Our Team
Valerie Tornini, PhD
Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor
Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology and Institute for Society and Genetics; Affiliation, Chicano Studies Research Center - Hispanic Serving Institution Infrastructure Initiative
B.S., Biology; A.B., Religion, Duke University; Ph.D., Cell Biology (Developmental and Stem Cell Biology), Duke University; Postdoctoral Training, Genetics, Yale School of Medicine
Shortly after her parents moved from Uruguay to the U.S., Val was born and raised in Port Chester, NY along with her twin sister. She attended Port Chester public schools before matriculating at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. There she earned a B.S. in Biology and an A.B. in Religion. During her PhD training in cell biology at Duke University School of Medicine, she investigated how cells in a complex adult tissue coordinately regenerate a patterned structure after injury, primarily using the adult zebrafish fin as a model. Then, as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Genetics at Yale School of Medicine, she investigated the gene regulatory networks that establish the cellular diversity of the developing brain, again using zebrafish as a model. She recently joined the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology and the Institute for Society and Genetics at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as an assistant professor through UCLA’s Hispanic Serving Institution infrastructure initiative. Integral to her scientific contributions and philosophies are mentoring, multilingual community engagement, and efforts that prioritize supporting inclusive excellence in science, including through the national Científico Latino, Leading Edge, SACNAS, and Intersections Science Fellows organizations. For leisure, Val enjoys traveling, playing volleyball and tennis, Latin dancing, and spending time with her dog and family.
Pronouns: she/her/ella
[E-mail] [Bluesky] [Scholar] [How to pronounce my name]
Val’s CV is available here
Ari Adler, BS
Staff Research Associate II
B.S., Evolutionary, Ecological and Behavioral Biology (Departmental Honors), University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA); M.S. (in progress), Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Floria; Post Bacc. Certificate (in progress), Biotechnology, Cal State LA
As an undergrad here at UCLA, I had an utter fascination with fishes of all types, and I was determined to become a curator of a public aquarium. Along that journey, my interests shifted and I became interested in life at the cellular level, and have since been involved in cell and molecular biology laboratory work. I have worked with the amazing up-and-coming model organism, the African Turquoise Killifish, and single-cell assays. In addition to research associating, I am also a current grad student, dancer, wildlife enthusiast and cat-parent.
Pronouns: he/they
[ariadler at ucla dot edu] [LinkedIn]
Emily Page, BA
Staff Research Associate I
B.A., Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley
Emily received her B.A. in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley in 2024. During undergrad, she studied pathogenic bacterial cues that induce an immune response in C. elegans and the intergenerational transmission of that immune response in progeny of pathogen exposed parents. Emily is excited to pursue developmental biology research and study the role of the brain’s immune cells, microglia, in early neuronal circuit formation and models of neurodevelopmental disorders during her time in the Tornini Lab. Outside of lab, Emily loves learning new hobbies, trying new cafés, and spending time with family.
Pronouns: she/her
[email]
Lupita Diaz Garcia
Work Study Undergraduate
B.S. (in progress), Human Biology and Society, University of California, Los Angeles
Lupita grew up in the Bay Area as a proud first-generation Mexican American. She is currently pursuing a B.S. in Human Biology and Society. Eager to embark on her research journey, she is particularly interested in cellular biology and exploring how advancements in genomics can enhance our understanding of human diseases.
Beyond her academic pursuits, Lupita is passionate about creating opportunities for connection and collaboration in the scientific community. She looks forward to gaining experience and contributing to impactful research projects during her time at UCLA. Outside the lab, she enjoys weightlifting, discovering new coffee shops, and spending quality time with friends.
Pronouns: she/her/ella
Alison Cabrera
Work Study Undergraduate
B.S. (in progress), Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles
Alison Cabrera is a sophomore at UCLA majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. Alison is an active member of Collar Scholars at UCLA and is a member of the Program for Excellence in Education and Research in the Sciences (PEERS). In the future, she is interested in pursuing her passion for biology and animal studies as a veterinarian. When she’s not in the lab, Alison can be found reading, spending time with friends and family, or taking walks!
Pronouns: she/her
Amaya Ellis
CARE Fellows undergraduate researcher
B.S. (in progress), Human Biology and Society, African American Studies minor, University of California, Los Angeles
Amaya Ellis is a sophomore at UCLA pursuing a major in Human Biology and Society with a minor in African American Studies. Passionate about healthcare and community service, Amaya serves as a board member for the Flying Samaritans Organization at UCLA and volunteers at UCLA Hospital. She also works as an EMT and actively participates in the PEERS and High Aims program, furthering her commitment to health education and mentorship. Aspiring to become a physician, Amaya is determined to address healthcare disparities and uplift underrepresented communities in Los Angeles. When she's not contributing to her academic and professional pursuits, she enjoys staying active by dancing and going to the gym!
Pronouns: she/her
Seda Süsgün, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher
B.S., Molecular Biology and Genetics, Haliç University
Ph.D., Aziz Sancar Institute of Experimental Medicine, Istanbul University
Seda completed her undergraduate studies in Molecular Biology and Genetics at Halic University on a full scholarship and graduated with honors. She obtained both her master’s and PhD degrees from the Department of Genetics at the well-established Aziz Sancar Institute of Experimental Medicine, Istanbul University. She completed her Ph.D. program in 2024 with ORPHEUS accreditation. Her PhD research focused on dissecting the molecular background of rare neurological disorders through genomic and functional genomic approaches. During her PhD, she was awarded the International Research Fellowship Programme for PhD Students by TUBITAK, through which she undertook a 12-month pre-doctoral research training on zebrafish models for rare neurological diseases at Chungnam National University, South Korea (2022–2023). In addition, she concurrently worked as a Research Assistant at the Department of Medical Biology, Bezmialem Vakıf University, for seven years (2018–2025). Through her involvement in various research projects, she has gained a broad range of scientific and technical skills. Seda is currently a postdoctoral researcher at UCLA in the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology.
Pronouns: she/her
[Google Scholar] [LinkedIn] [ORCID] [Web of Science]
Alex Polonsky
SRP-199 Undergraduate Student
B.S. (in progress), Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles
Alex is a senior at UCLA from the Bay Area, majoring in molecular, cell, and developmental biology with minors in biomedical research, data science engineering, and evolutionary medicine. He’s passionate about integrating computational biology and genomics research to develop innovative healthcare solutions. Outside the lab, he enjoys cooking, playing volleyball, going to concerts, and exploring Los Angeles.
Lab Alumni
Mr. C, Team Morale Paw-ficer
Currently: Rainbow Bridge Homes
Ava Bignell, Rotation Student
Currently: PhD student, Frye Lab (UCLA)
Loren Lewis, UCLA-HBCU Neuroscience Pathways Program Summer Student
Currently: graduating early, Spelman College