Marisa Medina, PhD
Principal Investigator
Marisa received her Ph.D. in Genetics with a Designated Emphasis in Biotechnology from UC Davis. She is recognized for her research on cholesterol metabolism and pharmacogenomics, the study of genetic variation in drug response. Her research utilizes human genetic variation to discover new genes, pathways and mechanisms that contribute to inter-individual differences in the risk of developing cardiometabolic disease, as well as response to statins, the most commonly prescribed cardiovascular disease drug. Through these efforts she pioneered the use of patient-derived cell lines as a model system for identifying biomarkers of drug response. When not in lab, Marisa can be found outside on the slopes, in the water, or on the trail.
Elizabeth Theusch, PhD
Assistant Professional Researcher
A Wisconsin native, Beth received a B.S. in Genetics and Biochemistry from UW-Madison, a Ph.D. from UCSF in Biomedical Sciences, and postdoctoral training with Marisa Medina and Ron Krauss at CHORI. In her research, Beth applies computational biology and statistical genetics approaches to the study of cardiovascular and metabolic disease and statin pharmacogenomics. In addition to collaborating with Dr. Medina on a variety of projects, Beth's independent research interest is studying how menopause impacts women's cardiometabolic disease risk. Outside of work, Beth enjoys spending time with her husband, children, pets, and plants.
Yuanyuan Qin, PhD
Assistant Professional Researcher
Yuanyuan received her PhD at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where she did her thesis work on the breast cancer microenvironment and macrophage inflammation. She completed her post-doctoral training in the laboratories of Drs. Marisa Medina and Ronald Krauss, focusing on PI(4,5)P2 as a key regulator of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. She is now studying the role of TMEM55B as a modulator of mitochondrial function and lipid metabolism. Outside of lab Yuanyuan loves rock climbing, cats, hiking, and wine-tasting.
Yu-Lin Kuang, PhD
Specialist
Yu-Lin received her Ph.D. from Tufts University, and postdoctoral training with Dr. Ronald Krauss at CHORI. The major focus of her research has been the identification of molecular mechanisms responsible for genetic, dietary, or pharmacologic effects on lipoprotein metabolism and cardiovascular disease risk. Utilizing patient-derived iPSCs and other mammalian cellular models, she is currently studying the role of microRNAs in beta-cell function and statin-induced new onset diabetes. In her free time, Yu-Lin enjoys traveling and being outdoors with her family.
H Hausman
Staff Research Associate
H joined the lab in 2024 as an SRA for Elizabeth Theusch.
Yuqing Zhang
PhD student
Hi! My name is Yuqing (Eliza) Zhang and I'm a first-year metabolic biology master's student at UC Berkeley. My goal is to proceed to a PhD degree and study molecular mechanisms behind human diseases. I'm a crazy cat lover and I also enjoy lego and sewing.
UC Berkeley Student Interns
Sheila Teker
Sheila is a third-year student at UC Berkeley majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology (emphasis in Medical Biology and Physiology) and minoring in Global Poverty and Practice. Outside of lab, she is involved in the Suitcase Women’s Clinic, is an intern at the National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse (expanding harm reduction resources and training), works as a Life Enrichment Assistant at an assisted living and memory care facility, and volunteers at both UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital and Primary Care Clinic. She started in the Medina Lab as a high school student with the SSRP Program, and enjoys being able to now work with mentoring other students! Following graduation, she plans to pursue an MD-PhD.
Grace Lim
Grace is a second-year undergraduate majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology and minoring in Education at UC Berkeley. Outside the class, she is involved in the Path To Care Center, ASUC associate, and University Health Services. She enjoys helping out elders with Alzheimer and students in Special Education. In her free time, she enjoys going to the gym, swimming, and spending time with my friends.
Leela Venkatesan
Leela is an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley simultaneously majoring in Chemical Biology in the College of Chemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology (emphasis in Neurobiology) and minoring in Global Poverty & Practice. Outside of classes and research, she is a phlebotomist, volunteers at the Women’s Daytime Drop-in Center providing basic needs and housing resources to the unhoused community in Berkeley, and is serving as the President of the Sage Mentorship Project (UC Berkeley’s largest one-on-one mentoring organization for local elementary school students in Oakland and El Cerrito). Leela also serves as a member of the Community Projects Executive Committee for the Public Service Center at Cal. In her free time, Leela enjoys dancing and teaching ballet!
Tanvi Yalamanchili
Tanvi is a fourth-year student at UC Berkeley, majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology with an emphasis in Infectious Diseases. Outside of the Medina Lab, she is the president of the Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program (KDSAP), the former president of Asha for Education, a volunteer doula at Alta Bates Ashby Medical Center, part of an all-girls Bollywood dance team, and a licensed phlebotomist. In her free time, she also enjoys baking, tennis, and trying out new restaurants and cafes.
Julia Su
Julia is a first-year undergraduate student at UC Berkeley studying Integrative Biology and Education. She is currently part of various student organizations, including the International Healthcare Association, Friends of Médecins Sans Frontières, Pre-Medical Honor Society, STEM Ed. at Berkeley, and Cal Community Music. In her free time, Julia enjoys working out, baking, working with her hands, and playing random instruments like the piano, violin, and guitar.
Savanna Wang
Savanna is a third-year undergraduate majoring in Molecular Cellular Biology with a Cell Biology, Development & Physiology track, and Data Science minor at UC Berkeley. Her research interest lies in metabolic and disease research. She loves to uncover the hidden mechanisms behind every interesting phenomenon and dig deeper. In her free time, she loves digital painting, 3D modeling, watching anime & manga, playing video games, collecting anime figures and gems, hiking, etc.
Aishanee Acharyya
Aishanee is a second year student at UC Berkeley majoring in molecular and cell biology (MCB) with a double minor in music and public health. She is also involved with a department-sponsored biology club called MCBcDNA, Asha for Education, University Choir, Premedical Honor Society, and the University Health Services. In her free time, she likes spending time with her friends, reading, singing, and trying out new restaurants and coffee shops.
Daniel Kim
Daniel joined the lab in 2025. He is currently a UC Berkeley student.
Anmol Bajwa
Anmol joined the lab in March, 2025. She is currently a sophomore at UC Berkeley.
Alivia Ding
Harshini Jayaprakash
Former Members
- Maria Eagleton Velasquez - student intern
- Van Hanke - student intern
- Vy Pham - SSRP 2024
- Belem Osorio - SSRP 2024
- Sai Chelluri - SRAI
- Samina Ginwalla - SSRP
- Samirah Taiwo Isah - SSRP
- Kavn Aulakh - undergraduate intern
- Parth Chhetri - SRAII
- Antonio Munoz-Howell - Specialist, Master's student
- Jenny Tran - summer student
- Angela Xiong - summer student
- Radhe Patel - student intern
- Christian Castillo - summer student
- Flora Ting - SRAII
- Alexis Tran - summer student
- Siem Tsegay - summer student
- Andrea Dose - lab manager
- Shua Jo - undergraduate student
- Kyu Kim - undergraduate student
- Daniel Han - undergraduate student
- Ally Qi - undergraduate student
- Alp Sozat - summer student
- Lloyd Tripp - student
- Batya Brose - student
- Alex Jeronimo - summer student
- Halley Lin-Jones - summer student
- Selena Yao - student
- Navleen Dhaliwal - student
- Cheyenne Canizares - student
- Ke Liu - Postdoctoral fellow
- Devesh Naidoo - SRA
- Ameer Siddiqui - student
- Malekah Isa - summer student
- Zhihao Gao - summer student
- Andrew Kriozere - summer student
- Sara Von Son - summer student
- Brandon Bunker - Postdoctoral fellow
- Joseph Harmon - student
- Kathy Liu - student
- Victor Kong - student
- Jacob Strelnikov - student
- Allison Torres - postbac
- Nick Lee - student
- Brittany Russel - summer student
- Aditi Gupta - summer student
- Mee Jean Kim - Postdoctoral fellow
- Jenna Lee - student
- Celia Cubbit - student
- Katrina Mitchel - Postdoctoral fellow
- Cody Li - student
- Ann Wang - student
- Christopher Yap - postbac
- Kungpil Kim - Postdoctoral fellow
- Ianto Xi - student
- Eugene Bolotin - Postdoctoral fellow
- Katherine Bailey - student
- Fred Bauzon - Postdoctoral fellow
- Aiden Ngygen - student
- Kristin Stevens - SRA
- Ariel Applebaum - summer student
- Steve Lin - student
- Kathleen Lo - student
- Jay Patel - student
- Ryan Lin - student
- Chi-Yi Yu - Postdoctoral fellow