Lab Members

Former Thackray Lab Members 

Post-doctoral Fellows:

Dana Skarra – 2011-2016

• NIH Training in Reproductive Sciences Post-doctoral Fellowship 2011-2012
• The Endocrine Society Trainee Day Travel Award 2012
• NIH Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (IRACDA) Fellow 2012-2016
• Women in Endocrinology Young Investigator Award 2013
• The National Academies Education Fellow in the Life Sciences 2013
• NIH NRSA Post-doctoral Fellowship 2013-2015
• Currently, Associate Director Clinical Research, Castle Biosciences, Phoeniz, AZ

Angelina Hernandez-Carretero – 2017

• NIH Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (IRACDA) Fellow 2014-2018
• The National Academies Education Fellow in the Life Sciences 2016
  
• Endocrine Society FLARE Fellow 2017
• Women in Endocrinology Young Investigator Award 2018
• Currently, Science Teacher, Collegiate Charter High School, Los Angeles, CA

Maryan Rizk - 2020-2021

• NIH Training in Reproductive Sciences Post-doctoral Fellowship 2020-2021
• NIH Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award Fellow 2021
• Currently, Scientist, Abzena, San Diego, CA

Ph.D. Students:

Pedro Torres – SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Cell and Molecular Biology 2016-2019

• SDSU Inamori Fellowship 2016
• Ford Foundation Fellowship Program Honorable Mention 2016
• SDSU ARCS Foundation Scholar Award 2017
• Assiz-Baumgartner Young AE-PCOS Travel Award 2017
• UCSD Microbial Sciences Graduate Research Fellowship 2017-2019
• ASM Microbe Minority Travel Award 2017, 2018
• Dissertation: “Role of the Gut Microbiome in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.”
• Currently, Associate Director, Persephone Biosciences, San Diego, CA

Laura Sisk-Hackworth– SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Cell and Molecular Biology 2019-2024

• Rees-Stealy Research Foundation Fellowship 2020
• NIH NRSA Pre-doctoral Fellowship 2021-2024
• SDSU ARCS Foundation Scholar Award 2021-2023
• SDSU/UCSD CMB Joint-Doctoral Program Outstanding Research Achievement Award 2021
• Student Achievement Award, Southern California Branch of the American Society for Microbiology 2023
• Dissertation: “The Role of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis in the Development of the Gut Microbiome.”
• Currently, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Texas at Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, TX

Master’s Students:

Jennifer Hunnicutt – BS/MS Program in Biological Sciences 2003-2006

• Dr. Doris A. Howell Undergraduate Research Scholarship 2003-2004
• Endocrine Society Student Summer Research Fellowship 2004
• Dissertation: “Novel cis-regulatory regions in the LHβ promoter involved in progesterone suppression of basal transcription and GnRH induction.”
• Currently, Emergency Medicine Doctor in Columbus, OH

Yasmin Ghochani – BS/MS Program in Biological Sciences 2007-2009

• Chancellor’s Research Award 2007
• Dissertation: “Hormonal interactions in progesterone regulation of gonadotropin gene expression.”
• Currently, Ph.D. Graduate Student Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Program, UCLA

Pablo Arroyo Jr. – UCSD Post-Bac and SDSU MS Program in Microbiology 2016-2019

• Dissertation: "Determining the organizational and activational effects of hyperandrogenism in a letrozole-induced mouse model of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome."
• Currently, Senior Research Associate, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, San Diego, CA

Lillian Sau – BS/MS Program in Biological Sciences 2016-2020

• Dr. Doris A. Howell Undergraduate Research Scholarship 2017
• Endocrine Society Student Summer Research Fellowship 2018
• Dissertation: "The relationship between the gut microbiome and metabolic dysregulation mediated by E2 insufficiency".
• Currently, Research Associate II, Chen Lab, Beckman Research Institute City of Hope

Annie Chen – BS/MS Program in Biological Sciences 2017-2021

• Dr. Doris A. Howell Undergraduate Research Scholarship 2018
• Endocrine Society Student Summer Research Fellowship 2020
• Dissertation: "Exploring Insulin Resistance and the Protective Effect of Fiber in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome".
• UCSD School of Medicine Summer Research Training Program 2022
• Currently, Medical Student, UC San Diego

Reeya Shah – BS/MS Program in Biological Sciences 2019-2023

• Ledell Family Undergraduate Research Scholarship 2020
• Endocrine Society Research Experiences for Graduate and Medical Students 2022
• Dissertation: "Exploring the Development of DHT-induced metabolic dysregulation and its relationship to the gut microbiome".

Sophia Wang– BS/MS Program in Biological Sciences 2021-2024

• Dissertation: "Exploring the Role of the Gut Microbiome in PCOS Metabolic Dysregulation".
• Currently, Business Development Associate, Viking Therapeutics, San Diego, CA

Ivy Tam– BS/MS Program in Biological Sciences 2021-2024

• UC San Diego Biology Undergraduate and Master's Mentorship Program (BUMMP) Research Apprenticeship Program 2024
• Dissertation: "Assessment of Gut Microbial Beta Glucuronidase Substrate Specificity in Sex Steroid Metabolism".

Undergraduate Students:

Brendan Mulligan - BISP199 2004

Aisha Memon - BISP199 2006-2007

• Dr. Doris A. Howell Undergraduate Research Scholarship 2006-2007

Jasjit Saini - BISP199 2009-2010

• Endocrine Society Student Summer Research Fellowship 2010

Alice Rhee – BISP199 2009-2011

• Dr. Doris A. Howell Undergraduate Research Scholarship 2010-2011
• Currently, Medical Student, Georgetown University School of Medicine

Maxwell Handy - 2010 co-mentored with Dr. Scott Kelley at SDSU

Rishi Parikh – BISP199 2011-2012

• Currently, MPH student, Emory University

Chung Hyun (Kate) Park – BISP199 2011-2013; Volunteer Researcher 2015

Currently, Medical Student, Yonsei University School of Medicine, South Korea

Monica Rivera – Endocrine Society MAP Summer Intern 2013

• University of Puerto Rico at Cayey

Alexandra Chen – BISP199 2013-2014

Mandeep (Mandy) Sidhu – BISP199 2013-2014

• Dr. Doris A. Howell Undergraduate Research Scholarship 2013-2014

Lauren Jackson - Endocrine Society MAP Summer Intern 2014

• Tuskegee University, Alabama

Jessie Chen – BISP199 2015

• Dr. Doris A. Howell Undergraduate Research Scholarship 2015-2016

Ivette Roca- IRACDA SURF Summer Intern 2015; Volunteer Researcher 2015-2016

• San Diego City College
  
  

Arya Anvar – BISP199 2015-2016

• UCSD FISP Scholarship 2016
• Ledell Family Summer Undergraduate Research Scholarship 2016
• Currently, Medical Student, USC Keck School of Medicine
  

Amisha Panjwani – Volunteer Researcher and BISP199 2019-2021

Kaelyn Ford – Genentech Summer Undergraduate Research Scholarship 2021    

Anita Nguyen – Volunteer Researcher and BISP196 2020-2023

• Regents Scholarship 2020
• Biological Sciences Honors Thesis
• Currently, Medical Student, Washington University in St. Louis

Aashi Mittal – Summer Research Volunteer 2023

• Williams College, MA

Aishwarya Ramesh – Volunteer Researcher and BISP199 2021-2023

• UC San Diego Biology Undergraduate and Master's Mentorship Program (BUMMP) Research Apprenticeship Program 2024
• Currently, Research Associate, BioLegend

Staff Research Associates:

David Arriola – 2009-2010

• Currently, Medical Student, Duke University School of Medicine

Courtney Benson – 2011-2012

• Currently, Ph.D. Graduate Student, Neurosciences Program, SUNY Buffalo                                         

Troy Kurz – 2012-2013

• Currently, Medical Student, Creighton University School of Medicine

Alissa Rivera – 2013-2015

• Currently, Staff Research Associate, Duke University School of Medicine
  

Sharon Chaing – 2015-2016

• Currently, Medical Student, University of South Florida
  

Bryan Ho – 2016-2018

• Currently, M.S Student, San Diego State University
  

Laura Cui – 2019-2021

• Currently, Medical Student, Florida Atlantic University