People
Figure Inspired by Sammy Katta
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
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:
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
Contact:
Email: raphealw@usc.edu
Rapheal Williams, Ph.D.
Research Lab Specialist
Education
Ph.D. Students
Contact:
Email: bakercla@usc.edu
Clayton Baker
Ph.D. Student (Molecular and Computational Biology program)
Education
Contact:
Email: habtemar@usc.edu
Eyael Habtemariam
Ph.D. Student (Pharmaceutical and Translational Sciences program)
Fall rotation
Education
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
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
Contact:
Email: eschwab@usc.edu
Ella M. Schwab
Education
Hometown: Seattle, WA, USA
Favorite non-science activities: Rock climbing, camping, cooking
Dream benchmate(s): Jennifer Doudna
Birthday: July 12th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Earth Tiger
Research Technicians
Contact:
Email: sa_999@usc.edu
Sumiya Abbasi
Education
B.M., MBBS, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Pakistan.
Hometown: Karachi, PakistanFavorite non-science activities:Reading Fiction, Scuba diving, Amusement parksDream benchmate(s): Tyrion Lannister, House MD Birthday: January 22ndChinese Zodiac Sign: Ox
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
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
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
Contact:
Email:sanqui@usc.edu
Cossette Sanqui
Master Student
Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine Master Program
Education
B.Sc., California State University, Fullerton, CA, USA
Hometown: Walnut, California
Favorite non-science activities: Working out, Reading, Playing MTG, and Baking
Dream benchmate: Jungkook
Birthday: December 19th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Dragon
Contact:
Email: haoying@usc.edu
Haoying “Tian” Tian
Master Student
Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine Master Program
Education
B.Sc., University of California, Davis, CA, USA
Hometown: Zhengzhou, China
Favorite non-science activities: Singing, Photography, Hiking
Dream benchmate(s): Bob (from Minions)
Birthday: January 4th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Snake
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Contact:
Email: lkbailey@usc.edu
Lochlan Bailey
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Neuroscience Major
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Favorite non-science activities: playing guitar, weightlifting, hiking
Dream benchmate(s): Dave Chapelle
Birthday: September 20th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Water Sheep
Contact:
Email:
Macy Barham
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Human Biology Major
Hometown: Bend, OR, USA
Favorite non-science activities: Skiing, cooking/baking, travel
Dream benchmate(s): Rory Gilmore
Birthday: July 26th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Dog
Contact:
Email:gcardena@usc.edu
George Cardenas
Undergraduate Research Assistant / SURFiN Fellow
Neuroscience Major
Hometown: Rancho Cucamonga, CA, USA
Favorite non-science activities: Professional piano, making coffee, & playing games
Dream benchmate(s): Glenn Gould
Birthday: January 12th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Goat
Contact:
Email: eviechan@usc.edu
Evie Chang
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Contact:
Email:leonjche@usc.edu
Leon Chen
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Contact:
Email: mingfeic@usc.edu
Mingfei Chen
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Hometown: Rancho Palos Verdes, California
Favorite non-science activities: Cooking, Crafting, Arcades
Dream benchmate(s): My mom and dad
Birthday: January 2nd
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Rooster
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
Contact:
Email: arkashya@usc.edu
Atul Kashyap
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Hometown: Ellicott City, Maryland
Favorite non-science activities: Playing music, travelling, trying new foods
Dream benchmate(s): Detective Carter from Rush Hour
Birthday: October 4th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Wood Rooster
Contact:
Email: kimcolet@usc.edu
Colette Kim
Undergraduate Research Assistant / SURFiN Fellow
Hometown: Orange County, California, USA
Favorite non-science activities: Traveling, embroidery, and spending time with friends
Dream benchmate(s): Olivia Pope
Birthday: December 30th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Monkey
Contact:
Email:jlly@usc.edu
Jonathan Ly
Undergraduate Research Assistant / SURFiN Fellow
Hometown: Rancho Cucamonga, California
Favorite non-science activities: Hooping, collecting sneakers, spending time with my family.
Dream benchmate(s): Cbossc123
Birthday: Feburary 5th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Monkey
Contact:
Email: eokolo@usc.edu
Ekene Okolo
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Quantitative Biology Major
Hometown: San Diego, California
Favorite non-science activities: Singing/Songwriting & watching all things Anthony Bourdain
Dream benchmate(s): Walter White & Jesse Pinkman
Birthday: March 30th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Monkey
Contact:
Email: shensoph@usc.edu
Sophie Shen
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Quantitative Biology Major
Hometown: Ridgefield, Connecticut
Favorite non-science activities: Crochet, painting, hiking, playing with my two cats, listening to music
Dream benchmate(s): Baymax
Birthday: May 22nd
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Dog
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
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
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
Contact:
Email:yuhanyua@usc.edu
Yuhan Yuan
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Quantitive Biology Major
Hometown: Shanghai, China
Favorite non-science activities: Hiking, Volleyball, Cooking, Citywalk
Dream benchmate(s): Tony Stark (Iron Man)
Birthday: March 20th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Dog
Student workers
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
Contact:
Email: fhuss@usc.edu
Faith Huss
Student worker (Mouse team)
Master Student – Nutrition, Healthspan, and Longevity
Hometown: New London, WI, USA
Favorite non-science activities: Baking/ Cooking, trying new foods, playing with my dogs
Dream benchmate(s): Baymax and Phil Dunphy
Birthday: March 17th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Water Pig
Contact:
Email:alyssak@usc.edu
Alyssa Kim
Student worker (Mouse team)
Undergraduate Student – Neuroscience Major
Hometown: Pleasanton, California
Favorite non-science activities: Cafe crawling, baking, traveling, golf
Dream benchmate(s): Phoebe Buffay (from Friends)
Birthday: June 19th
Chinese zodiac sign: Dog
Contact:
Email: abbymcmi@usc.edu
Abby McMillin
Student worker (Mouse team)
Undergraduate Student
Hometown: Clarendon Hills, IL
Favorite non-science activities: Hiking, baking, drawing, enjoying overpriced coffee
Dream benchmate(s): Vanessa Doofenshmirtz
Birthday: April 9th
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Rooster
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
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
High-School Students
Mascots & Cie
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
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
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