

Bill Mahon

William Mahon received his B.S. from the University of Oklahoma at Norman in Microbiology with a minor in Chemistry. He moved to California to attend graduate school after completing his Honors Thesis. He entered UCLA through the ACCESS program in 2009, and joined the Molecular Toxicology Ph.D. program in 2010 in Dr. Robert Schiestl's lab. His research involves analyzing new forms of TiO2 nanoparticle technology for utility and safety, as well as nanotechnology-based delivery options for anti-radiation drugs.

Chitrada Kaweeteerawat

Chitrada Kaweeteerawat graduated from Chiang Mai University in Thailand with a major in Biology. She then received the full scholarship from the Japanese Government for graduate study where she earned her Master degree in Molecular Genetics from Osaka University. In 2010, she was awarded with a fellowship from the Thai Government for Ph.D. study in the field of Molecular Toxicology at UCLA. Chitrada works in Dr. Hilary Godwin's lab and her research is focused on the toxicity of nanomaterials. In 2012, she was the recipient of the second prize for her poster presentation at SCSOT, and a Travel grant by ACT to present her research work.

Ciara Martin

Ciara Martin is a 2006 graduate of the University of California, Davis,where she received her B.S. in Environmental Toxicology. After graduating, Ciara worked for two years at UC Davis as an Air Quality technician, helping to monitor visibility in national parks and protected areas. Ciara joined the Molecular Toxicology program in the 2009 and after her first year of rotations joined the lab of Dr. David Krantz. She is currently investigating neurotoxic mechanisms of actions for pesticides linked to higher incidence Parkinson's disease. She has been a recipient of the NIEHS training grant in Molecular Toxicology, the Chancellor's Prize, and the Eugene-Cota Robles Fellowship at UCLA.

Daniel Malkin

In 2009, Daniel graduated from McGill University with a major in Physiology and a minor in neuroscience. For the following two years, Daniel worked in Fredrick Alt's laboratory at Harvard Medical School as a research technician investigating how the configuration of chromosomes within the nucleus impacts gene rearrangement. Daniel initially rotated as an UCLA ACCESS graduate student, and then joined the Molecular Toxicology PhD program in 2012, and works in Dr. Robert Schiestl's lab. He is currently examining correlates of lung inflammation and systemic DNA toxicity.

Jessica Camacho

Jessica Camacho received her B.S. in Molecular Toxicology from the University of California, Berkeley in 2010. She worked as a research assistant at the Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute studying the anthrax toxin, and as an ORISE fellow at the FDA's Office of Food Additive Safety in Maryland conducting in silico toxicology research. She was a participant in the 2012 NSF AGEP Competitive Edge graduate summer research program, and is a recipient of the Eugene-Cota Robles Fellowship at UCLA. She joined the Molecular Toxicology PhD program in 2012, and is currently rotating in Dr. Robert Schiestl's lab.

Julie Castaneda

Visit Website
Julie Castaneda received her B.S. from Eastern Kentucky University in Forensic Science with a concentration in Forensic Biology and a minor in Chemistry. She joined the Molecular Toxicology PhD program at UCLA in 2010, and after her first year of rotations, she joined the laboratory of Dr. Michael Roth. She is the recipient of the Eugene-Cota Robles Fellowship and Graduate Student Research Mentorship Fellowship at UCLA. Julie currently investigates the toxic effects of marijuana on immune function, specifically how exposure to ligands, such as THC, affects cannabinoid receptor biology. In 2012, she was the recipient of Young Investigator Travel Award by the Society on NeuroImmune Pharmacology, and a Travel grant by ACT to present her research work. Recently, Julie's research work was published.

Kristin Yamada

Visit Website
Kristin Yamada earned her B.S. in Chemsitry from UC Berkeley in 2006 and her MPH in Environmental Health Sciences from UCLA in 2008. She subsequently joined the Molecular Toxicology PhD program, and Dr. Curtis Eckhert's lab in 2008 where she works on the mechanism of boron's anti-proliferative effects in prostate cancer cells. She also has the UC Toxic Substances Research and Training Program pre-doctoral fellowship in nanotoxicology. Kristin is the author and webmaster of the UC TSRTP Nanomaterials Risk Assessment website. In 2012, she was the recipient of the Charles F. Scott Fellowship and the Raymond Goodman Scholarship.

Lisa Barnhill

In 2007, Lisa completed undergraduate work at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, CA with degrees in biology and international studies, and conducted research under the guidance of Dr. Michael McConnell studying viruses that infect Salmonella. From 2007-2011, she worked as an SRA in the lab of Dr. Mitchell Diccianni at the University of California, San Diego conducting research in the field of pediatric hematology/oncology and specifically studying the role of non-coding RNA in cancer. During this time, Lisa completed her masters in peace and justice at the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies at the University of San Diego. She joined the Molecular Toxicology PhD program in 2011, and is working in the lab of Dr. Jeff Bronstein. Lisa is currently studying alpha synuclein regulation and the environment.

May Bhetraratana

May Bhetraratana graduated form UC Berkeley in 2009 with a BA in molecular and cell biology, a BS in microbial biology, and a minor in toxicology. She also earned an MHS degree in reproductive and cancer biology from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in 2010. She joined the Molecular Toxicology PhD program in 2011, and works in Dr. Jesus Araujo's lab, where her research focus is on trying to elucidate the relationship between air pollution and atherosclerosis. May is a public health coordinator, and a regular volunteer with the UCLA Mobile Clinic Project.

Michael Davoren

Michael Davoren graduated from UCSB with a degree in Microbiology in 2010. He initially rotated as an UCLA ACCESS graduate student, and then joined the Molecular Toxicology PhD program in 2011, and works in Dr. Robert Schiestl's lab. His work focuses on treating DNA damage caused by various sources including radiation, chemicals, and the inherited disease Ataxia Telangiectasia. Michael is the recipient of the NIEHS training grant in Molecular Toxicology, at UCLA.

Priti Prasad

Visit Website
Priti Prasad earned her B.S. in Zoology and M.S. in Toxicology from New Delhi, India. She has worked as a Scientist at various US pharmaceutical companies (Pfizer Inc, Wrigley, GlaxoSmithKline). She joined the Molecular Toxicology PhD program in 2010, and works in Dr. Ram Raj Singh's lab. Her projects involve utilizing in vitro and in vivo approaches to elucidate the effect of environment in modulating autoimmune responses, specifically investigating immune responses elicited by a hydrocarbon oil in lupus. Priti is a coauthor on a book chapter in "Dubois' Lupus Erythematosus and Related Syndromes" (2012). She is the recipient of the NIEHS training grant in Molecular Toxicology at UCLA (2011), American College of Rheumatology Graduate Student Research Preceptorship Award (2012), and a Travel grant by ACT (2012) to present her research work.

Yelena Rivina

Yelena Rivina graduated from the University of Denver with a double B.S. in Biology and Psychology (Combined Cognitive Neuroscience), and a minor in Chemistry in 2007. During her undergraduate years she worked in the laboratory of Dr. Sharon Graw at the Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, then headed by Dr.Theodore Puck. In 2008 Yelena joined the Molecular Toxicology doctorate program in Dr. Robert Schiestl's lab to work on the mechanisms of radiation countermeasures. Her work focuses on the development of pharmaceuticals that mitigate radiation toxicities.

Yichang Chen

Yichang Chen graduated from Peking University Health Science Center in China where he received his B.M. (Bachelor in Medicine) degree and M.S. degree in Molecular Toxicology by studying the developmental toxicity of Bisphenol A and its impact on estrogen receptor expression in 2010. He joined the Molecular Toxicology PhD Program at UCLA in 2012, and is currently rotating in different laboratories.

Students in the MolTox Program present at the following conferences:

American College of Toxicology (ACT)
Society of Toxicology (SOT)
Southern California SOT (SCSOT)
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Experimental Biology
American Association of Pharmaceutical
Scientists (AAPS)

Besides having opportunities to collaborate with many UCLA institutes and faculty, MolTox students have collaborated with the following institutions:

Brookhaven National Laboratory Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)
California EPA Department of Toxic Substances Control
Fibrogen Inc.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Southern California Particle Center
UCLA Veteran's Hospital

Erin Hsu

Erin Hsu received her undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University and subsequently joined the Molecular Toxicology Program at UCLA under the tutelage of Oliver Hankinson. Here, her work involved the characterization of novel TCDD-inducible genes, focusing on mechanisms of both carcinogenesis and chemoprevention. Her research resulted in the identification of a novel mechanism of phytochemical-based chemoprevention that was highlighted in the national and international media. Erin completed her postdoctoral work in the laboratory of Chris Bradfield at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and is currently a Research Assistant Professor at Northwestern University.

Grace Lee

"Mol Tox program provided me the foundation for my job skills and knowledge as a toxicologist. It's a great program!"

Ilona Bebenek

Ilona Bebenek received both her Bachelor's degree and her Master's from UCLA. Her B.S. was in Organismic Biology, Ecology and Evolution, and her Master's thesis focused on the study of the genetics and evolution of jellyfish sensory organs. She joined the Molecular Toxicology PhD Program and the laboratory of Dr.Oliver Hankinson in 2004. She has been involved in research on the mechanisms of carcinogenesis mediated by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT). She utilizes a transgenic knockout mouse for these studies and several carcinogenesis models. She is also in the process of helping to characterize an orphan cyotchrome p450, CYP2S1. Here, a transgenic knockout mouse, as well as cell culture, are used to study the role of CYP2S1 in the pathology of several diseases.

Kim Henderson

"I began the Molecular Toxicology program in 2003 and after my three rotations I joined Dr. Curt Eckhert's laboratory to study the mechanisms of action of boric acid on prostate cancer cells. Over the next five years, through hard work and excellent mentoring by my advisor, I learned how to do many different molecular biology techniques and assays, how to plan experiments, interpret data, and most importantly how to think independently and critically about science. I had many opportunities to present my work at national conferences and to make career contacts. I also made life long friends. Completing my PhD was an arduous process, but I am very happy that I did it and that it was through Molecular Toxicology. I am currently conducting post doctoral research in a cardiology lab at UCLA."

Lynn Yamamoto

Lynn Yamamoto works in the laboratory of Dr. Robert Schiestl and studies gene-environment interactions such as the responses in DNA repair-deficient mice to secondhand smoke or radiation. She also studies the effects of intestinal microflora on carcinogenesis.

Peter Bui

Peter Bui graduated summa cum laude from UCLA with a bachelor's degree in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics. Before he went to graduate school he worked for a biotech company for several years where he was a co-inventor for 3 patents. He then received his Ph.D. in Molecular Toxicology from UCLA. Currently, he is a postdoctoral fellow in both Molecular Toxicology and Clinical Molecular Genetics. His research interests include the possible role of a novel cytochrome P450 2S1 in colorectal cancer and asthma, and molecular diagnosis of genetic disorders and cancers.

Download CV

Sudheer Beedanagari

Sudheer Beedanagari graduated with a M.S from the University of Georgia, and went on to receive his Ph.D. in Molecular Toxicology from UCLA. Currently he is working as a postdoctoral researcher at UCLA in Dr. Oliver Hankinson's laboratory. He worked as a student representative for the Southern California regional chapter for SOT (SCCSOT) and currently works as a postdoctoral representative for American Scientists of Indian Origin (ASIO), a special interest group of SOT. His research interests include examining the role of epigenetic mechanisms in dioxin-induced transcriptional regulation of the human and mouse Cytochrome P450s.

Quote: "My excellent training in the UCLA Molecular Toxicology program has provided me with a solid foundation to establish my career as a Toxicologist. I am so grateful to all my colleagues (Moltoxer's) and especially Dr. Oliver Hankinson for his great mentoring."

Wade Barranco

Following the completion of his Ph.D. graduate studies in the UCLA Molecular Toxicology program, Wade Barranco participated in a two year post-doc focusing on the contribution of proteases and cigarette smoke contaminants to the development of asthma and COPD, respectively, in mice. He has since been employed at a small pharmaceutical company as a toxicologist fulfilling the roles of designing and monitoring toxicology studies contributing to the regulatory advancement of small molecule drugs.

Quote: "I continue to utilize my training at UCLA as a valuable resource, with respect to my duties as an industry toxicologist."

Zhanna Sobol

"The MolTox program at UCLA provides an excellent foundation for a career in toxicology. I really appreciated the many opportunities to attend professional meeting and smaller symposiums and training courses. The faculty is outstanding and besides being highly regarded experts in their fields, are very approachable and supportive."