Our Team
Valerie Tornini, PhD
Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor
Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology and Institute for Society and Genetics; Affiliation, Chicano Studies Research Center - Hispanic Serving Institution Infrastructure Initiative
B.S., Biology; A.B., Religion, Duke University; Ph.D., Cell Biology (Developmental and Stem Cell Biology), Duke University; Postdoctoral Training, Genetics, Yale School of Medicine
Shortly after her parents moved from Uruguay to the U.S., Val was born and raised in Port Chester, NY along with her twin sister. She attended Port Chester public schools before matriculating at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. There she earned a B.S. in Biology and an A.B. in Religion. During her PhD training in cell biology at Duke University School of Medicine, she investigated how cells in a complex adult tissue coordinately regenerate a patterned structure after injury, primarily using the adult zebrafish fin as a model. Then, as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Genetics at Yale School of Medicine, she investigated the gene regulatory networks that establish the cellular diversity of the developing brain, again using zebrafish as a model. She recently joined the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology and the Institute for Society and Genetics at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as an assistant professor through UCLA’s Hispanic Serving Institution infrastructure initiative. Integral to her scientific contributions and philosophies are mentoring, multilingual community engagement, and efforts that prioritize supporting inclusive excellence in science, including through the national Científico Latino, Leading Edge, SACNAS, and Intersections Science Fellows organizations. For leisure, Val enjoys traveling, playing volleyball and tennis, Latin dancing, and spending time with her dog and family.
Pronouns: she/her/ella
[E-mail] [Bluesky] [Scholar] [How to pronounce my name]
Val’s CV is available here
Emily Page, BA
Staff Research Associate I
B.A., Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley
Emily received her B.A. in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley in 2024. During undergrad, she studied pathogenic bacterial cues that induce an immune response in C. elegans and the intergenerational transmission of that immune response in progeny of pathogen exposed parents. Emily is excited to pursue developmental biology research and study the role of the brain’s immune cells, microglia, in early neuronal circuit formation and models of neurodevelopmental disorders during her time in the Tornini Lab. Outside of lab, Emily loves learning new hobbies, trying new cafés, and spending time with family.
Pronouns: she/her
[email]
Lupita Diaz Garcia
Work Study Undergraduate
B.S. (in progress), Human Biology and Society, University of California, Los Angeles
Lupita grew up in the Bay Area as a proud first-generation Mexican American. She is currently pursuing a B.S. in Human Biology and Society. Eager to embark on her research journey, she is particularly interested in cellular biology and exploring how advancements in genomics can enhance our understanding of human diseases.
Beyond her academic pursuits, Lupita is passionate about creating opportunities for connection and collaboration in the scientific community. She looks forward to gaining experience and contributing to impactful research projects during her time at UCLA. Outside the lab, she enjoys weightlifting, discovering new coffee shops, and spending quality time with friends.
Pronouns: she/her/ella
Alison Cabrera
Work Study Undergraduate
B.S. (in progress), Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles
Alison Cabrera is a sophomore at UCLA majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. Alison is an active member of Collar Scholars at UCLA and is a member of the Program for Excellence in Education and Research in the Sciences (PEERS). In the future, she is interested in pursuing her passion for biology and animal studies as a veterinarian. When she’s not in the lab, Alison can be found reading, spending time with friends and family, or taking walks!
Pronouns: she/her
Amaya Ellis
CARE Fellow; URC/CAMP Fellow; URSP Fellow
B.S. (in progress), Human Biology and Society, African American Studies minor, University of California, Los Angeles
Amaya Ellis is a sophomore at UCLA pursuing a major in Human Biology and Society with a minor in African American Studies. Passionate about healthcare and community service, Amaya serves as a board member for the Flying Samaritans Organization at UCLA and volunteers at UCLA Hospital. She also works as an EMT and actively participates in the PEERS and High Aims program, furthering her commitment to health education and mentorship. Aspiring to become a physician, Amaya is determined to address healthcare disparities and uplift underrepresented communities in Los Angeles. When she's not contributing to her academic and professional pursuits, she enjoys staying active by dancing and going to the gym!
Pronouns: she/her
Seda Süsgün, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher
B.S., Molecular Biology and Genetics, Haliç University
Ph.D., Aziz Sancar Institute of Experimental Medicine, Istanbul University
Seda completed her undergraduate studies in Molecular Biology and Genetics at Halic University on a full scholarship and graduated with honors. She obtained both her master’s and PhD degrees from the Department of Genetics at the well-established Aziz Sancar Institute of Experimental Medicine, Istanbul University. She completed her Ph.D. program in 2024 with ORPHEUS accreditation. Her PhD research focused on dissecting the molecular background of rare neurological disorders through genomic and functional genomic approaches. During her PhD, she was awarded the International Research Fellowship Programme for PhD Students by TUBITAK, through which she undertook a 12-month pre-doctoral research training on zebrafish models for rare neurological diseases at Chungnam National University, South Korea (2022–2023). In addition, she concurrently worked as a Research Assistant at the Department of Medical Biology, Bezmialem Vakıf University, for seven years (2018–2025). Through her involvement in various research projects, she has gained a broad range of scientific and technical skills. Seda is currently a postdoctoral researcher at UCLA in the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology.
Pronouns: she/her
[Google Scholar] [LinkedIn] [ORCID] [Web of Science]
Gregory Mun-Sum Tong, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher
B.S., Cellular, Molecular, Developmental Biology, University of Washington
M.S., Quantitative Systems Biology, Northwestern University
Ph.D., Pharmacological Sciences, University of California, Irvine
Gregory grew up in Seattle, WA and received his B.S. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from the University of Washington and his M.S. degree in Quantitative and Systems Biology from Northwestern University. He completed his PhD training at the University of California, Irvine focused on microprotein discovery in the context of cancer and aging. His current interests include bioinformatics, microproteins, and systems biology.
Pronouns: he/him
[LinkedIn]
Serena Jenson, BS
Master’s Student (Physiology Program)
B.S. Biological Sciences (concentration: Anatomy and Physiology), California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
I am a recent graduate from Cal Poly SLO majoring in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Anatomy & Physiology. I am very passionate about women's health and centered most of my undergraduate research around the bacteria that cause urinary tract infections, a predominantly female issue, and the importance of alternate treatment availability in the rise of antibiotic resistance. I am excited to continue my journey in the Tornini lab because one of my favorite classes in undergrad was endocrinology, which sparked my interest in how hormonal physiology shapes development. Because of this I am looking forward to learning more about how endocrinology plays a role in neurodevelopment. Outside of the lab, I love to surf, cook and spend time with my family and friends.
Pronouns: she/her
[LinkedIn]
Elicia Osigwe, BA
MD/PhD Student, Neuroscience PhD Program
B.A., Neuroscience; Medicine, Health, & Society, Vanderbilt University
I am an MSTP student here at UCLA. My research interests include applying neurogenetic approaches to investigating disease mechanisms of neurodegenerative & neurodevelopmental disorders. When I'm not in the lab, I enjoy music, going to concerts & movies with friends, and spending time in nature!
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Levi Garcia
Undergraduate Fellow
B.S. (in progress), Neuroscience; Psychobiology, University of California, Los Angeles
Hi everyone! I'm a first-generation student currently pursuing a B.S. in Neuroscience & Psychobiology at UCLA. I’m excited to begin my research journey in the Tornini Lab, where I’m especially interested in neurodevelopment and how micropeptides may influence brain function. Outside of academics, I am passionate about volunteering in hospitals and working to bridge the gap in medical resource accessibility for low-income communities, both in the U.S. and abroad. I am an active member of the Mobile Clinic Project at UCLA, where I have had the opportunity to connect unhoused individuals with medical and social services, contributing to greater equity in healthcare. I look forward to continuing to grow as both a researcher and an advocate during my time at UCLA and beyond. Outside the lab, I enjoy thrifting, discovering new music, and spending time with friends at cool places around LA.
Pronouns: he/him
Nicole Floum, BS
Dana Center Fellow; Lab Assistant I
(split with the Heat Lab, led by Dr. Bharat Venkat)
B.S. Biology; History Minor, University of California, Los Angeles
Hi! I am a recent UCLA Biology and History graduate with a background in biochemistry, education, and social organizing. I am interested in how varying life experiences can affect our biology from gene expression to human development. Through my research, I hope to be able to emphasize and further elucidate the relationship between the social sciences and the life sciences. Outside of the lab, I enjoy knitting, reading a good book, baking, trying new restaurants, watching movies, going to art galleries and openings, and taking ballet classes.
Pronouns: she/her
Emily Marzette, BS
Rotation Student, Neuroscience PhD Program; Cota-Robles Fellow
B.S., Biology, California State University, Fresno
I have lived in the Central Valley of California for most of my life. I went to California State University, Fresno, for undergrad to obtain a BS in Biology with a full-ride scholarship and there, studied fruit fly sleeping behaviors in an Alzheimer's disease model. I next worked at UCSF for some years to further understand mechanisms of age-related neurodegenerative diseases in iPSC-derived neurons. Now, I am eager to investigate neurodevelopment in the Tornini lab to have a fuller picture of what can affect people throughout important life stages. Outside of lab, I enjoy baking, writing, and spending time with my friends and family, most often through video games and Dungeons & Dragons.
Pronouns: She/her
Lab Alumni
Mr. C, Team Morale Paw-ficer
Currently: Rainbow Bridge Homes
Ava Bignell, Rotation Student
Currently: PhD student, Frye Lab (UCLA)
Alexander Polonsky, Undergraduate Researcher (Biomedical Research Minor)
Currently: Finishing up B.S. degree
Loren Lewis, UCLA-HBCU Neuroscience Pathways Program Summer Student
Currently: graduating early, Spelman College
Maria Taveras, rotation student, Cota-Robles Fellow
Currently: rotating to decide PhD lab
Ari Adler, Staff Research Associate II
Currently: Biomedical Technician, Applied Genomics, Computation, and Translational Core, Cedars-Sinai