Former Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars
Dr. Jonathan Anzules
Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Group
Project: My research is focused on understanding the dynamics of homeostasis in our immune system. In a data driven approach, I seek to encapsulate the balance between immune activation, suppression, and growth in a mathematical model, with the hope that this will give us a simulation that can illustrate the multi-point failures necessary that lead to the self-sustained phenomenon of autoimmune disease.
Fun fact: I like to go climbing with my friends and practice poi dancing every now and then.
B.S. in Biology, Brooklyn College 2014
Dr. Oscar Davalos
Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Group
My research is focused on understanding the role of CD8 T cells in early autoimmune disease. Using data generated in our lab and publicly available data sets, I use various bioinformatic and machine learning methods to make comparisons between multiple autoimmune diseases. These comparisons help identify the key cells involved in early autoimmune disease. My research also involves applying deep learning methods to single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets.
Fun fact: I love watching soccer during my free time.
B.S. in Molecular Biology, CSU San Marcos 2018
Dr. Anh L. Diep
Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Group
Project: I study the host immune response to Coccidioides spp., the fungi responsible for coccidioidomycosis, colloquially known as “Valley Fever” here in the San Joaquin Valley. I am most interested in what separates individuals that are able to clear a fungal infection versus those that fail and go on to develop chronic disease. To examine this question, I am characterizing the innate and adaptive responses against fungal pathogens. My goal is to use our findings to improve our understanding of Valley Fever disease progression and inform diagnostic methods and treatment plans.
Fun fact: I like to paint and bake in my spare time.
B.S. in Microbiology and Immunology, UC Merced 2017
Dr. David Gravano
Postdoctoral Scholar
Current: Assistant Project Scientist
Stem Cell Instrumentation Foundry
UC Merced
David is currently an Assistant Project Scientist in the UC Merced Stem Cell Instrumentation Foundry and an ongoing collaborator.
Postdoctoral Fellow, UC Merced, 2012-2014 (Mentor: Katrina Hoyer)
Postdoctoral Fellow, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 2010-2012 (Mentor: Dario Vignali)
Ph.D. in Quantitative Systems Biology, UC Merced 2010 (Mentor: Jennifer Manilay, Ph.D.)
B.S. in Neuroscience/Italian, UCLA 2004
Dr. Kristen M. Valentine
PhD Student
Current: Post-doctoral Fellow at La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, San Diego
Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Group, UC Merced
I am a magician, I mix clear liquids into other clear liquids then I answer questions. Also, I study the role of a CD8 T cell subset during autoimmune disease. We have identified a CD8 T cell population that transcriptionally and phenotypically resembles CD4 T follicular helper cells. We have shown that these CD8 T follicular cells promote antibody class switching.
B.S. in Human Biology, UC Merced 2014
Dr. Genevieve Mullins
PhD Student
Current: Post-doctoral Fellow with Dr. Justin Milner at UNC Chapel Hill.
Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Group, UC Merced
While with the Hoyer lab I worked on assessing the function of CD8 T follicular cells within autoimmune disease, particularly in regards to their impact on B cell responses.
Fun fact: I can fence!
University of California, Merced, BS in Microbiology and Immunology and BA in Psychology, 2016
University of California, Merced, PhD in Quantitative and Systems Biology, 2021
Former Undergraduate Student Researchers
Andres Roman
University of California, Merced, B.S. in Human Biology, expected graduation: May 2022
Project: My project is working in Valley Fever project in assessing the symptoms and immune responses in relation to other respiratory diseases. I will be working in collaboration with other undergraduate researchers as well graduate mentors. I will work too aid in vitro project to identify microbiota factors that block Coccidiodes invasions.
Fun fact: I’m fluent in American Sign Language and used it to translate and communicate during my period of time of working as Volunteer at Covid Center.
Avi Rae Quiogue
University of California, Merced, B.S. in Microbiology and Immunology, expected graduation: May 2022
Project: I am working on an autoimmune project assessing CD8 T cells function.
Fun fact: My family owns a funeral service in the Philipines.
"Anson" Lek Wei Seow
University of California, Merced, BS in Microbiology and Immunology, Spring 2021
Project - The project I had worked on was Project Imaging. It includes counting T cells in the germinal center of control and autoimmune mice. The T cells in the germinal center are stained for CXCR5 and CXCR4 chemokine receptors. The reason the cells are stained with these is to determine CD8 T cell localization within and outside of the germinal center in autoimmune disease. An extension of this project is to also look at cytokine production by CD8 T cells inside and outside of the germinal center, in comparison to CD4 T cells, within autoimmune disease.
Fun fact: I enjoy watching scenic views and hiking.
Noah Huerta
![](/files/styles/original/public/khoyer2/files/noah.jpeg?itok=LBX5dZKR)
University of California, Merced, BS in Biological Sciences, Spring 2021
Project- While in the Hoyer Lab, I assisted with autoimmune disease research by assaying difference aspects of immune exhaustion in MRL and MPJ mouse models.
Fun fact: I know how to make small origami cranes.
Samuel Arda
University of California, Merced, BS in Molecular & Cellular Biology, Spring 2021
Project: I worked as part of the Valley Fever Research group. In turn, I focused on exploring disease correlations in Valley fever to other respiratory illnesses by comparing symptoms, diagnostic tests, and immune features. Taking everything into account, the overall goal of the project is to decrease the rates of Valley fever misdiagnosis, and aid clinicians to be more aware of the disease.
Fun fact: I like to spend his time in the outdoors, such as fishing, and hiking. However, most recently, I have taken up coastal foraging!
Kayla Williams
University of California, Merced, BS in Molecular & Cellular Biology, Spring 2021
Project: I worked on assessing antibody levels across autoimmune disease progression in order to correlate to novel CD8 T cell populations.
Fun fact: I have broken over 20 bones!