Phylogeny Lab Members
(c) indicates current member
Physicians & Medical Students
Karam Gill, MD (c)
UCLA-Olive View Internal Medicine Residency, '23
Research Topics:
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Natural Models of Arrhythmia Resistance
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Inherited Adaptations to the Diving Reflex
Emily Schwitzer, MD (c)
UCLA Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship
Research Topics:
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Giraffe as Model for Resistance to Gestational Hypertension
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Evolved Pulmonary Adaptations to Ambient Volcanic Matter in Other Species for Human Health
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Female Health Across the Tree of Life: A Community Education Project for One Health in Rwanda
Sameer Kejriwal, MD (c)
UCLA Internal Medicine PGY2
Research Topics:
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How Gene Age Shapes Future Treatment Strategies in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
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One Health in Medical Education
Camillo Tancredi Strizzi, MD (c)
Nephrology, Dialysis & Transplantation Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS
Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Division of Renal Medicine (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institutet
Research Topics:
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Phylogenomic approaches to identify evolutionary trade-offs
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Phylogeny of rare kidney diseases (renal tubulopathies, polycystic kidney disease)
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Phylostratigraphy and gene onthology of renal physiology associated genes
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Naturally occurring tubulopathies across species
ZoeAnn Kon, MD, MPH (c)
UCLA Internal Medicine PGY2
Research Topics:
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Drug Development Strategy to Minimize Side Effects: Evolutionary Origins of Endometrial Cancer Genes
Julia Cho (c)
Harvard Medical School,
M.D. Candidate
Research Topics:
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Lactation Across the Tree of Life
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Phylogeny of Disordered Eating
Alix Masters, MD (c)
UCLA Internal Medicine Resident PGY1
Research Topics:
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Postpartum Syndromes Across the Tree of Life
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Giraffe as Model for Resistance to Gestational Hypertension
Graduate Students
Rishab Haldar (c)
UCLA, B.S. '24
WashU, M.S '26
Research Topics:
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Bioinformatic Approach for Graph Machine Learning Incorporating Evolutionary Information for Gene-Disease Target Prediction in PrimeKG
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Bioinformatic Approach to Evolution-Aware Drug Repurposing [Atherosclerosis]
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Bioinformatic Approach to Evolutionary Trade-Offs [Atherosclerosis]
Alin Mazmanian (c)
UCLA, B.S. '23
UCLA, M.S. '25
Research Topics:
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Cardiovascular Sex Differences
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Sex Differences in Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy
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Visualizations of Gene Overlap Between Physiological Processes and Diseases
Kaitlyn Smolens (c)
UCLA, B.S. '23
Research Topics:
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Cardiovascular Sex Differences
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Visualizations of Gene Overlap Between Physiological Processes and Diseases
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Bioinformatic Approach to Evolutionary Trade-Offs [Atherosclerosis]
Undergraduate & Secondary School Students
Molly Abroms
UCLA, B.S. '24
Research Topics:
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Cardiovascular Sex Differences
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Shared Genetic Pathways of Cardiac Diseases
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Ventricular Tachycardia in Dogs
Camille Dash
Harvard University, A.B. '24
Research Topics:
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Cardiovascular Sex Differences
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Placental Morphology and Cardiovascular Sexual Dimorphism
Talon Flodman
Harvard University, A.B. '25
Research Topics:
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Coevolution of Inflammation and Depression
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Bioinformatics to Find Coexpression of Biological Processes
Siena Horton
Harvard University, A.B. '25
Research Topics:
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The Use of Comparative Evolutionary Medicine to Destigmatize Drug Addictions
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Assessing Public Understanding and Lay Beliefs about Evolution
Zoey Marsh
Oakwood Secondary School, '24
Research Topics:
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Sex Differences in Sports-Related Concussions
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Visualizations of Gene Overlap Between Physiological Processes and Diseases
Noa Oranim
Oakwood Secondary School, '25
Research Topics:
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Masculinization of Female Phenotypes: Response to Male Harassment
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Visualizations of Gene Overlap Between Physiological Processes and Diseases
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Evolution of Mental Illness
Ryan Shiels (c)
UCLA, B.S. '26
Research Topics:
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Evolutionary Cardiac Resilience
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Comparative Genomics
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SCN5A Gene Variants in Arctic Ground Squirrels
Kate Stevens (c)
Harvard University, A.B. '24
Research Topics:
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Evolved Adaptations for Ovarian Protection in Subterranean Species
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Menopause, Diapause, and Adaptive Reproductive Strategies