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Postdoctoral researchers

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Katrina Andrews

UCLA Chemistry and Biochemistry Teacher-Scholar

katrinaandrews[at] ucla [dot] edu

Katrina is originally from the UK and obtained her MSc in Medicinal and Biological Chemistry from the University of Nottingham in 2017. She then spent one year working in hit-to-lead optimisation at a pharmaceutical company in Switzerland before returning to the UK to undertake doctoral studies at the University of Oxford in the group of Prof Stuart J Conway. For her PhD project, Katrina worked on the synthesis and biological evaluation of PROTACs targeting transcriptional coactivator proteins for degradation. In the Backus group, Katrina aims to develop isobaric labelling techniques that will enhance the throughput of chemoproteomic studies. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring new places, socialising with friends, and baking.

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​Chau Ngo

UCLA Chemistry and Biochemistry Teacher-Scholar

cdngo [at] mednet [dot] ucla [dot] edu

Chau received her B.S. and M.S. in Chemistry from the University of California, San Diego in 2016 and 2018. Chau then pursued her doctoral study in Chemistry at the University of Southern California in the laboratory of Professor Chao Zhang. Working in multidisciplinary research at the interface of organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and chemical biology, Chau’s doctoral research mainly focused on the development of potent and selective small-molecule covalent inhibitors against numerous therapeutic proteins for the treatment of human diseases, including COVID-19 and autoimmune diseases. Following the completion of her doctoral study, Chau excitedly joined the laboratory of Professor Backus as a Donald J. Cram teacher scholar. In the Backus lab, Chau is strongly interested in synthesizing new small molecules as chemical tools to study ligandable proteomes and developing mass spectrometry-based chemical proteomics platforms to conduct comprehensive screening and robust target identification. As a teacher scholar, Chau also teaches general and organic chemistry laboratory courses. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, watching tennis, baking, and reading.

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Samuel Ofori

SOfori@mednet [at] mednet [dot] ucla [dot] edu

Samuel did his Ph.D., in Chemistry, at the University of Kentucky — where he worked on the design of novel small-molecule inhibitors of PPIs. His current research interests lie in hunting for cysteine-reactive chemical probes/inhibitors of novel biological targets. He’d love to live forever.


Graduate Student researchers

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José  Omar Castellón

Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology 
​NSF Fellowship
​Whitcome Fellowship
G6

joseomar805 [at] gmail [dot] com

A loyal Californian, Jose is from Oxnard, California, obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from California State University, Channel Islands and a Master’s degree in Biochemistry from California State University, Los Angeles. He is currently a graduate student in the Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology (BBSB) home area under the Molecular Biology Interdisciplinary Program (MBIDP). Jose is interested in applying his background in biophysics and protein folding to the field of chemical biology with a particular interest in inhibitor and probe discovery. 
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Nik Burton
 
Chemistry and Biochemistry
BTBSE Training Grant

Dissertation Year Fellowship
G5
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nrburton [at] g [dot] ucla [dot] edu

Nik is originally from Morehead City, North Carolina. He obtained his B.S. in chemistry from North Carolina State University where he worked on the development of novel synthetic methods. His research interests lie largely in organic synthesis with direct biological application. In his free time, he enjoys working out, drinking coffee, and has recently been getting into climbing.


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​​Ashley Julio
 
Chemistry and Biochemistry
​Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology

CBI Training Grant
​Dissertation Year Fellowship
​G5

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ajulio [at] g [dot] ucla [dot] edu

Ashley is originally from Santa Barbara, California, and attended Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, where she obtained a joint bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry. She is a student in the Biochemistry, Structural and Molecular Biology (BMSB) program in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry. In the Backus lab, Ashley is excited about using chemistry to probe, modulate, and ultimately better understand biological systems. In her free time she enjoys roller blading, working out, and dancing to country music.     
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​​Lisa Boatner
 
Chemistry and Biochemistry
​Chemical Biology

Systems Biology Training Grant
​Dissertation Year Fellowship
​G5

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Lisaboatner [at] g [dot] ucla [dot] edu

Lisa attended The University of Texas at Austin where she obtained bachelor degrees in chemistry and computational biology, as well as minors in computer science and business. At UT, she conducted research in functional genomics and electrochemical biosensors. She is currently a chemistry graduate student in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. As part of both the Backus and Houk labs, Lisa is interested in characterizing proteins using bioinformatics, computational chemistry, and chemoproteomics.
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​Andrew Palmer
 
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Organic

​G4
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abpalmer [at] g [dot] ucla [dot] edu

Andrew is originally from Santa Ynez, California and attended UC San Diego where he received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He did work relating to the asymmetric synthesis of nonnatural amino acids as well as solid-phase peptide synthesis and then worked as a process chemist for 3 years. Andrew is excited about synthesizing useful molecules for studying biomolecules, small molecule-biomolecule interactions, and developing methods for studying the protein interactome. In his free time he enjoys swimming, running, bodysurfing, beach volleyball, skiing, and reading.


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​Flowreen Shikwana
 
Chemistry and Biochemistry
BMSB

​G4
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fskiwana [at] g [dot] ucla [dot] edu

Flowreen is originally from San Diego, California. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of San Diego where she worked on elucidating biophysical characteristics of a novel small protein involved in the innate immune response. She is now a student in the Biochemistry, Molecular, and Structural Biology (BMSB) program. In the Backus lab, Flow is interested in using chemistry to further characterize and understand inducible protein interactions within the cell. Flow also enjoys hiking, yoga, reading, & baking (& eating) bread.


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Miranda Villanueva
 
MBDIP BBSB
​G4

​CBI Training Grant
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miranda13196 [at] gmail [dot] com

Miranda is from Los Angele but lived in the northeast while she received her B.A. in Chemistry with a concentration in Latina/o Studies from Williams College. She then returned to Los Angeles to work as a research assistant at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles where she investigated the long-term metabolic and behavioral effects of early life stress. Miranda is a graduate student in the Molecular Biology Program (MBIDP). In the Backus lab, she hopes to combine her background in chemistry with her interests in metabolism to develop new approaches to study metabolic regulatory mechanisms. During her free time, Miranda enjoys exploring the California scenery and training her dog


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Alexandra Turmon
 
Chemistry and Biochemistry
​BMSB
G3

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aturmon [at] g [dot] ucla [dot] edu

Alexandra is originally from San Francisco, CA and received her B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from UC Santa Cruz. Post-graduation, she stayed in Santa Cruz working at Unnatural Products as a research associate focused on the synthesis of cyclic peptides as drug molecules. Now a graduate student in the Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology (BMSB) PhD program she is excited for her research in the Backus Lab as it pertains to both using and developing chemoproteomic methodologies to study the functional mechanisms of different biological systems. Outside of science, Alex loves to spend time with friends and family, hiking, crocheting (knitting soon!), caring for her many plants and reading.


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Eli Biletch
 
Chemistry and Biochemistry
​Chemical Biology
​​CBI Training Grant
G2

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ebiletch [at] g [dot] ucla [dot] edu

Eli is originally from Boston, MA and received his bachelors degree from Middlebury College in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry along with a minor in Computer Science. At UCLA, Eli is a graduate student in the Chemical Biology specialization of the Chemistry Ph.D. program. In the Backus Lab, he is focused on synthesizing novel molecular tools for understanding the cellular interactome. In his free time, Eli enjoys creating delicious meals to share with friends and family, listening to and composing music, and exploring culture and design through reading and watching.


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Visitors

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Tomoyuki Fukuta
Visiting MS student
Chemistry

Tomoyuki is originally from Tokushima, Japan. He obtained his B.Sc. in chemistry from Kobe university where he worked on the synthesis of electron-deficient glyoximes via furoxans for cobaloxime synthesis. He transferred to the University of Tokyo where he is currently pursuing a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences. He aspires to become a biological chemist who can apply his knowledge of organic chemistry to advance the field of biology.

Undergraduates

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Allison Mirahan
 
Undergraduate
Chemistry
2026

Allison is a chemistry major from Yorba Linda, California. In the Backus Lab, she is interested in learning more about synthesis techniques and purposes as well as how chemistry plays a part in studying biological systems. In the future, she hopes to continue doing research in either organic or possibly computational chemistry. Outside of the lab, she enjoys playing basketball with her friends, staying active, and baking.

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Haley Gauer
 
Undergraduate
Biochemistry
2025

Originally from Los Angeles, Haley has been interested in biochemistry research since high school, and she is especially passionate about organic chemistry and synthesis. After graduating from UCLA, she hopes to continue research at the graduate level. Haley is also active in local politics, serving on the board of Bruin Democrats and Abundant Housing at UCLA. Outside of the lab, she loves cooking, listening to music, and playing water polo.

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Joelle Darrouj
 
Undergraduate
Biochemistry
2025

Joelle is a Biochemistry major who has always had an interest in the chemistry of the human body. She originally had set her goals towards pharmacy school, but is leaning towards getting a PhD in organic/medicinal chemistry or pharmacology. In the Backus Lab, she enjoys learning more about the proteome and how to potentially find druggable targets. In her free time she enjoys baking with her friends, making friendship bracelets, and crocheting plushies.

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Emil Dominguez
 
Undergraduate
Biochemistry
2024

Emil is a Biochemistry major from the San Gabriel Valley, CA. He transferred to UCLA from Rio Hondo College in the Fall of 2022. While at Rio Hondo College, Emil pursued natural product total synthesis research in the Kou Laboratory at the University of California, Riverside. He is interested in studying chemical biology to increase the druggable proteome. In his free time, Emil volunteers at Emanate Health Hospital in the COPE Health Scholars program, is a course instructor for the Prison Education Project, and is the UCLA SACNAS undergraduate representative

Alumni


GSRs
Heta Desai
2019-2023
Degree: PhD, Molecular Biology


Sunny (Tianyang) Yan
2019-2023
Degree: PhD, Chemistry
Destination: Kumquat Biosciences, San Diego


Maria Palafox
2018-2023
Degree: PhD, Human Genetics


Neil Chan
2018-2020
Degree: Masters, Chemistry
Destination: 
Revolution Medicines

Ernest Armenta
2018-2020
Degree: Masters, Chemistry


​SRAs
Brianna Hill-Payne
2018-2019

Destination: UPenn PhD Program, Philadelphia, Penn

Postdocs
Sho Takechi
2021-2023
Destination: Daiichi-Sankyo, Tokyo, Japan

Jian Cao 
2018-2020
Destination: Novartis, San Diego, CA

​Sean Maddox
2018-2019
Destination: Ampac Fine Chemicals, Sacramento, CA


Medical Students
Alex Sun
2020-2021
Destination: Residency, Columbia University


Undergraduates
Evan Chen
2023

Degree: Computer Science and Engineering (2022)
Destination: Stanford MS Program

Phillip Kim
2019-2022

Degree: Biochemistry (2022)
Destination: Eli Lilly

Linwei Li
2019-2022

Degree: Biochemistry (2022)

Stephanie Yen
2019-2022

Degree: Biochemistry (2022)
Destination: Immunity Bio

Nicholas Ung
2019-2021

Degree: Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology (2021)
Destination: Software Developer

Jeremy Shek
2018-2020
Degree: Biochemistry (2019)
Destination: UCSD PhD program


Jamel Simpson
2019-2020
Degree: Biochemistry (2019)
​Destination: University of Virginia PhD program


Ky Tran
2018-2020
Degree: Biochemistry (2019)

Annie Zhou
2018-2020
Degree: Biochemistry (2019)
​Destination: UT Southwestern PhD Program


Marina Faragalla
Regent's Scholar
2018-2019
Degree: BA Biochemistry (2019)
​Destination: Medical School
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Samuel Neubuerger
2018
Degree: BA Biochemistry 
Destination: Medical School


Short Term
Derui Li
CSST Student (Summer 2019)
Destination: PhD Student, Xi David Li Lab


Cindy Cheng

Rotation Student (2019)
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology (BBSB)
Destination: Graduate student in the Eisenberg lab

Taylor Perkins
Summer Student (2018)
Destination: Graduate student in the Loo lab

Emily Yang
Rotation Student (2018)
Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics
Destination: Graduate student in the Li Lab

​Graham Read
 Rotation Student (2018)
Gene Regulation, Epigenomics, and Transcriptomics (GREaT)

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​Departments of Biological Chemistry and Chemistry and Biochemistry

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​​Copyright © 2017 Keriann Backus
  • Home
  • Research
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  • About P.I.
  • TEAM
  • CONTACT OR JOIN US
  • Tools
  • FUN