Diana has been at SF State since 2004. She's the Graduate Coordinator for the Biology Program and has developed courses in Scientific Writing and Science Communication.

 

Diana had her first research experience as a high school student in Reno, Nevada. She continued research as an undergraduate at UC Berkeley, where she studied chemotaxis in the Koshland lab and fly development in the Goodman lab. She earned her PhD at UCLA studying protein transport in yeast with Dr. Greg Payne. She started studying development in C. elegans with Dr. Barbara Meyer at Berkeley during her post-doctoral fellowship as an American Cancer Society Fellow. 

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In addition to science-related activities, she has had her recipes published in the Food52 cookbook. She also loves to ski, when her kids let her.

Wesley has been doing research in the Chu Lab since the summer of 2017. He joined in his fourth year of undergraduate studies and was working towards a Bachelor of Science in Cell and Molecular Biology. He graduated in Spring 2018, and in Fall 2018, he will be working towards a Master’s degree in Cell and Molecular Biology. 

 

In the lab, he focused on troubleshooting the CRISPR based gene-editing protocol that has been established to generate in-frame insertions of various fluorescent proteins genes (GFP, YPET, and RFP) to the end (right before the stop codon) of various proteins of interest that plays a role in chromosome segregation or spermatogenesis. In addition to the fluorescent protein sequence, the insertion sequence will also contain a short sequence that code for a degron protein which was used in the Auxin inducible Degradation system which will allow for protein knock down experiments. 

 

Outside of the lab, Wesley spends his time relaxing comfortably while enjoying different categories of genres. He also spends a lot of time watching TV. But on a more productive note, he tries to learn new skills like learning how to code using Python.  

The beginning of Christen’s research journey in the Chu lab started in the Summer of 2017 when she became a Master’s candidate in Cell and Molecular Biology. She works on the histone project, primarily investigating the role of the H2A variant, HTAS-1, during the process of spermatogenesis. Specifically, she is interested in understanding the transcriptional influence HTAS-1 has on sperm-specific gene expression. Histone variants can have contradictory roles in gene regulation within cells or tissues; therefore, she wants to investigate other factors such as post-translational modifications (PTMs) that might be fundamental in aiding this process of expression necessary for determining sperm fate.

 

Christen graduated with a B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology from San Francisco State University in 2016. She hopes to continue on with her education after receiving her M.S. by pursuing a PhD. Her career plan is to be rooted in academia and to teach in the field of Biology at a collegiate level.

 

When Christen isn’t in San Francisco she enjoys reading all genres of literature and binge watching shows on Netflix. Most importantly though, you’ll always find her either enjoying some boba or coffee at all times!  

Amayrani began research in the summer of 2017 through the Bridges of Baccalaureate Program. She studied the effect of WNT-C59 on zebrafish embryonic tissue development. In addition, she studied the photosensitivity of Vitamin A by investigating the percent viability of Schizosaccharomyces pombe when exposed to UV light. The summer of 2018 is her first time in the Chu Lab.

 

Amayrani is working towards her Bachelor’s in Cell and Molecular Biology at the College of San Mateo. She is in the process of transferring to obtain a Bachelor’s and PhD with the aspiration to work in the biotechnology industry. 

 

In her free time, Amayrani enjoys watching Friends, learning new languages, and hiking the marvelous trails of Northern California. 

Dana began working in the Chu Lab as a fourth-year undergraduate during the Fall of 2018. She began by maintaining various strains of worms and is now working with graduate student Nia in immunostaining male germlines in C. elegans.

 

Dana is currently working towards a degree in Microbiology, with minors in Anthropology and Chemistry at San Francisco State. She is planning on graduating in Spring 2020. Following graduation, Dana hopes to enter medical school and pursue a career in medicine.

 

Outside of school, Dana enjoys playing video games, baking, and embroidering things (usually for her friends).

Eric transferred from College of San Mateo/Skyline College to San Francisco State University in the Fall of 2018 as a Cell and Molecular Biology major. During his time in community college, he realized that he was interested in a career in science. After spending a semester acclimating to the SFSU community, he joined the Chu Lab in the late Spring of 2019, during his third year of undergraduate studies.

 

In the lab, Eric is currently working on isolating germlines of C. elegans to be analyzed through RNA sequencing. The data obtained will then be used to learn more about how HTAS-1 (a sperm-specific, histone H2A variant) influences gene expression during spermatogenesis.

 

When Eric has time outside of studying and working, he likes to binge watch shows, explore new cooking recipes, and spend time with his friends.

Gabriela started doing research in the summer of 2018 through the NIH Bridges to Baccalaureate Program. She studied which combination of plasmids combined with Wnt8a had the most light activity in zebrafish embryos. She also studied which method would best be effective in protecting a UV sensitive strain of fission yeast:  a pill that is said to help protect against UV called Polypodium leucotomos extract (PLE) alone, sunscreen alone, or the PLE combined with the sunscreen. This is her second year of the Bridges Program, and the summer of 2019 is the first time working in the Chu lab.

 

Gabriela is currently at City College of San Francisco and has two more semesters before transferring. Her major is genetics and she is pursuing a bachelor’s and master’s degree.

 

In her free time, she likes to hang out with friends, read, play video games, watch movies, and go on hikes. 

Georgina was introduced to research in 2018 through the NIH Bridges to Baccalaureate Summer Research Program where she studied the effects of IWP-L6 and IWP-12 on zebrafish embryonic development. In addition, she studied the effects of sunscreen and vitamin E protection on S. pombe undergoing UV radiation. During the second summer of Bridges, she was placed in the Chu Lab.

 

Originally a student at Cañada College, Georgina is transferring to Cal Poly Pomona where she will continue to pursue her Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology. She will eventually obtain a Master’s and is pursuing a career in research.

 

When she’s not at home sleeping, you can find Georgina drawing, painting, or at the movies!

Lorenzo is one of the labs newest members. He is finishing up his last year here at San Francisco State University, where he will obtain a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology with a concentration in Microbiology, and minor in Arab Muslim Ethnicities and Diaspora Studies. 

 

He’s still not quite sure as to what he will be focusing on here in the lab but looks forward to what is to come. He is eager, inquisitive, and happy to be doing research. 

 

In his spare time, you can find him doing product reviews on skincare products for his beauty blog. He is fascinated with the chemistry behind it all, and product formulation. You can find him reading, creating skincare, doing yoga, exploring SF, and EATING FOOD!!!!!

Elleanor joined the Chu Lab and the SF State Biology Master's Program in Fall 2020. She began her journey in science at Contra Costa College, where she was introduced to her first research opportunity, and transferred on to study Nutritional Biology at UC Davis. Since then, Elleanor has been continuously exploring her interests in development and science education, with hopes to teach and pursue a doctoral degree. 

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She is passionate about making science/education more accessible and culturally-relevant and looks forward to developing her skills as a connector, educator, and scientist with her new worm friends at the Chu Lab. 

 

When she's not experimenting with recipes in the kitchen, you can find her talking story with family (or anyone, really!), reading, sampling desserts across the East Bay, and babying her collection of tropical plants. Feel free to reach out to her here!

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