2019 - 2020 OFFICERS
SUSAN KEEFE
President
Susan Keefe received her B.S. degree in Biochemistry and Honors in neuroscience from Pennsylvania State University in 2018. During her undergraduate career, Susan was in a research lab for 4 years investigating potential viral therapy for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke under Dr. Gong Chen. Susan is currently working in Dr. Ophir Klein's lab at UCSF - studying Costello Syndrome and craniofacial development. When Susan is not busy with school she likes to bake, workout, and explore the city :)
SARAH ANNE WONG
Vice President
NSRG Regional Representative -
Pacific Region
Sarah Anne Wong is a 6th-year DDS/PhD candidate at UCSF. She completed her undergraduate education at University of the Pacific as a Biological Sciences major and as part of the pre-dental program. Her previous research includes work on Alzheimer's disease, CNS axon regeneration failure, and Parkinson's disease. Most recently, Sarah completed her PhD in the lab of Drs. Ralph Marcucio and Chelsea Bahney, where she studied molecular mechanisms that regulate endochondral repair. Her work has resulted in numerous publications and national/international conference presentations. When away from school and her lab bench, Sarah enjoys hiking, baking, and hanging out with friends.
KENNETH CHANG CHIEN
Secretary
Kenneth graduated from UCLA in 2017 with a B.S. in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics.
He took his first steps into the field of scientific research by conducting a reverse genomic screen on Drosophila Melanogaster through the UCLA Undergraduate Research Consortium in Functional Genomics, which validated his interests in evidence based research. Later on, he continued his journey through Dr. Wenyuan Shi's lab, working on translational research projects involving various oral microbes including S. mutans, F. nucleatum, C. albicans, and related microbiome work. As a summer research fellow at UCSF School of Dentistry, Kenneth is continuing his work with bacteria by examining the effects of S. mutans virulent factors on the proliferative and migrational capabilities of oral cancer cells. During his free time, Kenneth enjoys hiking, taking naps, and spending some carefree time teaching and playing with the children at his church.
Treasurer
TSU-SHUAN (Brie) WU
Brie graduated from University of California, Los Angeles. Her current research in Public Health under Dr. Ben Chaffee focuses on Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study data. Her hobbies include cooking, hiking, dragon boat, and reading.
KATIE DILEO
Senior Journal Club Coordinator
Katie graduated from UCLA in 2017 with a B.S. degree in Physiological Science. While studying there, she volunteered at the UCLA Oral Pathology Lab under Dr. Russell Christensen where she prepared instructional materials from examples of uncommon cases. At UCSF, Katie has been investigating the effect of mTOR signaling in salivary gland morphogenesis under the mentorship of Dr. Sarah Knox, specifically characterizing how insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling leads to changes in morphology and gene expression. For fun, Katie enjoys cooking, traveling, playing basketball, and riding roller coasters.
Junior Journal Club Coordinator
ERIN MALONE
Erin Malone is an alumni of Tennessee State University, where he obtained his BS in Biology. He is currently a PI of his own F30 award which focuses on studying the influence of Treponema denticola on the progression of periodontal disease in the human periodontal ligament cells. He studies in the lab of Dr. Yvonne Kapila DDS, PhD at UCSF. Outside of obtaining his DDS and PhD at UCSF, Erin preaches at Uptown Church of Christ and enjoys traveling/experiencing new food cuisine with his wife, Robyn Malone.
NHAT-THI VO
Communications Liaison
Thi studied Biochemistry and Global Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. During her undergraduate career, she investigated the mechanisms of adult skin innervation and vascularization under Dr. Alvaro Sagasti. At UCSF, Thi is currently studying the mechanosensory pathway underlying palatal shelf elevation during palatogenesis under Dr. Alice Goodwin. In her free time, Thi enjoys hiking, visiting coffeeshops and museums, discovering new music, and eating! (:
MUUDUU OTGONBOLD
Historian
Muuduu graduated from University of Washington - Seattle majoring in General Biology. His previous research experiences include clinical trial of pediatric crowns in anterior primary teeth under Dr. Seminario and assisted Dr. Angkanawaraphan with her research on GRK2 as regulator of central sensitization in fibromyalgia and chronic TMD. He was also involved in educational research under Dr. Liepkalns about usage of social media in writing assignments with students majoring and not majoring in biology, where he learned to use network analysis tools. He was engaged with the DeRouen Center for Global Oral Health at UW until joining UCSF SoD. He enjoys good coffee and a walk at the park during his free time.
Newsletter Co-Editor-in-Chief
ERIC LEE
Eric graduated from University of California, Los Angeles in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology. His last project studied the use of N-Acetylcysteine in mitigating ROS toxicities. His current research looks at the health policy curriculum at UCSF. Outside of school, he likes to listen to audiobooks and think about nothing.
Newsletter Co-Editor-in-Chief
NICK HWANG
Nick Hwang received his BS degree in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2017. During his undergraduate training, he explored how CRISPER-Cas9 gene edits affect aromatic volatile production in Riesling wines under Dr. Rolf Christofferson. He also worked with the Kuris Parasite Ecology group where he performed dissections and documented parasites found in marine host species of local Santa Barbara kelp forests. In his free time, Nick enjoys making pottery, traveling, and exploring new music.
Junior Newsletter Editor
STEPHANIE ELLMAN
Stephanie Ellman was born and raised in San Francisco, and received her B.S. degree in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior from UC Davis in 2018. During her undergraduate career, Stephanie investigated the peach genotypes resistant to oomycete infection in a long term effort to help farm workers yield disease-free crops. Outside of school, Steph enjoys traveling, exploring the city, and spending time with her friends, family, and labradoodle puppy, Teddy :)
Junior Newsletter Editor
TIFFANY HUANG
Tiffany graduated from the University of Pennsylvania as a Molecular and Cell biology major in Dec 2018. Her first two years in undergrad, she worked to identify E. coli genes that confer protective immunity against viral enteric infection in Drosophila. Her last year, she worked on an independent research project investigating macrophage polarization in diabetic bone fractures. She spent her time between undergrad and UCSF as an Americorps volunteer planting trees with an urban forestry nonprofit. At UCSF, Tiffany is investigating the molecular mechanism of jaw length regulation in Dr. Schneider's lab. In her free time, Tiffany enjoys cooking, writing on her blog, and visiting national parks!
DAVID NGUYEN
D2 Class of 2022 Representative
David received a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering and a B.S. degree Chemistry from the University of California, San Diego. He stayed an extra year at UCSD to complete his M.S. degree. After graduating, he worked for several years as an engineer in the aerospace/defense, manufacturing, and pharmaceutical industries. His undergraduate research involved the application of nanoparticles on drug delivery systems while his graduate research involved the synthesis of titanium nanotube and nanoparticle-based dye-sensitized solar cells and their applications. Currently, David has been working under the mentorship of Dr. Stefan Habelitz at UCSF to investigate methods of dentin repair.
D1 Class of 2023 Representative
WESLEY KAO
Wesley Kao graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 2019 with a B.S. in Biochemistry and a minor in Music. At Cal Poly, Wesley was fully supported by the Frost Scholarship which enabled him to fully immerse himself in undergraduate research. His past research experiences include manipulation of cell-free protein synthesis under Dr. Javin Oza at Cal Poly and protein biochemistry involving poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases under Dr. Michael Cohen at OHSU. In his free time, Wesley enjoys cooking and baking, drawing, music composition, poetry, public radio, and staying active.
Advocacy Chair
BURINRUTT THANASUWAT
Burin graduated from University of California, Davis with Bachelors of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. His previous research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of plant-mediated immunity. His current research under Dr. Diane Barber looks at charge-changing mutations in increased intracellular pH of cancer cells. His hobbies and interests include cooking, sleeping, LGBTQ+, and having fun.
Junior Advocacy Chair
HELENA VIETS
Helena graduated with a degree in Molecular Environmental Biology from UC Berkeley. During her undergraduate career she conducted research on bacterial symbiosis at UCSF, and on detection of toxic aromatic compounds at Peking University. Outside of research and class, she enjoys olympic weightlifting, drawing, and catsitting.
Graduate Liaison
AN NGUYEN
An graduated from UC Davis majoring in Molecular Cellular Biology. During her gap year, she worked as a researcher assistant studying meiosis at Dr. Burgess's lab. In 2015 she joined the DDS/PhD Oral Craniofacial Sciences Program at and Dr. Schneider's lab. Her current thesis project investigates osteogenic signalings regulated by the epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during mandibular development using avian models. One of her hobbies in lab is to make quck animals (please ask me for details!). Outside of lab, she enjoys cooking, cleaning, and playing piano.