PI
Christal Sohl
Hometown: Norman, Oklahoma
Degree/training: B.S., Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma; Ph.D., Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University; Postdoctoral training, Pharmacology, Yale University
Favorite non-science activity: Fitness/exercise, travel, and hiking in San Diego’s beautiful outdoors.
Favorite book/author: Impossible question! But if I go by re-read frequency, it’s Richard Bradford’s Red Sky at Morning, Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar, Charles Dickens’s Pickwick Papers, and David Sedaris’s Me Talk Pretty One Day.
Scientist hero: Prof. Joan Steitz
Fun fact about me: For two years during my postdoc, I played the triple cello pans in a steel pan band. I am currently scratching the percussion itch by learning to play the tabla.
————————————————–
Lab Manager
An Hoang
Research focus: I play a number of important roles in the Sohl Lab, from training students in a variety of biochemical and cell culture techniques, maintaining and repairing instruments, and making sure the lab runs smoothly. I am currently generating stable cell lines for modeling IDH-driven cancers in order to better understand mechanisms of tumorigenesis.
Hometown: Binh Dinh, Vietman
Degree/training: B.S., Microbiology, San Diego State University
Favorite non-science activity: Gardner, sugarcane
Scientist hero: My parents
————————————————–
Postdocs
Mowaffaq Adam
Research focus: stay tuned!
Hometown: stay tuned!
Degree/training:stay tuned!
Favorite non-science activity: stay tuned!
Favorite book/author:stay tuned!
Scientist hero:stay tuned!
Fun fact about me:stay tuned!
————————————————–
Graduate Students
Elene Albekioni
MS student
Research focus: stay tuned!
Hometown: stay tuned!
Degree/training:stay tuned!
Favorite non-science activity: stay tuned!
Favorite book/author:stay tuned!
Scientist hero:stay tuned!
Fun fact about me:stay tuned!
—
Jade Ngoc Huynh
MS student
Research focus: Catalytic behavior of malate dehydrogenase 1 (MDH1) is modified in tumors, but the mechanisms of these modifications are not yet known. I am interested in biochemically and biophysically characterizing MDH1 and establishing the ways in which the tumor microenvironment can modulate activity to drive cancer.
Hometown: Vietnam
Degree/training: BS Biochemistry (SJSU), MS Chemistry (UCR)
Favorite non-science activity: Gathering with church members
Favorite book/author: The Bible
Scientist hero: Albert Einstein
Fun fact about me: My two younger sisters and I have the same first name but different middle names.
—
Isaac Marquez
MS student
Research focus: stay tuned!
Hometown: stay tuned!
Degree/training:stay tuned!
Favorite non-science activity: stay tuned!
Favorite book/author:stay tuned!
Scientist hero:stay tuned!
Fun fact about me:stay tuned!
—
Lucas Luna
PhD student
Research focus: My current research project focuses on studying hypermutated phenotypes of human DNA polymerase epsilon, frequently present in colorectal cancer. Little is known about its catalytic mechanism due to barriers in heterologous protein expression. I am working on the expression, purification, and kinetic characterization of full length human exonuclease competent DNA polymerase epsilon. I will study how exonuclease domain mutations affect fidelity and processivity to further understand how DNA replication errors are created and propagated, with the goal of developing novel methods of combatting cancer growth and metastasis.
Hometown: San Jose, California
Degree/training: B.S., Biochemistry, University of California Santa Barbara
Favorite non-science activity: All you can eat KBBQ
Favorite book/author: Dante’s Inferno
Scientist hero: Archimedes
Fun fact about me: Made the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs.
—
Kate Sabo
MS student
Research focus: Mutant IDH is an important therapeutic target, and establishing selectivity features is critical for developing inhibitors that are efficacious and less toxic. I am interested in using biochemical and structural techniques to find new handles that drive inhibitor binding to mutant IDH1.
Hometown: Bakersfield, California
Degree/training: B.S., Biochemistry, Eastern University, St. Davids, PA
Favorite non-science activity: Hiking
Favorite book/author: Jane Austen
Scientist hero: Rosalind Franklin
Fun fact about me: My favorite color is yellow!
————————————————–
Undergraduates
Danielle Caliger
Biology major
Research focus: While the role of IDH1 in cancer is well known, we have limited knowledge on this enzyme’s regulation. I am studying how post-translational modifications can inhibit IDH1 using biochemical methods.
Hometown: Chula Vista, CA
Degree/training: SDSU Undergraduate Biology
Favorite non-science activity: Exploring new places, trying different foods, and spending time with friends
Favorite book/author: 1984 by George Orwell
Scientist hero: Rosalind Franklin
Fun fact about me: I can’t wink
—
Nalani Coleman
Biochemistry major
Research focus: Though IDH1’s role in cancer is well established, modes of regulation of this protein are not well known. I am using mutational methods to understand the role of post-translational modifications in altering IDH1’s activity.
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Degree/training: SDSU Undergraduate Biochemistry
Favorite non-science activity: Concerts, the beach, hanging out with friends/family, SDSU basketball and football games, walking my dog, runway fashion!
Favorite book/author: The Giver by Lois Lowry
Scientist hero: Mae Jemison
Fun fact about me: My name translates to “calm of the heavens” or “chief of the sky.” I am a resident advisor (RA) in Huāxyacac Hall!
—
Chelsie Miller
Nutrition major
Research focus: stay tuned!
Hometown: stay tuned!
Degree/training:stay tuned!
Favorite non-science activity: stay tuned!
Favorite book/author:stay tuned!
Scientist hero:stay tuned!
Fun fact about me:stay tuned!
—
Alexandra Strom
Biology major
Research focus: The regulation of IDH1 is not well understood. I am using mutational analysis to probe the role of post-translational mutations on inhibiting IDH1 activity.
Hometown: Reseda, CA
Degree/training: SDSU Biology Undergraduate
Favorite non-science activity: Music festivals, finding new coffee shops, and reading on the beach
Favorite book/author: All My Sons by Arthur Miller
Scientist hero: Dr. Estralita Martin
Fun fact about me: I was drum major of my high school’s marching band for two years.
—
Ella Thornberg
Biology major
Research focus: Post-translational modifications can activate or inhibit proteins as a means of rapid regulation. I am using steady-state kinetics to understand how these modifications alter substrate binding and turnover in IDH1.
Hometown: Danville, CA (East Bay Area)
Degree/training: SDSU Undergraduate Biology
Favorite non-science activity: Spending time with friends, going to the beach, traveling, trying new foods/restaurants
Favorite book/author: When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
Scientist hero: Harold Varmus
Fun fact about me: I’m ambidextrous!
—
Vinnie Widjaja
Biochemistry major
student at instrument
Research focus: Pre-steady-state kinetics can be used to dissect individual steps of a reaction pathway catalyzed by enzymes. I am developing a series of IDH1 mutants that will allow us to understand the rates of conformational change of IDH1.
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Degree/training: SDSU Biochemistry Undergraduate
Favorite non-science activity: Playing Animal Crossing, Reading, Hiking
Favorite book/author: Rudolfo Anaya, Cassandra Clare
Scientist hero: Dr. Jennifer Doudna
Fun fact about me: I once took a picture with a tiger in Indonesia.
—
————————————————–
Alumni
Phuc Phan (SohlMate 2019-2020), currently a MS student in SDSU engineering
Diego Avellaneda Matteo (SohlMate 2015-2020), PhD 2020, currently a scientist at Molecular Assemblies
Joi Weeks (SohlMate 2018-2020), PhD 2020, passed away in 2020
Amanda Coale (SohlMate 2019-2020), MS 2020, currently an engineer at Biolinq
Grace Wells (SohlMate 2016-2020), MS 2018, currently an educator
Giovanni Quichocho (SohlMate 2017-2020), BS 2020, currently a PhD student at the University of Utah
Sati Alexander (SohlMate 2018-2020), BS 2020, currently a PhD student at Augusta University
Viraj Upadhye (SohlMate 2017-2020), BS 2020, currently a PhD student at Cornell
Zeqing “Ruth” Xu (SohlMate 2017-2019), MS 2019, currently a scientist at CTK Biotech
Michelle Scott (SohlMate 2018-2019), BS 2019, was a PhD student at Vanderbilt University before passing away in 2020
Dahra Pucher (SohlMate 2019), currently USC undergraduate
Tin Duc Nguyen (SohlMate 2019), currently UCSD undergraduate
Zach Lesecq (SohlMate 2017-2018), BS 2018, currently applying to med school
Jeon Erik Fonbon (SohlMate 2017-2018), BS 2018, currently applying to med school
Madison Kennedy (SohlMate 2015-2018), BS 2018, currently a PhD student at U Washington
Michelle Nguyen (SohlMate 2018), current SDSU undergraduate
Dania Meza-Acosta (SohlMate 2018), current SDSU undergraduate
Esteban Delgado (SohlMate 2018), current SDSU undergraduate
Elan Zora (SohlMate 2018), current SDSU undergraduate
Adam Grunseth (SohlMate 2016-2018), BS 2015
Celena Anaya (SohlMate 2017), BS 2018, currently a scientist at Trilink Biotechnologies
Precious Moman (SohlMate 2016-2017), BS 2018, attending medical school
Anna Uvarova (SohlMate 2015-2017), MS 2017, currently a scientist at Novartis
Eric Gonzalez (SohlMate 2015-2017), BS 2017, currently a PhD student at UCSF
Stacy Anselmo (SohlMate 2015-2017), BS 2017, currently a scientist at Eton
Andrea Ruiz (SohlMate 2016), current SDSU undergraduate
Jorge Sandoval (SohlMate 2016), BS 2019, currently applying to med school
Anup Sarakki (SohlMate 2016), MS 2018, currently a scientist at Alkahest
Carlos Bobadilla (SohlMate 2016), BS 2017, currently a scientist at Retrogen
Yunjin Wu (SohlMate 2016), MS 2018, currently a scientist at BASF Enzymes