HALLEM LAB AT UCLA
  • Home
  • Research
  • Publications
  • People
  • News
  • Photos
  • Positions
  • Contact
  • Resources
  • Internal Home Page
  • Home
  • Research
  • Publications
  • People
  • News
  • Photos
  • Positions
  • Contact
  • Resources
  • Internal Home Page

People

Principal Investigator

Picture
 Elissa Hallem, Ph.D.

Elissa is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics at UCLA. Elissa received a BA from Williams College, where she majored in biology and chemistry. She received her PhD in neuroscience from Yale University, where she studied odor coding in the fruit fly Drosophila with Dr. John Carlson.  She then did her postdoctoral work at Caltech with Dr. Paul Sternberg, where she studied the chemosensory behaviors of free-living and parasitic nematodes. Her lab at UCLA studies how sensory neural circuits drive host-seeking and host-infection behaviors in human-parasitic nematodes, and how sensory neural circuits are modulated to drive different behaviors. When not doing science, Elissa enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with her family.

Lab Members

Picture
Navonil Banerjee, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Scholar

Originally from India, Navonil received his BS in Biochemistry and MS in Biotechnology from University of Calcutta, India. He received his PhD in Neurobiology from U Mass Medical School, where his thesis work focused on neuropeptide signaling mechanisms underlying innate and adaptive behaviors in C.  elegans. In the Hallem lab, Navonil seeks to understand the neural basis of CO2 response in skin-penetrating nematodes and C. elegans. Navonil spends his free time reading, watching movies, cooking and exploring national parks.




Picture
Astra Bryant, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Scholar
​
Originally from the SF Bay Area, Astra is a postdoctoral fellow studying the neural mechanisms underlying thermosensation in soil-transmitted helminths. She earned a BA in Biology from Bryn Mawr College, and a PhD in Neuroscience from Stanford University. Before joining the Hallem lab, Astra worked on a wide array of topics in systems and circuits neuroscience. Astra is a founding member of the science communication group NeuWrite West. Outside of the lab, Astra enjoys cycling, playing softball, and painting the Pacific Ocean.

Picture
Michelle Castelletto, Ph.D.
Project Scientist

Michelle earned a PhD in Parasitology at the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied the genetics of Strongyloides. In the Hallem Lab, she focuses on developing genetic tools to investigate the neurobiology of Strongyloides. Michelle’s non-science interests include sewing, cycling and spending time at the beach.

Picture
Ivan Chavez
Undergraduate Researcher

Originally from the Inland Empire in Southern California, Ivan is a fourth-year undergraduate at UCLA majoring in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics. His current research interests include elucidating microbial interactions, particularly between parasitic nematodes and bacteria. He enjoys audiobooks, coffee shop ambience, serving as an undergraduate learning assistant, and finding new movies to watch.

Picture
Stephanie DeMarco, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Scholar

A Southern California native, Stephanie is a postdoctoral fellow studying skin penetration in soil-transmitted helminths. She earned a BA in Molecular and Cell Biology from UC Berkeley and a PhD in Molecular Biology from UCLA, where she studied the social behavior of the parasite Trypanosoma brucei. Before joining the Hallem Lab, Stephanie was an AAAS Mass Media Fellow at the Los Angeles Times. Outside of the lab, Stephanie enjoys writing about science, traveling, and tap dancing. 


Picture
Tiffany Mao
Lab Manager

Born and raised in LA County, Tiffany earned a BA in Fine Arts from UCLA. Preceding undergraduate courses, Tiffany began her career at UCLA working in a Drosophila lab and has since been employed at UCLA for more than 12 years. As manager for the Hallem Lab, she makes sure everyone is able to get the tools they need to conduct their research. Leisurely interests include creating art, assembling crafts, collecting toys, and watching television series or movies. 


Picture
Elisa Rojas Palato
Undergraduate Researcher

​Elisa grew up in the small town of Yuba City, CA. She is a Neuroscience major and Chicanx/o/a Studies minor. Elisa enjoys exploring Los Angeles with her friends and doing community service work. When she is not studying for her classes, she enjoys working out, listening to music, and meeting new people.

Picture
Ruhi Patel
Postdoctoral Scholar

Ruhi received her B. Tech in Biotechnology at Anna University in Chennai, India, where she was born and raised. She earned her Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry at UCLA, where she characterized the genetic pathways that regulate the molting cycle of C. elegans. As a postdoctoral fellow in the Hallem lab, she seeks to understand how mechanosensation enables soil-transmitted helminths to locate and infect their hosts. When not playing with or thinking about worms, Ruhi loves to bake, cook, and practice martial arts.

Hallem Lab Alumni

Name
Former Position in Hallem Lab
Arezoo Barnia
undergraduate lab helper, technician
Leopoldo Bello-Luna
undergraduate researcher
Taylor Brown
graduate student
Mayra Carrillo
graduate student
James Cevallos
undergraduate researcher ​
Keely Chaisson
graduate student
Wendy Fung
undergraduate researcher
Spencer Gang
graduate student ​
Manon Guillermin
graduate student
Daniel Lee
technician
Joon Ha Lee
undergraduate researcher, technician
Jackie Lopez
undergraduate researcher
​Ryo Okubo
technician
​Jennifer Peña
undergraduate researcher ​​
Sophie Rengarajan
graduate student ​
Feli Ruiz
undergraduate researcher, technician
Anastassia Tselikova
undergraduate researcher
Mia Vang
undergraduate lab helper, researcher
Emily Yang
undergraduate researcher
Kristen Yankura
postdoctoral fellow
University of California, Los Angeles

​Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics

Molecular, Cellular, & Integrative Physiology Program

​Graduate Program in Biosciences


Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program
Picture
​© 2020 The Hallem Lab. All rights reserved.