I grew up in Nantong, Eastern China.  I study the neurobiology of proprioception and other sensorimotor behaviors in Caenorhabditis elegans.  I also develop innovative engineering and computational methods for the lab.  Outside lab, I enjoy cooking, fishing, and video games.

In the lab, I study the chemotactic responses of  C. elegans to valproic acid and valerian root extracts. Valproic acid is an anticonvulsant and mood-stabilizing drug used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder. Valerian is a medicinal plant used to treat sleep disorders, restlessness, and anxiety. The mechanisms by which valproic acid and valerian root extracts engage with the nervous system are poorly understood. Thus, the goal of my thesis project is to identify  their molecular targets to understand the mechanisms by which they promote mental health. Outside of lab life, I enjoy painting, bird watching, and cooking with my family.

I have always been interested in understanding how diet impacts the nervous system, particularly in relation to diabetes and neuropathy. My project focuses on investigating the shared molecular pathways involved in nerve degeneration resulting from exposure to a high-glucose diet and chemotherapy. Though I spent my
childhood in Mexico, I have lived most of my life in Houston. I enjoy running, cooking, reading, and listening to audiobooks.

To date, there is no FDA approved treatment proven to prevent, alleviate, or cure CIPN. I am investigating whether inhibition of the p38-MAPK (Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase) or its isoforms may serve as targets that can fill this therapeutic gap.

As a materials scientist with a passion for biology, my goal is to expand the mechanobiologist's toolbox. I develop non-invasive, optically readable mechanosensors that can report on micronewtons of compressive force inside of hollow, muscular organs. To test and refine this platform, I image the temporal pattern of "bite" force in the pharyngeal lumen live, actively feeding C. elegans worms.

I grew up in Abbott, Texas (the birthplace of Wille Nelson!) and did my undergrad at the University of Texas at Austin, where I double majored in Neuroscience and Biochemistry. There, I fell in love with ion channels. This dovetailed with my interest in sensory biology, leading me to join the Goodman lab to apply the skills I learned to better understand the molecular mechanisms of how we sense touch. When I’m not in the lab, I enjoy exploring San Francisco, seeing what's streaming on the Criterion channel, and going hiking/camping to take advantage of all the wonderful natural beauty California has to offer!

Broadly, I aim to use C. elegans as a model system to discover mechanisms of human disease. My project is designed to determine the role of biochemical pathways in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and ultimately identify therapeutic targets to treat it. I'm also interested in cell signaling mechanisms of neuronal degeneration/regeneration.

Outside of the lab, I love hanging out with my cat, lifting heavy weights, hiking, climbing, painting, reading, and live music.

I am a Professor of Physiology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and head of the KCNMA1 Translational Research Laboratory. My research focuses on the clinical manifestations, mechanistic underpinnings, and gene variant-delineated treatment for KCNMA1 channelopathy, an ultra-rare neurogenetic disorder resulting from aberrant BK channel activity in the brain and muscles. I'm happy to return to my roots (MCP and worms!) for a summer sabbatical.