People
![LabPoster_DIversity_Benayoun](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2020/09/LabPoster_DIversity_Benayoun-1-pdf-1024x327.jpg)
Figure Inspired by the Diversity and Inclusion Lab Posters of Sammy Katta – https://sammykatta.com/diversity
Bérénice A. Benayoun, Ph.D.
Education
Ph.D., Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France
M.Sc., Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France
B.Sc., Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, France
Hometown: Paris, France
Favorite non-science activities: tabletop gaming, homebrewing
Dream benchmate(s): Leopold Fitz and Jemma Simmons
Birthday: June 19th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Wood Rat
Post-doctoral fellows
![IMG_0826 IMG_0826](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2023/12/IMG_0826-scaled-175x220.jpg)
Contact:
Email: ansere@usc.edu
Victor Ansere, Ph.D.
Post-doctoral Fellow
Education
Hometown: Kumasi, Ghana
Favorite non-science activities: Listening to music and curating music playlists
Dream benchmate(s): The guy who turned water into wine” – such a cool experiment.
Birthday: August 24th
Chinese Zodiac Sign:
![IMG_1222 (1) Juan Bravo](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2018/05/IMG_1222-1-175x220.jpg)
Contact:
Email: juanb@usc.edu
Juan Bravo, Ph.D.
Post-doctoral Fellow
Education
Hometown: South Gate, California
Favorite non-science activities: Hiking, Weight-lifting, Xbox
Dream benchmate(s): Albert Wesker
Birthday: December 31st
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Fire Rooster
![IMG_0425 IMG_0425](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2019/12/IMG_0425-175x220.jpg)
Contact:
Email: minhooki@usc.edu
Min Hoo Kim, Ph.D.
Post-doctoral fellow
Education
Hometown: Seoul, Republic of Korea
Favorite non-science activities: Baking, jogging
Dream benchmate(s): John Legend
Birthday: March 27th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Metal Horse
![IMG-20231120-WA0005 IMG-20231120-WA0005](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2023/11/IMG-20231120-WA0005-scaled-175x220.jpg)
Contact:
Email: raphealw@usc.edu
Rapheal Williams, Ph.D.
Research Lab Specialist
Education
![photo photo](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2021/11/photo-scaled-e1636129474792-175x220.jpg)
Contact:
Email: eric.hennigan@gmail.com
Eric Hennigan, Ph.D.
Volunteer/Post-doctoral
Education
Hometown: Ridgecrest, CA, USA
Favorite non-science activities: Hiking
Dream benchmate(s): Dexter’s Lab and The Doctor
Birthday:May 20th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Water Dog
Ph.D. Students
![thumbnail_IMG_2049 thumbnail_IMG_2049](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2023/01/thumbnail_IMG_2049-175x220.jpg)
Contact:
Email: bakercla@usc.edu
Clayton Baker
Ph.D. Student (Molecular and Computational Biology program)
Education
![téléchargement téléchargement](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2023/01/telechargement-175x220.png)
Contact:
Email: ajlemus@usc.edu
Aaron Lemus
Education
Hometown: North Hollywood, California
Favorite non-science activities: Concerts, Snowboard, and Rock Climbing
Dream benchmate(s): Alex Turner & Josh Homme
Birthday: May 12th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Fire Rat
![ryan-lu ryan-lu](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2018/02/ryan-lu-e1524876184803.jpeg)
Contact:
Email: ryanlu@usc.edu
Ryan Lu
Education
Hometown: Alhambra, California
Favorite non-science activities: tennis, bowling, computer games
Dream benchmate(s): Rick (from Rick and Morty)
Birthday: November 25th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Wood Dog
![Headshot Headshot](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2021/01/Headshot-175x220.jpg)
Contact:
Email: cjmcgill@usc.edu
Cassandra McGill
Education
Hometown: Gardena, California
Favorite non-science activities: Playing ukulele, walking my dog and playing Catan
Dream benchmate(s): The Mandalorian
Birthday: August 14th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Ox
Research Lab Technicians
![IMG_8895-crop-scaled-200x200 IMG_8895-crop-scaled-200x200](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2023/01/IMG_8895-crop-scaled-200x200-1-175x200.jpg)
Contact:
Email: athenaal@usc.edu
Athena Alcala
Education
B.Sc., , USA
Hometown: Norwalk, CAFavorite non-science activities: Sewing, Traveling, Watching Cartoons, Trying New FoodsDream benchmate(s): TinkerbellBirthday: June 17thChinese Zodiac Sign: Earth Rabbit
![téléchargement téléchargement](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2023/12/telechargement-175x220.jpeg)
Contact:
Email: julioa@usc.edu
Julio “Leo” Alvarenga
Education
B.Sc., University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
Hometown: Los Angeles, CaliforniaFavorite non-science activities: Playing video games, watching anime, and watching KPOP videos with my nephewsDream benchmate(s): the Muscle Mice (from Demon Slayer)Birthday: May 18thChinese Zodiac Sign: Tiger
![IMG_0007 IMG_0007](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2023/05/IMG_0007-175x220.jpg)
Contact:
Email: hengyuzh@usc.edu
Hengyu Zhou
Education
B.Sc., University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
M.Sc., University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
Hometown: Shenzhen, China
Favorite non-science activities: Reading, Weight-lifting, Playing video games
Dream benchmate(s): Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, Barry Allen
Birthday: May 29th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Fire Rat
Master Students
![thumbnail_Screenshot 2024-01-08 at 11.19.01 AM thumbnail_Screenshot 2024-01-08 at 11.19.01 AM](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2024/01/thumbnail_Screenshot-2024-01-08-at-11.19.01 AM-175x220.png)
Contact:
Email: skyechen@usc.edu
Shiqi “Skye” Chen
Master Student
Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine Master Program
Education
B.Sc. and B.A., Wake Forest University, NC, USA
![IMG_1038 IMG_1038](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2022/11/IMG_1038-scaled-175x220.jpg)
Contact:
Email: tutang@usc.edu
Tu Tang
Master Student
Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine Master Program
Education
B.Eng., Southeast University, China
Undergraduate Research Assistants
![thumbnail_IMG_9402 thumbnail_IMG_9402](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2021/09/thumbnail_IMG_9402-e1632948050805-175x220.jpg)
Contact:
Email: bhala@usc.edu
Rajyk Bhala
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Health and Human Sciences Major
Hometown: Sugar Land, Texas
Favorite non-science activities: Cooking, Trying new restaurants, Working out
Dream benchmate(s): Spiderman
Birthday: March 25th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Wood Monkey
![Screenshot 2023-09-18 at 4.45.28 AM Screenshot 2023-09-18 at 4.45.28 AM](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-09-18-at-4.45.28-AM-175x220.png)
Contact:
Email: rbokhari@usc.edu
Raaif Bokhari
Undergraduate Research Assistant
![Anthony Head Shot Anthony Head Shot](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2023/04/Anthony-Head-Shot-175x220.jpeg)
Contact:
Email: ayguan@usc.edu
Anthony Guan
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Hometown: Aptos, California
Favorite non-science activities: skiing, travelling, hanging out with pets, sale shopping
Dream benchmate(s): Kit Connor, Melissa McCarthy, Micheal Scott
Birthday: January 30th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Water Horse
![Screenshot 2023-09-06 at 8.11.31 PM Screenshot 2023-09-06 at 8.11.31 PM](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2023/09/Screenshot-2023-09-06-at-8.11.31-PM-175x220.png)
Contact:
Email:evelynhl@usc.edu
Evelyn Lee
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Human Development and Aging Major
![thumbnail_headshot thumbnail_headshot](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2022/09/thumbnail_headshot-e1662393684536-175x220.jpg)
Contact:
Email:crmizrah@usc.edu
Chanelle R. Mizrahi
Undergraduate Research Assistant
GEMSTEM Scholar
Human Development and Aging, Health Science Track
![Capture d’écran 2022-09-09 à 10.16.20 Capture d’écran 2022-09-09 à 10.16.20](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2022/09/Capture-décran-2022-09-09-à-10.16.20-175x220.png)
Contact:
Email: jeslynng@usc.edu
Jeslyn Nguyen
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Neuroscience and Human Biology Major
Hometown: Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Favorite non-science activities: Singing, Drawing, Binge-watching Netflix
Dream Benchmate(s): Barbie
Birthday: September 5th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Water Sheep
![thumbnail_IMG_5274 thumbnail_IMG_5274](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2024/02/thumbnail_IMG_5274-scaled-175x220.jpg)
Contact:
Email: csp28938@usc.edu
Camilla Pearson
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Quantitative Biology Major
Hometown: Houston, TX
Favorite non-science activities: cafe-hopping, journaling, reading, playing video and board games!
Dream Benchmate(s): Mary Shelley
Birthday: March 14th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Wood Rooster
![Charan Ravikumar Headshot Charan Ravikumar Headshot](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2022/10/Charan-Ravikumar-Headshot-scaled-175x220.jpg)
Contact:
Email:cravikum@usc.edu
Charan Ravikumar
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Health and Human Sciences
Hometown: McLean, VA, USA
Favorite Non-Science Activities: Cooking, Watching Reality TV
Dream Benchmate(s): Professor Utonium
Birthday: March 14th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Horse
![headshot pdf headshot pdf](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2024/04/headshot-pdf-scaled-175x220.jpg)
Contact:
Email:isununu@usc.edu
Isabelle Sununu
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Biological Sciences major, Geroscience minor
Hometown: North Hampton, NH, USA
Favorite Non-Science Activities: skiing, playing video games, baking
Dream Benchmate(s): Phineas and Ferb
Birthday: April 19th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Wood Monkey
![Headshot Headshot](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2022/09/Headshot-scaled-175x220.jpg)
Contact:
Email: zwang474@usc.edu
Justin Wang
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Biochemistry Major
Hometown: Orange, Connecticut
Favorite non-science activities: Cooking, movie marathons, photography, and writing!
Dream benchmate(s): Barack Obama
Birthday: February 19th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Water Goat
![JayHeadshotFinal3 JayHeadshotFinal3](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2024/04/JayHeadshotFinal3-175x220.jpeg)
Contact:
Email: jwenner@usc.edu
Jay Wenner
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Neuroscience and Psychology Major
Hometown: Green Bay, Wisconsin
Favorite non-science activities: Playing trombone, hiking, camping, and reading
Dream benchmate(s): Simone (from The Good Place)
Birthday: July 29th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Wood Monkey
![white_olivia_headshot white_olivia_headshot](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2022/02/white_olivia_headshot-175x220.jpg)
Contact:
Email: oswhite@usc.edu
Olivia White
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Quantitative Biology Major
Hometown: Indianapolis, Indiana
Favorite non-science activities: hiking, strategy games, eating açaí bowls
Dream benchmate(s): Veronica Mars
Birthday: September 17th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Water Horse
![Headshot Headshot](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2022/02/Headshot-1-scaled-175x220.jpg)
Contact:
Email: alanxu@usc.edu
Alan Xu
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Quantitive Biology Major
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Favorite non-science activities: Travelling, trying new games and cooking
Dream benchmate(s): Louis Pasteur
Birthday: September 23rd
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Gold Snake
![main headshot main headshot](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2023/02/main-headshot-scaled-175x220.jpg)
Contact:
Email:lrzhang@usc.edu
Lucia Zhang
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Quantitive Biology Major
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Favorite non-science activities: painting, writing, dancing, piano
Dream benchmate(s): Carl (from Up)
Birthday: December 3rd
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Wood Monkey
Student workers
![20240618_145712 20240618_145712](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2024/06/20240618_145712-scaled-175x220.jpg)
Contact:
Email: bhcho@usc.edu
Brandon Cho
Student worker (Fish team)
Hometown: Torrance, California
Favorite non-science activities: Drawing, gym, hiking
Dream benchmate(s): Shrek and Donkey
Birthday: January 21st
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Horse
![20230821_163256 20230821_163256](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2023/12/20230821_163256-scaled-175x220.jpg)
Contact:
Email: gallojer@usc.edu
Jeremy “Jay” Gallo
Student worker (Mouse team)
Hometown: Wharton, NJ, USA
Favorite non-science activities: Hiking, resistance training, Baking
Dream benchmate(s): Dr. Volumnia Gaul
Birthday: October 21st
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Water Horse
![IMG_8628 IMG_8628](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2023/10/IMG_8628-scaled-175x220.jpg)
Contact:
Email:dobenaue@usc.edu
Delana Obenauer
Student worker (Fish team)
Hometown: Vienna, MO
Favorite non-science activities: reading, spending time with friends, and going to the gym
Dream benchmate(s): Jenna Ortega
Birthday: May 7th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Monkey
![IMG_0989 IMG_0989](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2024/06/IMG_0989-175x220.jpg)
Contact:
Email: cpresa@usc.edu
Chloe Presa
Student worker (Fish team)
Hometown: Orange County, California
Favorite non-science activities: Dancing
Dream benchmate(s): Cristina Yang from Grey’s Anatomy
Birthday: February 18th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Monkey
![Headshot Possible choice (1) Headshot Possible choice (1)](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2023/11/Headshot-Possible-choice-1-scaled-175x220.jpg)
Contact:
Email:Nrizk@usc.edu
Noor Rizk
Student worker (Mouse team)
Pharmacology and Drug Development Major, Legal Studies Minor
Hometown: Santa Clara, California
Favorite non-science activities: Trying new recipes, spending time with friends, visiting coffee shops
Dream benchmate: Remy the rat from Ratatouille
Birthday: June 7th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Water Sheep
High-School Students
Mascots & Cie
![jarvis jarvis](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2018/02/jarvis.jpeg)
Contact:
jarvis.usc.edu
J.A.R.V.I.S.
Lab Server
Dell PowerEdge 360
Hometown: Austin, TX, USA
Favorite non-science activities: running (processes), idling
Dream benchmate(s): Tony Stark
Birthday: October 25th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Fire Rooster
![moucifer moucifer](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2018/02/moucifer.jpeg)
Contact:
Above Ryan’s desk
Moucifer
Lab Mascot
Cyagen transgenic mouse
Hometown: Santa Clara, California
Favorite non-science activities: being judgemental, looking at cute pictures
Dream benchmate(s): Pinky and the Brain
Birthday: November 9th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Fire Rooster
![IMG_9191 IMG_9191](https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/files/2019/05/IMG_9191-175x220.jpg)
Contact:
Turki
Lab Mascot
African turquoise killifish
Hometown: Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe
Favorite non-science activities: swimming around, eating
Dream benchmate(s): Nemo and Dory
Birthday: Less than 6 months ago