Principal Investigator
Ana Almeida
Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology at CSUEB
- Ph.D. in Plant Sciences (University of California at Berkeley, US)
- Masters in History, Philosophy of Science and Science Teaching (UFBA/UEFS, Brazil)
- Medical Degree (EBMSP, Brazil)
- B.S. in Biological Sciences (UFBA, Brazil)
Graduate Students
Bharti Parihar
Bharti is a 2020-2021 CSR Distinguished Scholar. With an interest in plant reproduction, her research aims to elucidate molecular underpinnings associated with the predominant reproductive patterns of K. marineriana. Additional efforts include genome size estimation of several species within the genus of Kalanchoe, as well as transcriptomics and sequencing. Bharti's research interests include plant evo-devo and plans on furthering her studies at a Ph.D. level.
(bparihar@horizon.csueastbay.edu)
Austin Cauwels
I am a Master's student studying the evolution of the Abaxial-Adaxial Gene Regulatory Network in Seed Plants. This project tackles the Abaxial-Adaxial Gene Regulatory Network's differential expression in the laminar and modified leaves of several extant seed plants using Next and Third Generation Sequencing technology. I am interested in evolutionary plant morphology and its molecular underpinnings. I plan to use the knowledge gained through my Thesis work to pursue a career in conservation genetics!
She was also a 2019-2020 CSR Distinguished Scholar!
(acauwels@horizon.csueastbay.edu)
Alejandra “Alex” Moreno
Alex earned her B.S. in Biology with a concentration in physiology from California State University East Bay. Her thesis research focuses on studying the evolution of compounds of medicinal interest in the genus Arctostaphylos using biochemical and microbiological approaches, within the Green Biome Institute. Her career goal is to become a physician and work in an interdisciplinary career between healthcare and public health.
She was also a 2018-2019 CSR Distinguished Scholar and a 2019-2020/2020-2021 CSR Forever Pioneer Scholar !
(amoreno11@horizon.csueastbay.edu)
Grant boufFard
I am currently a graduate student at CSU East Bay pursuing a Masters in Cellular and Molecular Biology. I am interested in the conservation of extremely endangered plant species, and how a genetics approach to conservation can inform future research. My research aims to sequence and analyze the genome of Arctostaphylos densiflora, and test whether the techniques that have been used to conserve it so far have led to a decline in genetic diversity. Efforts include genetic and morphometric analysis of related cultivars, and how they can be used as a form of conservation.
(grantbouffard@gmail.com)
Sharon Lam
Sharon is currently a Master’s student in the Almeida lab. Her research focuses on the evolution of metabolic pathways of medicinal interest in the genus Arctostaphylos using a transcriptomic approach. Sharon’s work involves extracting RNA from several endangered Arctostaphylos species found in California and sequencing them as part of the Green Biome Institute efforts to study endangered California plant species.
(sharonn.lam5@gmail.com, slam23@horizon.csueastbay.edu)
Maximilliano “max” delgado
Max earned his B.S. in Cellular and Molecular Biology and was a member of the Spring 2021 Genome Partnership Research Group. As part of the Almeida lab, he worked on gene annotations involving the insulin pathway for dsor1 in Drosophila. He is working as a genetics-focused biological science graduate student with Dr. Almeida’s lab.
(mdelgado16@horizon.csueastbay.edu)
Namrisha Jattan
I’m currently a Master's student in the Almeida Lab. My project is on the plant microbiome of the manzanita species. Specifically, my work focuses on the long-term survival of Arctostaphylos densiflora microbiome. Looking ahead, I am aiming to go into med school and studying medicine. (njattan@horizon.csueastbay.edu)
Undergraduate Students
Han pham
Han is a pre-med student, majoring in Biology with a concentration in Cell and Molecular Biology and aspiring to become a specialist doctor. At CSUEB, she is a part of the Genome Education Partnership (GEP) Research Group. This project aims to annotate and construct gene models for Downstream of raf1 (Dsor1) gene across the Drosophila genus. Besides college, she is also a music enthusiast who is interested in developing a Youtube channel to share her self-taught piano progress.
(hanniepham142@gmail.com, hpham73@horizon.csueastbay.edu, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClHXmV_pbKOZvmoVeOdhHBg)
Former members
Nik Grunder
Nik received his Master’s Degree in May 2021. His primary research focused on the evolution of genomic content and structure in neotropical Costus species.
Christian Marquez
Christian is a Cell and Molecular Biology graduate and former Almeida Lab member who worked with several Manzanitas plant species for comparative transcriptomics research. Currently working in early phase clinical trials as a full time Research Associate at Parexel International but looking to pursue a Master’s in Genetic Counseling in the future.
(christian.marquez@parexel.com)
Amy Wang
Amy Wang graduated magna cum laude from California State University East Bay, where she received a Bachelor of Science with a concentration in physiology in December 2019. She was previously a part of the Plant Learning group project from 4/3/2018 to 2/24/2020. Amy is currently a vet assistant at Providence Vet Hospital and Clinic in Alameda, California. She was previously an animal husbandry intern at Lindsay Wildlife Experience (LWE) and a canine volunteer at Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter (FAAS).
She was a 2018-2019 CSR Distinguished Scholar!
(awang10@horizon.csueastbay.edu)
Amanjit rai
I graduated with my undergraduate at CSUEB with a BS in Biology and Minor in Health Science this past spring 2020. During my undergraduate at CSUEB I worked on lateral meristem development in Kalanchoe . The genus Kalanchoe comprises of about 150 species where some develop shoot apical meristems while others have lost their ability to flower - only reproducing by budding. My undergraduate research consisted of using microscopy and observations to understand the shoot apical meristems through their leaf-like organs. Following graduation, I got accepted to a Nursing program whilst a pandemic and have currently finished my first semester of Nursing while being on the Deans List. My current goal will be to pursue nursing and help those in need while I study for the MCAT and look into PA schools allowing me to simultaneously gain experience in the health field.
She was also a 2018-2019 CSR Distinguished Scholar!
Graeme Onuffer
Graeme is currently working as a Clinical Study Coordinator for a clinical diagnostics company that is striving to conquer cancer through liquid-based biopsies that enable timely and precise selection of treatments.
www.linkedin.com/in/graeme-onuffer
Alyssa Jenkins
Alyssa is an undergraduate at CSUEB working on The California Endangered Species Genome Initiative.
(ajenkins18@horizon.csueastbay.edu)
Mautasim Hussain
Mautasim Hussain is finished up his degree in biology at Cal State East Bay. He researched the differentially expressed genes in the plant species Ginkgo biloba. The plan for the research is to utilize these findings across evolutionary plant history to observe instances of whole genome duplication and it's effect on plant form.
Mautasim plans on pursuing a doctorate in molecular biology while focusing on cancer, and eventually wants to end up in academia and teach at a university.
He was also a 2018-2019 CSR Forever Pioneer!
(mhussain8@horizon.csueastbay.edu)
Melanie Merritt
I'm a biology major with an interest in plants and a lot of curiosity about the way plants interact and communicate with one another, as well as the symbiotic relationship between fungi and plant root systems. The research we're doing now on associative learning in plants and how they might store information is exciting because these are such new concepts and there is so much to learn.
(melanieanne93@gmail.com )
Navdeep Sandhu
Nav was an undergraduate student at CSUEB and was part of the Plant Learning Research Group.
(nsandhu8@horizon.csueastbay.edu)
Jasmine Obienu
Jasmine was an undergraduate student at the Almeida Lab. In this picture she is collecting at the University of California Botanical Garden (UCBG).
Karan Randhawa
I graduated from CSU East Bay in 2018 majoring in Biological Sciences. I got involved with with research at the end of my junior year as it was a great way to apply classroom learning outside the classroom. I was recently admitted to Tufts Dental school in Boston where I am pursuing my DDS degree as well as hopefully get involved in research here as well.
Tashma Greene
As an undergraduate at CSUEB, I worked side by side with Professor Almeida observing ovule development in Asterids I. During this research, we specifically conducted INO Gene DNA analysis to determine the differences between various species of Asterids I. The use of confocal microscopy and PCR amplification of the INO Gene DNA. This experience provided me with an understanding of the importance of science in our everyday lives and our future. I am currently pursuing my Masters of Science in Nursing at the University of San Francisco. I can be reached via email at tashmagreene@gmail.com