Faculty List
All current faculty in the Division of Biological Sciences at UC San Diego. Visit a faculty member's profile to find out more about their research, or find contact details in the faculty directory.
# | Name | Section | Title | Research |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ackerman Susan Ackerman | Neuro | Stephen W. Kuffler Chair in Biology Professor Cellular and Molecular Medicine | Genetic analysis of homeostasis and degeneration of mammalian neurons | |
Akbari Omar Akbari | CDB | Assistant Professor | Developing innovative control systems in insects | |
Allen Eric Allen | MB | Professor SIO Department | Environmental genomics; Microbial oceanography, ecology, evolution, biogeography; Genetic structure of microbial populations; Molecular genetics and ecological physiology | |
Allen Nicola Allen | Neuro | Assistant Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Armour Jon Christopher Armour | Neuro | Teaching Professor | ||
Asahina Kenta Asahina | Neuro | Assistant Adjunct Professor | Genetic, neuronal and circuitry bases of animal social interactions | |
Ayres Janelle Ayres | CDB | Associate Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Azim Eiman Azim | Neuro | Assistant Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Baker Tim Baker | MB | Professor Emeritus Chemistry & Biochemistry | Cryoelectron microscopy and three-dimensional, computer reconstruction of macromolecules | |
Banghart Matthew Banghart | Neuro | Assistant Professor | Molecular, cellular, and circuit mechanisms of neuromodulation. Photochemical and pharmacological tool development. | |
Barton Andrew Barton | EBE | Assistant Professor SIO Department | Biological oceanography; ecology and physiology of marine plankton; biodiversity, biogeography, and macroecology; climate impacts on marine ecosystems. | |
Bennett Eric Bennett | CDB | Associate Professor | Systems-level analysis of cellular protein degradation pathways | |
Berg Darwin Berg | Neuro | Distinguished Professor Emeritus | Cellular and molecular mechanisms of synapse formation, nicoinic signaling, and neural network construction | |
Bier Ethan Bier | CDB | Tata Chancellor\'s Endowed Professorship in Cell & Developmental Biology Distinguished Professor | Molecular and genetic analysis of Drosophila neural development | |
Bloodgood Brenda Bloodgood | Neuro | Assistant Professor | neurophysiology, molecular mechanisms of synapse and circuit plasticity | |
Briggs Steve Briggs | CDB | Distinguished Professor | Embryonic stem cell fate; plant resistance to infectious disease | |
Brody Stuart Brody | MB | Professor Emeritus | Biochemical genetics of circadian rhythms and mitochondrial membranes in Neurospora | |
Busch Wolfgang Busch | CDB | Associate Adjunct Professor Salk New | Systems genetics of root growth and its interactions with the environment | |
Butler Madeline Butler | Neuro | Professor Emeritus | ||
Cang Hu Cang | MB | Assistant Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Chalasani Sreekanth Chalasani | Neuro | Associate Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Chao Lin Chao | EBE | Professor | Theory and genetics of evolutionary processes | |
Chilukuri Lakshmi Chilukuri | MB | Provost of Sixth College Teaching Professor Sixth College | ||
Chisholm Andrew Chisholm | Neuro | Professor | Morphogenesis, axon regeneration and wound healing in C. elegans. | |
Choe Senyon Choe | MB | Adjunct Professor Salk Qualcomm Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology | ||
Chory Joanne Chory | CDB | Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Chrispeels Maarten Chrispeels | CDB | Distinguished Professor Emeritus | What are the most effective pedagogical approaches to create scientific literacy? | |
Cleland Elsa Cleland | EBE | Professor | Responses of plant communities and ecosystems to global environmental changes; restoration of native plant communities. | |
Coleman Aaron Coleman | MB | Teaching Professor | ||
Cook-Andersen Heidi Cook-Andersen | MB | Assistant Professor Reproductive Medicine | Combining genetic, molecular and cutting-edge genome-wide approaches to uncover the mechanisms driving reprogramming to totipotency during the transition from oocyte to embryo | |
Cooke James Cooke | Neuro | Assistant Teaching Professor | Undergraduate learning; Retention of course content | |
Cooper Kimberly Cooper | CDB | Assistant Professor | Musculoskeletal development and diversity of form and function | |
Crawford Nigel Crawford | CDB | Professor Emeritus | Plant molecular biology, control of gene expression and ion transport. | |
Daugherty Matthew Daugherty | MB | Assistant Professor | Evolution of host-pathogen interactions and host immunity against infectious diseases | |
David Michael David | MB | Professor | Mechanisms by which interferons and other cytokines activate the transcription of early response genes. | |
Doolittle Russell Doolittle | MB | Professor Emeritus | Evolution of protein structure and function. | |
Dutton Rachel Dutton | MB | Assistant Professor | Mechanisms of microbial community formation using cheese as a model ecosystem | |
Ecker Joseph Ecker | CDB | Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Emerson Beverly Emerson | MB | Adjunct Professor Salk | Transcriptional regulation in differentiation and disease. | |
Estelle Mark Estelle | CDB | Tata Chancellor\'s Endowed Professorship (VI) in Cell and Developmental Biology Distinguished Professor CDB Chair | Molecular genetics of plant hormone action; the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in plants. | |
Evans Ronald Evans | CDB | March of Dimes Chair in Molecular and Developmental Biology Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Farley Emma Farley | MB | Assistant Professor Medicine | High-throughput functional approaches to understand how the instructions for successful development are encoded in our genomes | |
Feng Gen-sheng Feng | MB | Professor Pathology | Molecular signaling in stem cells, metabolic disorders and cancer | |
Firtel Rick Firtel | CDB | Distinguished Professor Emeritus | Mechanisms regulating gene expression and cell differentiation during development. G. proteins and signal transduction mechanisms. | |
Forbes Douglass Forbes | CDB | Professor | Nuclear transport in vitro; nuclear pore structure; nuclear assembly | |
Fortes P. Fortes | Neuro | Professor Emeritus | ||
French Kathleen French | Neuro | Teaching Professor | ||
Gage Fred Gage | Neuro | John Adler Chair for Research on Age-Related Neurodegenerative Diseases Adjunct Professor Salk Neurosciences | ||
Geiduschek E. Peter Geiduschek | MB | Research Professor Distinguished Professor Emeritus | Biochemical and genetic approaches to the control of gene activity. | |
Gentner Tim Gentner | Neuro | Professor Psychology | ||
Glasgow Stacey Glasgow | Neuro | Assistant Professor New | Defining mechanisms that regulate developmental gliogenesis and understanding how glial dysfunction can lead to neurodegenerative disorders and malignancies. | |
Golden Jim Golden | MB | Professor | Regulation of development, nitrogen fixation, and bio-products in cyanobacteria. | |
Golden Susan Golden | MB | Chancellor\'s Associates Chair (III) in Molecular Biology Director, Center for Circadian Biology HHMI Professor Distinguished Professor | Regulation of circadian rhythms and bio-products in cyanobacteria. | |
Goldrath Ananda Goldrath | MB | Tata Chancellor\'s Endowed Professorship (V) in Molecular Biology Professor MB Chair | Generation and maintenance of T cell immunity. | |
Goulding Martyn Goulding | Neuro | Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Grant Barry Grant | MB | Assistant Teaching Professor | Our research involves the use of computational approaches, based on both biophysics and bioinformatics, to study the structure, function and evolution of key biological macromolecules. | |
Green Melvin Green | CDB | Professor Emeritus | ||
Greenspan Ralph Greenspan | Neuro | Director, San Diego BRAIN Consortium Director, Center for Brain Activity Mapping at UC San Diego Associate Director, Kavli Institute for the Brain and Mind Co-Director, Cal-BRAIN Professor | My research addresses genetic mechanisms underlying behavior: genes, circuits, and physiology in Drosophila. | |
Halpain Shelley Halpain | Neuro | Professor | Molecular mechanisms of morphogenesis of axons, dendrites, and synapses; time-lapse imaging of cytoskeletal dynamics. | |
Hampton Randy Hampton | CDB | Professor | Genetics and molecular biology of protein degradation in yeast. | |
Han Sung Han | Neuro | Assistant Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Hao Nan Hao | MB | Associate Professor | The design principles of molecular networks governing regulatory responses to stresses, aging or diseases | |
Hargreaves Diana Hargreaves | MB | Assistant Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Hasty Jeff Hasty | MB | Professor | ||
Hedrick Stephen Hedrick | MB | Chancellor\'s Associates Chair VII Distinguished Professor | Immune recognition and development. | |
Helinski Donald Helinski | MB | Professor Emeritus | ||
Hetzer Martin Hetzer | CDB | Hearst Endorsement Professor Associate Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Holway David Holway | EBE | Professor EBE Chair | Biological invasions, social insects, trophic interactions. | |
Huffaker Alisa Huffaker | CDB | Assistant Professor | Signal transduction regulating plant innate immunity | |
Hui Enfu Hui | CDB | Assistant Professor | Signal transduction through immune checkpoint receptors; Membrane reconstitution of signaling networks | |
Hunter Tony Hunter | MB | American Cancer Society Professor Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Hwa Terry Hwa | MB | Distinguished Professor Physics | ||
Izpisua Belmonte Juan carlos Izpisua Belmonte | CDB | Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Jin Xin Jin | Neuro | Assistant Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Jin Yishi Jin | Neuro | Junior Seau Foundation Endowed Chair in Traumatic Brain Injury Professor Neuro Chair | Molecular genetic mechanisms of synapse formation, neuron circuit regulation and nerve regeneration. | |
Jones Katherine Jones | MB | Adjunct Professor Salk | Transcription mechanisms in human disease. | |
Juavinett Ashley Juavinett | Neuro | Assistant Teaching Professor New | Course-based undergraduate research with open source datasets; education and careers in neuroscience | |
Jun Suckjoon Jun | MB | Associate Professor Physics | ||
Kadonaga James Kadonaga | MB | Amylin Endowed Chair in Lifesciences Education and Research Distinguished Professor | Transcriptional regulation and chromatin dynamics. | |
Kaech Susan Kaech | MB | Adjunct Professor New | ||
Karlseder Jan Karlseder | MB | Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Kiger Amy Kiger | CDB | Associate Professor | Cellular morphogenesis. Functional genomic analysis of cell shape changes in Drosophila development. | |
Kintner Christopher Kintner | CDB | Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Kleinfeld David Kleinfeld | Neuro | Dr. George Feher Endowed Chair in Experimental Biophysics Distinguished Professor Physics | Behavior and neuronal anatomy and dynamics for active sensing; Angioarchitecture and neurovascular dynamics; Biophotonics | |
Kohn Joshua Kohn | EBE | Professor | Plant population biology; mating system evolution; ecological genetics. | |
Komiyama Takaki Komiyama | Neuro | Professor Neurosciences | Two-photon imaging of microcircuit modulations by behavior and learning in awake mice. | |
Kristan William Kristan | Neuro | Distinguished Professor Emeritus | Neurobiology; neuronal basis of behavior; development of simple nervous systems. | |
Kronenberg Mitchell Kronenberg | MB | President and Chief Scientific Officer Adjunct Professor LJI | ||
Kryazhimskiy Sergey Kryazhimskiy | EBE | Assistant Professor | Evolutionary systems biology; experimental evolution | |
Kurle Carolyn Kurle | EBE | Associate Professor | Applied conservation, trophic interactions, foraging ecology, food webs, stable isotope biogeochemistry, vertebrate ecology, and marine, coastal, and island ecosystems | |
Lande Russell Lande | EBE | Professor Emeritus | ||
Lauberth Shannon Lauberth | MB | Assistant Professor | ||
Law Julie Law | CDB | Assistant Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Lee Kuo Lee | Neuro | Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Leschziner Andres Leschziner | MB | Professor Cellular and Molecular Medicine | ||
Leutgeb Jill Leutgeb | Neuro | Walter F. Heiligenberg Professorship in Neuroethology Professor | Systems Neuroscience; Neural network mechanisms underlying memory formation and retrieval. | |
Leutgeb Stefan Leutgeb | Neuro | Professor Neuro Vice Chair | Neural circuits for spatial computations and memory. | |
Lillemeier Bjorn Lillemeier | MB | Associate Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Lim Byungkook Lim | Neuro | Assistant Professor | ||
Lo Stanley Lo | CDB | Assistant Teaching Professor | Biology education: analyzing how faculty teaching promotes student learning and defining learning progressions for core concepts and competencies in biological sciences | |
Lu Li-Fan Lu | MB | Associate Professor | Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of immune activation and immune suppression | |
Lundblad Victoria Lundblad | MB | Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Lykke-Andersen Jens Lykke-Andersen | MB | Professor MB Vice Chair | Mechanisms of translation and mRNA turnover regulation in eukaryotic gene expression. | |
Lyumkis Dmitry Lyumkis | MB | Assistant Adjunct Professor Salk New | ||
Macagno Eduardo Macagno | CDB | Distinguished Professor | Functions of gap junctional proteins in the generation of neuronal arbors and neuronal circuits, and spatial navigation in visually and cognitively impaired individuals. | |
Madigan Cressida Madigan | MB | Assistant Professor New | Neurological infections and inflammation, including leprosy and tuberculosis | |
Malinow Roberto Malinow | Neuro | Shiley Endowed Chair in Alzheimer\'s Disease research in Honor of Dr. Leon Thal Distinguished Professor Neurosciences | Synapses in brain function and dysfunction. | |
Markow Teri Markow | CDB | Professor Emeritus | Speciation and adaptation to novel environments; Mating system evolution; Drosophila evolutionary genetics. | |
Mayfield Stephen Mayfield | MB | Director, California Center for Algae Biotechnology Co-director, Food & Fuel for the 21st Century Professor | Developing algae as a biotechnology platform for the production of biofuels and bio-products. | |
McDonnell Lisa McDonnell | CDB | Assistant Teaching Professor | Understanding how students develop scientific thinking skills and the impact of teaching methods on knowledge and skill development. | |
McGinnis Bill McGinnis | CDB | Distinguished Professor | Molecular genetics of Drosophila development and epidermal wound repair. | |
Mel Stephanie Mel | MB | Teaching Professor | ||
Meyer Justin Meyer | EBE | Assistant Professor | Experimental evolution and synthetic biology of viruses. | |
Montal Maurice Montal | Neuro | Distinguished Professor Emeritus | ||
Montminy Marc Montminy | CDB | Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Murre Cornelis Murre | MB | Distinguished Professor | Molecular and physical mechanisms that control the development of immune cells | |
Neal Sonya Neal | CDB | Assistant Professor New | Understanding the mechanistic underpinnings and medical importance of misfolded proteins, and how organisms use quality control pathways to mitigate this universal biological stress. | |
Nieh James Nieh | EBE | Professor | Behavioral Ecology of bee foraging and communication, with emphasis on the evolution of communication, neuroethology of learning, and bee health. | |
Nimmerjahn Axel Nimmerjahn | Neuro | Assistant Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Niwa Rosen Maho Niwa Rosen | MB | Professor | ||
O'Shea Clodagh O'Shea | MB | Associate Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Owens Melinda Owens | Neuro | Assistant Teaching Professor New | Biology education; developing tools to understand how college faculty teach; understanding how students reasons about biological topics | |
Panda Satchidananda Panda | CDB | Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Pasquinelli Amy Pasquinelli | MB | Professor | Molecular genetic studies of microRNA pathways. | |
Patrick Gentry Patrick | Neuro | Professor | ||
Pekkurnaz Gulcin Pekkurnaz | Neuro | Assistant Professor | Neuronal metabolism and mitochondria | |
Perry Michael Perry | CDB | Assistant Professor New | Evolution and development of insect visual systems, from cell fate specification to visual function. Appointment begins March 2019. | |
Petrie Katherine Petrie | EBE | Assistant Teaching Professor | ||
Pfaff Samuel Pfaff | Neuro | Helen McLoraine Developmental Chair in Neurobiology Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Pillus Lorraine Pillus | MB | Associate Dean Professor | Chromosome structure and function; genetics and epigenetics of transcription; position effects and transcriptional repression. | |
Pogliano Joseph Pogliano | MB | Professor | DNA segregation in prokaryotes. | |
Pogliano Kit Pogliano | MB | Dean Richard C. Atkinson Endowed Chair Professor | Bacterial cell dynamics and architecture during growth, development and antibiotic treatment. | |
Posakony Jim Posakony | CDB | Distinguished Professor | Cell fate specification by cell-cell signaling and transcriptional regulation; enhancer architecture and evolution. | |
Price Paul Price | MB | Distinguished Professor Emeritus | Analysis of protein structure and physiological function; post translational protein modification. | |
Pruneda-Paz Jose Pruneda-Paz | CDB | Associate Professor | Unraveling transcriptional networks underlying the circadian regulation of plant pathogen responses. | |
Reck-Peterson Samara Reck-Peterson | CDB | Professor Cellular and Molecular Medicine | Mechanisms of intracellular transport | |
Reinagel Pamela Reinagel | Neuro | Associate Professor | Visual behavior, visual neuroscience, and computational theory | |
Rifkin Scott Rifkin | EBE | Associate Professor | Evolutionary and developmental systems biology, variability of genetic networks in nematodes and yeast. | |
Root Cory Root | Neuro | Assistant Professor | Neural circuits mediating olfactory behaviors | |
Rosenfeld Michael Rosenfeld | MB | Professor of Medicine Adjunct Professor Medicine | ||
Roy Kaustuv Roy | EBE | Professor | Physical and biotic controls on the distribution and diversity of species in benthic marine ecosystems. | |
Ryder Oliver Ryder | EBE | Adjunct Professor San Diego Zoo | ||
Saghatelian Alan Saghatelian | CDB | Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Saier Milton Saier | MB | Professor | Transmembrane transport and the regulation of cellular physiology and transcription. | |
Schaechter Moselio Schaechter | MB | Adjunct Professor SDSU | ||
Scheffler Immo Scheffler | MB | Professor Emeritus | Somatic cell genetics. Molecular genetics of mammalian mitochondria. | |
Schmelz Eric Schmelz | CDB | Professor | Chemical ecology; biochemical, physiological and genetic basis of induced plant defenses against insects and pathogens. | |
Schroeder Julian Schroeder | CDB | Torrey Mesa Research Institute Chair in Plant Science (aka Novartis) Distinguished Professor | Cellular, molecular and systems level identification of drought and salinity-stress resistance signal transduction mechanisms in plants. Plant CO2 sensing and signal transduction. | |
Sejnowski Terrence Sejnowski | Neuro | Distinguished Professor | Neurobiology; computational models of the nervous system; mechanisms for synaptic plasticity. | |
Shadel Gerald Shadel | MB | Adjunct Professor New | ||
Shaw Reuben Shaw | MB | Hearst Endorsement Professor Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Shurin Jonathan Shurin | EBE | Professor EBE Vice Chair | ||
Smith Doug Smith | MB | Professor Emeritus | Molecular biology; DNA replication and repair; computer applications to biology. | |
Smith Laurie Smith | CDB | Director of Undergraduate Education Professor | Genetic, molecular, and proteomic analysis of division plane orientation in plant cells. | |
Spitzer Nicholas Spitzer | Neuro | Atkinson Family Chair Distinguished Professor | Developmental neurobiology; control of expression of neuronal phenotypes | |
Stockwell Sarah Stockwell | EBE | Assistant Teaching Professor | ||
Su Chih-ying Su | Neuro | Assistant Professor | ||
Subramani Suresh Subramani | MB | Tata Chancellor\'s Endowed Professorship in Molecular Biology Distinguished Professor Emeritus | Organelle homeostasis; peroxisome function and biogenesis; peroxisomal disorders; peroxisomal protein import; peroxisome turnover by autophagy. | |
Suel Gurol Suel | MB | Professor | ||
Sun Xin Sun | CDB | Professor Pediatrics | Development, Regeneration and Neural Circuit Control of Lung Function | |
Tour Ella Tour | CDB | Teaching Professor | ||
Traver David Traver | CDB | Professor Cellular and Molecular Medicine | Vertebrate blood cell development, Biology of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, Immunity. | |
Troemel Emily Troemel | CDB | Professor | Investigating host/pathogen interactions in the roundworm C. elegans, including extracellular and intracellular pathogens | |
Villa Elizabeth Villa | MB | Assistant Professor | Cryo-electron microscopy, structural cell biology | |
Wahl Geoffrey Wahl | MB | Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Wang Jing Wang | Neuro | Professor | Systems neurobiology; representation and processing of olfactory information in simple olfactory system | |
Ware Carl Ware | MB | Head and Member of Center for Infectious Diseases Adjunct Professor Sanford-Burnham | ||
Wasserman Steven Wasserman | CDB | Professor | Molecular genetic analysis of signal transduction in Drosophila development and immunity. | |
Wienhausen Gabriele Wienhausen | CDB | Faculty Director of the Teaching and Learning Commons Distinguished Senior Teaching Professor Teaching & Learning Commons | ||
Wilhelm Jim Wilhelm | CDB | Associate Professor | mRNA localization, translational control, and membrane trafficking in\n Drosophila melanogaster. | |
Wills Christopher Wills | EBE | Professor Emeritus | Molecular evolution; genetic variation at DNA level | |
Xu Yang Xu | MB | Professor | Lymphocyte development and signaling pathways in response to DNA damage. | |
Yanofsky Martin Yanofsky | CDB | Paul D. Saltman Chair in Science Education Distinguished Professor | Molecular and genetic analyses of fruit development | |
Yelon Deborah Yelon | CDB | Herbert Stern Chair in Biology Professor CDB Vice Chair | Organogenesis: genetic regulation of heart development in zebrafish. | |
Yguerabide Juan Yguerabide | Professor Emeritus | |||
Zhang Dong-Er Zhang | MB | Professor Pathology | Molecular basis of blood cell differentiation and cancer development. | |
Zhao Yunde Zhao | CDB | Professor | Plant Biology, Molecular mechanisms of auxin homeostasis and signal transduction | |
Zheng Ye Zheng | MB | Associate Adjunct Professor Salk | ||
Zou Yimin Zou | Neuro | Professor | Molecular and cellular mechanisms of axon pathfinding, target specificaton and neuronal migration in nervous system development. | |
Zuniga Elina Zuniga | MB | Professor | Regulation of innate and adaptive immune responses during acute and chronic viral infections. |