Meet Our Team

As a person born with severe-to-profound hearing loss, Uri has always been fascinated by the biological mechanisms of health and disease. As a beneficiary of hearing aids, without which his life would be entirely different, Uri has a deep-seated gratitude and enthusiasm for the power of technology to treat disease and make the world a better place for everyone. Uri’s research is thus perhaps unsurprisingly focused on the development and application of new technologies that facilitate a better understanding of how biological systems work in health and disease, and the treatment thereof. Major areas of focus are deep learning-based imaging methods, the cytoskeleton, and organelle dynamics in neurodegeneration, hearing loss, and cancer. In his free time, Uri enjoys spending time with his family, listening to stand- up comedy, long bike rides, running on the beach, playing guitar, and photography.

Elena received her undergraduate degree in Physiology and her Master’s degree in Molecular Neuroscience at the University of Bristol, UK. She completed her Ph.D. in Auditory Neuroscience at the University College London Ear Institute in the Daudet Lab. Her Ph.D. research involved visualizing the dynamics of the Notch signaling pathway and investigating the role of Notch ligand Delta-like 1 during the development of the chick inner ear sensory epithelia. Elena completed a post-doctoral fellowship at John’s Hopkins University in the Doetzlhofer Lab where she investigated the roles of Notch ligand, Jagged1, during supporting cell development in the mouse inner ear. Elena joined the Hertzano Lab at the University of Maryland to expand her knowledge of genomics and bioinformatics and to contribute to the development of two multi-omic data portals, gEAR, for the ear and NEMO- AD for Alzheimer’s disease. Elena joined as a Research Assistant for the Manor Lab at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in 2021 to further advance her career in the inner ear field and contribute to potential therapeutic developments for hearing loss. In her free time, Elena enjoys dancing salsa and bachata.

Aaditya is a second year data science masters student comentored by Dr. Talmo Pereira at the Salk Institute. He is working on developing a deep learning-based multiple object tracking system for biological timelapses including live-cell imaging and behavioral videos. Aaditya is interested in the synergy between computational neuroscience and deep learning – how deep learning can be used to elucidate the structures and functions of the brain through both modeling and tool development as well how the brain’s underlying computations and decision making abilities can become the basis for new deep learning architectures. Upon graduating from UCSD, he hopes to do a phd in computational neuroscience focusing on computational neuroscience as well as neuromorphic AI and eventually become a professor at a research institution. Outside of the lab, Aaditya loves to spend his time watching anime, gaming, reading books, or with his friends.

Alma attended El Camino Community College and eventually transferred to UC San Diego where she completed her B.S degree in Molecular and Cell Biology. After graduating she worked as a research assistant at the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute where she worked in skeletal muscle stem cells, regeneration and aging. She then worked as a research associate at Avidity Biosciences where she worked in the discovery biology team exploring new targets for rare diseases. She is currently in the Biological Sciences PhD program. She joined the Manor lab in 2023 and her research focuses on the role of Eps8 in stereocilia formation and AAV gene therapy for hearing loss. In her free time, Alma enjoys traveling, hiking, camping and watching movies.

Weronika holds a B.S. and Master’s degree in Biotechnology from the University of Wroclaw, Poland. She worked with histone-like protein Lsr2 in Mycobacterium smegmatis. During her Master’s studies, she did a research internship at the Physico-Chemical Biology Institute in Paris, France where she worked on small non-coding RNAs. After graduating, she completed a 2-year study at the University of Virginia working on an animal model of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. She then started working at UCSD as a research assistant. Weronika is a graduate student in the Biological Sciences PhD program and joined Manor Lab in April 2024. Her project centers on investigating organelle trafficking in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells. By utilizing both in vivo (rat model) and in vitro (cultured DRG) approaches, she aims to understand organelle dynamics in the peripheral nervous system. Outside of the lab, she enjoys surfing and playing piano.

Zhuoling is a senior undergraduate student at UC San Diego completing her B.S. degree in bioinformatics. With an interest in the cutting-edge field of deep learning, Zhuoling’s looking forward to exploring the potential intersection of deep learning and bioinformatics. She joined the Manor lab as an undergraduate researcher in October, 2024, where she will be able to enrich her understanding of challenges and opportunities for deep learning. In her leisure time, she enjoys reading, watching musicals, and playing the piano. 

Samer Salim earned an associate’s degree from Cuyamaca College in Biology for transfer. He continued with higher education in the field of biological sciences at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), seeking a bachelor’s degree B.S. in Human Biology. Samer is a serious and hard worker student that does not limit himself. His curiosity and enthusiasm in going above and beyond in anything that he pursues pushed him to join the Manor Lab to expand his knowledge and skills in the research aspect of his major. Therefore, he started in the Manor Lab in the Fall of 2023, and has dedicated his time in the lab until present. In his free time, he likes to read, walk, and spend time with his family.

Samia Rahman is a 3rd year undergraduate student at UC San Diego completing her B.S. degree in Molecular and Cell Biology. Her research experience includes working with underserved communities in health care at Harbor UCLA and participating in laboratory-based classes at UC San Diego. She is looking to further her research in biology by being a part of Manor Lab (since Fall 2023) in order to gain more insight on different biological phenomena.

Kevin is a 4th year UC San Diego student completing his B.S degree in General Biology. Kevin’s background includes laboratory work at Duke University, as an undergraduate conducting research to uncover novel gene dependencies within cholangiocarcinoma. Kevin is looking to further his biology career in hopes of pursuing a PhD.

Kasie

Nicole Mkrtytchian is an undergraduate student at UC San Diego majoring in Human Biology and minoring in Sociology. She previously conducted research at the Saban Research Institute in the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles on Cystic Fibrosis and CFTR inhibition on secretory cell markers within the intestinal epithelial lining. She has experience in cell culturing, DNA and RNA extraction, gel electrophoresis, and qPCR. Currently, she is working on plasmid DNA extractions as needed for the lab, as well as assisting Julien with cell culturing and tracking cell growth in fibroblasts for research on Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Furthermore, she is assisting Mustafa with mitochondrial cell tracking with the SLEAP software. As a pre-med biology major, Nicole seeks to expand her knowledge in microscopic imaging, epidemiology, and gene editing. In the future, she seeks to find advancements relating to pain, specifically finding cures to specific types of pain. Outside of the lab, Nicole enjoys playing saxophone and doing gymnastics.

Elennyel Correa is a transfer undergraduate at UC San Diego majoring in Neurobiology. She has gained significant research experience at the Center for Hearing and Balance at Johns Hopkins University under the mentorship of Dr. Kali Burke and Dr. Amanda Lauer, through the Johns Hopkins Neuroscience Scholars Program. Over three summers, she focused on assessing hearing and neurodegeneration following traumatic brain injury (TBI) in auditory regions. Her work involved measuring auditory function before and after impact acceleration-TBI (IA-TBI) and examining histopathology in the auditory brainstem to link structural damage to functional deficits. Currently, Elennyel is assisting Dr. Samprita Das on a gene therapy project for hearing loss, utilizing techniques in epigenetics and transcription factors to investigate the role of Eps8 in hearing loss and age-related changes in hair cell stereocilia. Her research interests include congenital hearing loss, traumatic brain injuries, histology, dissections, neurology, and genetics. Elennyel aims to complete her bachelor’s degree and pursue graduate studies in auditory neuroscience.

Kristianna is a Staff Research Associate in the Manor Lab at UCSD.  She received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology concentrating in Biological Psychology and Neuroscience from California State University, San Bernardino.  She was an undergrad volunteer in the lab of Dr. Dionisio Amodeo where she assisted in research projects investigating serotonin modulation and its influence on behavior flexibility associated with neuropsychiatric disorders, such as Autism.  Post graduation, Kristianna was a research assistant at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies where she supported labs with behavior phenotyping in vivo models of human health disorders.

Sana is a postdoctoral scholar in the Manor lab. She earned her PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of South Carolina, where she investigated therapeutic strategies in colorectal cancer via synthetic lethal genetic screens on patient-derived organoid models. Sana’s expertise includes various molecular biology techniques such as CRISPR gene editing, next-generation sequencing (NGS), qPCR, drug screening, 3D patient-derived organoid models, and more. Currently she is focusing on the development of targeted interventions to address underlying genetic defects and restore neural function for Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease.
Outside of the lab, Sana enjoys spending time in nature and traveling.

Lorin Guo is an undergraduate student at UC San Diego majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology. They have prior experience as a research apprentice studying the effects of aspirin on C. elegans using genetic analysis techniques and C. elegans culturing. They have also isolated bacteriophage and used it to study bacterial resistance mechanisms. As a genetics IA and a cell biology enthusiast, they joined the lab as a student assistant in April 2024 to expand their knowledge of cell engineering, and use biomedical microscopic imaging to understand the mechanisms of human diseases. They will learn about phototoxicity and building a live cellular imaging system from Dr. Rebollo. Outside of the lab, Lorin has a collection of over 700 vinyl records, enjoys talking about music, and bonds with other pop culture enthusiasts.

Leah Ashebir is a current MS student in Data Science at the University of San Francisco. She holds a BS in Finance with a concentration in Business Analytics and a certificate in Business German from Indiana University: Bloomington. Leah is driven by her passion for statistics and the potential for machine learning to drive smarter, faster innovation. In her work as a machine learning engineering intern in the Manor Lab, Leah aims to develop data-driven models to better understand and quantify the hearing process. She enjoys spending her free time painting, being in nature, and reading.

Rafael Mejia-Ramos is an undergraduate student at UC San Diego majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology. He gained research experience through the Research Methodology and Training Lab (RMTL) Fellowship Program at the UCSD School of Pharmaceutical Sciences gaining valuable scientific research skills. He received training focused on solution and buffer preparation, ion exchange column chromatography, protein purification and data analysis. Additionally, Rafael has assisted Dr. Yasmin Kassim with the annotation of hair cells in imaging datasets as part of the lab’s efforts to study auditory function at the cellular level. Currently, he is assisting Dr. Samprita Das with a gene therapy project aimed at investigating the role of Eps8 with hearing loss, dissections and genetics. His research interests include dissections, cell biology, image analysis, Eps8, hearing loss and microscopy imaging. Rafael aspires to pursue a master’s degree in Biology to further his academic and research pursuits.

Laura is an undergraduate student at UC San Diego pursuing a B.S. degree in Molecular and Cell Biology. She has served as a reader/grader for the course The Cell and has completed multiple laboratory-based courses in biology and chemistry. In January 2025, she joined the lab as an undergraduate student assistant and is currently working with Dr. Julien Cicero on culturing fibroblasts, deriving neurons from induced pluripotent stem cells, and producing microfluidic chips. Laura has a strong interest in cell biology and genetics and is eager to continue exploring these fields. Outside of the lab, she enjoys cooking, writing, and playing the piano.

Matthew Elmore Ancheta is a 3rd year student at UCSD working to finish his B.S. in Human Biology and minor in Global Health. Matthew’s prior research experiences involve learning vital research techniques through the Research Methodology Training Laboratory (RMTL) Fellowship presented by UCSD’s Biology Undergraduate and Master’s Mentorship Program (BUMMP), as well as UCSD undergraduate laboratory based classes. From the start of January 2025, Matthew has been working to assist Dr. Yasmin Kassim in image analysis and machine learning. Matthew hopes to expand his knowledge in microscopy, biomedical image analysis and machine learning to better foster skills needed to nourish a fruitful career in healthcare. In his free time, Matthew likes to play video games, bonding with friends and family as well.

Xiaobo graduated from Shandong Medical University, China. As an ENT doctor, he had been working in Beijing Hospital for more than decade. and as a visiting scholar well-trained in the Head & Neck Surgery Department in UCSD where his research focused on inner ear immune-related hearing loss disorders. He had been working in the pharmaceutical industry for more than 15 years and  contributed to several projects. Specifically, involved in Genetic hearing disorder, Cisplatin induced hearing loss, Age-related hearing loss, Synaptopathy projects. And involved such as AAV-mediated gene therapy models setup, inner ear ototoxicity protection program, etc. My experience with various models, including mouse, rat, and guinea pig, cat, chinchilla, Non-Human Primate, has equipped me with the skills necessary to navigate and contribute effectively to diverse research environments.

Hemanth is a Ph.D. candidate at the Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute (HDSI) at UC San Diego, specializing in the development of cutting-edge AI solutions for biomedical challenges. His research focuses on organelle segmentation, tracking, and dynamics, using deep learning to analyze diverse data types with a focus on neurological diseases. He is building a multi-scale, multi-modal AI platform to study organelle dynamics in live cells, analyzing rich datasets to identify new biomarkers. Hemanth’s work emphasizes interpretable and data-centric AI, creating open-source tools that link microscopic cellular events to broader systemic health outcomes.

Akanksha Biju is a junior at Arcadia High School with strong interests in mathematics, computer science, and neuroscience. She worked with Dr. Yasmin Kassim on a hair-cell imaging project to create high-quality annotations for fine-tuning a supervised segmentation model. Using ImageJ and the Napari_Haircells workflow, she converted confocal files to TIFF, trimmed stacks, and traced each hair cell at the beginning, middle, and end frames. She organized the outputs in a dedicated annotation folder and uploaded the processed stacks to the training dataset. She also has research experience in a Caltech Neurotechnology lab, where she used SLEAP to track freely swimming zebrafish and automate stage motion for stable imaging.