External Director
Juliette UyJuliette Uy is a third-year majoring in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics. She joined the Bradley lab in the MIMG department in January 2022. Her project focuses on examining the function and localization of Toxoplasma gondii proteins involved in the peripheral Inner Membrane Complex (IMC) network of the parasite.
Her future goals are to pursue an M.D. with a specialty in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology and to continue with research. Outside of the lab, you can find Juliette gushing about her dog and playing farm simulators. |
Internal Director
Emily Cheng
Emily Cheng is a third-year majoring in Physiological Sciences. She joined the Bradley Lab in the MIMG department in January 2022. She’s focused on investigating secretory proteins in the opportunistic parasite Toxoplasma gondii, especially those that interact with Rabs possessing a VPS9 domain.
Her future goal is to pursue an M.D. with a yet undetermined specialty. Outside of lab you can find her baking in her roommate’s rice cooker or the Hitchen. |
Mentorship Director
Damia Gonzalez Akimori
Damia Gonzalez Akimori is a third-year PhD student in the Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Program (MBIDP) Immunity, Microbes, and Molecular Pathogenesis (IMMP) home area. She works in the Hallem Lab where her research focuses on elucidating the neural and molecular mechanisms regulating host-seeking behavior in the parasitic nematode, Strongyloides stercoralis. She aims to one day run her own lab investigating parasitic nematode behavior and become a professor with an emphasis on promoting undergraduate research.
When she isn’t poking at worms, Damia enjoys reading, spending time with her dog, and practicing traditional Japanese archery. |
Outreach Director
Michael Vigman
Michael Vigman is a fourth-year majoring in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology with a minor in Biomedical Research at UCLA. Before attending UCLA, he volunteered in the Nathanson Lab in the Molecular and Medical Pharmacology department during high school before joining as an undergraduate in January 2021. He is currently helping to develop novel, brain-penetrant small molecule inhibitors that can be used to treat glioblastoma (GBM).
His future goal is to pursue an M.D. Outside of school and lab work, he is most likely spending time outdoors and taking photos. |
Faculty Liaison
Justin Quan
Justin Quan graduated with a major in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics and a minor in Biomedical research at UCLA in 2023. He joined the Bradley Lab in the MIMG department during the summer of 2019. Since then, his project focuses on a family of TBC-domain containing proteins and how they mediate vesicular protein trafficking in the opportunistic parasite Toxoplasma gondii. He is also the recipient of the 2021-2022 Beckman Scholars award and 2022-2023 URSP. He is currently working as a Staff Research Associate in the Bradley Lab.
His future goals are to pursue an MD./PhD. in microbiology and lead his own research lab in an academic institution. Outside of lab, you can find Justin cooking different cuisines for friends and family, and occasionally oil painting. |
Faculty Advisor
Peter Bradley, PhD
Dr. Bradley received his PhD in Molecular Biology from UCLA in Dr. Patricia Johnson’s lab where he studied the early-diverging amitochondrial eukaryote, Trichomonas vaginalis. He continued his interest in parasites and their unique organelles as a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. John Boothroyd’s lab at Stanford University studying the opportunistic pathogen Toxoplasma gondii. After his post-doctoral research, Dr. Bradley brought Toxoplasma cell biology to UCLA when he joined the MIMG faculty as an assistant professor in 2004, during which time he was awarded the New Scholar Award in Global Infectious Diseases from the Ellison Medical foundation. Dr. Bradley advanced to Associate Professor in 2011 and Professor in 2016 and has served as the Director for the Immunity, Microbes and Molecular Pathogenesis graduate program and MIMG Vice Chair for graduate studies during this time. Since then, Dr. Bradley has dedicated his time mentoring both undergraduates and graduate students in his lab.
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Faculty Advisor
Jorge A. Avila, PhD
Dr. Avila is a first-generation Latino immigrant, neuroscientist, educator, and advocate for minority participation in STEM. He was previously a graduate student at the City University of New York and a scientist at the contract research organization Psychogenics, working on neurodegenerative disease therapeutics. Most recently, Dr. Avila was a postdoctoral fellow at Rutgers University supported through an NIH K12 IRACDA program called INSPIRE. There he cultivated his research and scientific mentoring skills that helped him become an effective advocate for student development in academic research. He is currently an Assistant Director at the Undergraduate Research Center at UCLA, leading undergraduate scientific and career development programs. Dr. Avila leads several undergraduate research programs, including the Beckman Scholars Program, URC - Sciences Summer Program, URSP, and URFP, where he hopes to promote equitable and inclusive access to research development for the diverse student body at UCLA.
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