Principal Investigator

Tanya Stoyanova, PhD

Tanya Stoyanova, PhD

EDUCATION

2003-2009 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
University of Illinois, Chicago
Chicago, IL, USA
2001-2003 Bachelor of Science, Biology (Genetics)
University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS, USA
1998-2001 Bachelor of Science, Ecology and Protection of the Environment
Technical University
Varna, Bulgaria

PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS

2023- Present Associate Professor (with tenure)
Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology
Department of Urology
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, USA
2022 Associate Professor (with tenure)
Department of Radiology
Stanford University
Palo Alto, CA, USA
2015-2022 Assistant Professor (tenure-line)
Department of Radiology
Stanford University
Palo Alto, CA, USA
2009-2015 Postdoctoral Fellowship, Cancer and Stem Cell Biology
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA, USA

HONORS AND AWARDS

2024-2026 Prostate Cancer Research Program Exploration-Hypothesis Development Award
US Department of Defense
2023-2025 Lung Cancer Research Program Idea Development Award
US Department of Defense
2023-2024 Prostate Cancer Development Research Program Award
University of California, Los Angeles, Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE)
2020-2025 NIH/NCI R37 MERIT Award
National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute
2020 2020 Society of Basic Urologic Research Young Investigator Award
2018-2020 Idea Development Award
US Department of Defense, Prostate Cancer Research Program
2016-2018 Stanford University School of Medicine McCormick and Gabilan Faculty Award
2014-2019 K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award
National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute
2014-2017 2014 Stewart Rahr Prostate Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Award
Prostate Cancer Foundation
2014 Chancellor’s Award for Postdoctoral Research
University of California, Los Angeles, CA
2014 2014 Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology Retreat Award
University of California, Los Angeles
2012-2014 Postdoctoral Fellowship
US Department of Defense, Prostate Cancer Research Program
2010-2012 Postdoctoral Fellowship
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine
2008
SIGMA Xi Student Research Forum Award for Graduate and Professional Students 2008
University of Illinois, Chicago
2007
SIGMA Xi Student Research Forum Award for Graduate and Professional Students 2007
University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
2003 Sally K. Frost Mason and Kenneth A. Mason Outstanding Senior
Division of Biological Sciences at the University of Kansas
2003 Sally Frost Mason Outstanding Woman Student in Biological Sciences
University of Kansas, Lawrence

PUBLICATIONS

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/myncbi/tanya.stoyanova.1/bibliography/48320774/public/

Lab Director/ Principal Investigator

Staff

Donny Gunn

Donny Gunn

PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS

2024-
Senior Animal Techinician, Dr. Tanya Stoyanova
Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, USA
2014-
Animal Technician, Dr. Owen N. Witte
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, USA
2009-2014 Researcher
Bio-reliance
Rockville, Maryland, USA
2004-2009
Researcher
National Institute of Health
Bethesda, Maryland, USA
Staff Lab Members
Margarita Calderon

Margarita Calderon

Staff Lab Members

Postdoctoral Fellows

Alifiani Bonita Hartono, PhD

Alifiani Bonita Hartono, PhD

EDUCATION

2014-2022 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Biomedical Sciences
Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Tulane University School of Medicine
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
2012-2013 Master of Science
Department of Cellular & Molecular Biology
Tulane University
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
2007-2011 Bachelor of Science
Department of Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington, USA

PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS

2023 Postdoctoral Scholar, Dr. Tanya Stoyanova’s lab
Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
2022 Postdoctoral Scholar, Dr. Tanya Stoyanova’s lab
Department of Radiology
Stanford University
Palo Alto, California, USA
2020 Lab Consultant
Axosim
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
2017 Genetic Tutor
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
2012-2013 STAIR Tutor
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
2011-2012 Lab Animal Technician
Infectious Disease Research Institute
Seattle, Washington, USA
2010-2011 Undergraduate Teaching Assistant
Department of Biology
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington, USA

HONORS AND AWARDS

2023 Second Place Poster Presentation at UCLA Molecular and Medical Pharmacology Retreat
“Utilizing High-Throughput Screening of Small Compounds to Develop Inhibitors for Aggressive Prostate Cancer”
2023-2025 Early Investigator Research Award
“Developing new therapeutic strategies to target Trop2 in aggressive prostate cancer”
Prostate Cancer Research Program
US Department of Defense
2019 Graduate Student Travel Award
Selected to present a poster at Cell Symposia: Hallmarks of Cancer.
Biomedical Sciences Student Association
2019 Award for Cancer Research sponsored by the Tulane Cancer Center
2019 Best Poster Presentation in the category of Cancer Research
“Identification of SIK1 as a potential therapeutic target for Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor”, Health Sciences Research Days
2017 Career Development Committee Travel Award
Biomedical Sciences Program 2017
2017 2017 AAAS Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering (CASE) Conference
Selected to participate
Washington D.C., USA

PUBLICATIONS

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/alifiani.hartono.1/bibliography/public/

Postdoctoral Fellow
Ziyi Chen, MD, PhD

Ziyi Chen, MD, PhD

EDUCATION

2012-2015 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Surgery
Peking University, Beijing China
2008-2010 Master of Medicine
Southeast University, Nanjing, China
2003-2008 Bachelor of Science (MD), Clinical Medicine
Southeast University, Nanjing, China

PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS

2023 Postdoctoral Scholar, Dr. Tanya Stoyanova’s lab
Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, US
2023 Associate Professor of Medicine, General Surgery
Department of Hepatobiliary Center
The first Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University
Nanjing, China
2019-2023 Associate Cheif Physician, General Surgery
Department of Hepatobiliary Center
The first Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University
Nanjing, China
2017-2019 Attending Physician, General Surgery
Department of General Surgery
Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine of Nanjing Medical University
Nanjing, China
 2015-2016 Chief Resident, General Surgery
Department of General Surgery
The first Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University
Nanjing, China
2010-2012 Resident, General Surgery
Department of Surgery
Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital
Nanjing University, Nanjing, China

HONORS AND AWARDS

2020 Scientific Research Foundation

No.2020M681670, Ministry of Education of China
2020 Jiangsu Sustentation Foundation for Youths
No.2020Z0107, Department of Human Resource and Social Security of Jiangsu Province
2019 YNo. 2020Z199, Department of Human Resource and Social Security of Jiangsu Province
No. 81902485, National NSF of China
2019 Foundation for Young Researcher Program

JX1021121201915, Nanjing Medical University

2014-2015 First Prize Scholarship
Peking University, Beijing
2013-2014

2012-2013

The Second Prize Scholarship
Peking University, Beijing
2009

2007

“Zhang Guiping Scholarship” Award
Southeast University, Beijing
2008

2004

The National Scholarship
The Ministry of Education of China
 2006 “Honored student of Southeast University” award
Southeast University, Nanjing, China
 2005 “Jiangsu Province Government Scholarship” award
Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education

PUBLICATIONS

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/shiqin.liu.1/bibliography/public/

Lab Members Postdoctoral Fellow
HyeonJi Hwang, PhD

HyeonJi Hwang, PhD

EDUCATION

2018-2023 Doctor of Philosophy, Department of Veterinary Medicine
Seoul National University, South Korea
2014-2018 Bachelor of Science, Department of Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology
Tech University of Korea, South Korea

PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS

2024-Present Research Assistant, Dr. Tanya Stoyanova’s lab
Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, USA
2019-2021 Undergraduate Teaching Assistant
Department of Veterinary Medicine
Seoul National University
Seoul, South Korea

HONORS AND AWARDS

2022 Best Poster Presentation AwardT
Education, Research & Development Day of the College of Veterinary Medicine 2022
Seoul, South Korea
2020 Lecture and Research Scholarship
College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University
Seoul, South Korea
2018-2022 Brain Korea 21 Scholarship
National Research Foundation of Korea

 

Publications

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/%3F%3F%3F.-.66/bibliography/public/

Lab Members Postdoctoral Fellow
Yanchun Zhang, PhD

Yanchun Zhang, PhD

EDUCATION

2021-2024 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Cell Biology
ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
2019-2021 Master, Cell Biology
ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
2018-2018 Exchange, Pharmacy

University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland

2015-2019 Bachelor of Science, Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy

China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China

PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS

2024 Postdoctoral Scholar, Dr. Tanya Stoyanova’s lab
Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, US
2022-2023 Undergraduate Teaching Assistant 
School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghai, China

HONORS AND AWARDS

2023 National Scholarship

School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University

2022 Outstanding Graduate Student
School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University
2022 Academic Scholarship
School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University
2022 Excellent Teaching Assistant

School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University

2021 Outstanding Graduate Student
School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University
2021 Best Poster Prize

School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University

2019 Elite Program Honor Student Status
School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University
2018 Elite Program Encouragment Scholarship
School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University
 2017 Elite Program Encouragment Scholarship
School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University
 2016 Second-Class Scholarship

School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University

PUBLICATIONS

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/myncbi/1Z5Z_ddgqeW5zi/collections/64673226/public/

Lab Members Postdoctoral Fellow

Students

Sidharth Paparaju

Sidharth Paparaju

EDUCATION

2021-2025 (expected)
B.S., Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, USA

PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS

2023- Present
Undergraduate Researcher, Dr. Tanya Stoyanova
Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, USA
2022- Present
Undergraduate Researcher,
University of California, Los Angeles, Squirrel Team
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, USA
2019- 2021
President
LHS Calculus Club
Legend High School
Parker, Colorado, USA
2020-2021
Volunteer
Sky Ridge Medical Center
Lone Tree, Colorado, USA

HONORS AND AWARDS

2021-2022
Legend High School Deans Honors List
Student
Bhavya Pandey

Bhavya Pandey

EDUCATION

2022-2026 (expected)
B.S., Molecular, Cell, Developmental Biology
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, USA

PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS

2023- Present
Undergraduate Researcher, Dr. Tanya Stoyanova
Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, USA
2023- Present
Clinical Trials & Real-World Data Analyst
Neureka Sleep
Alameda, CA
2022-Present
Competitive Team Member
CruX, University of California Log Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
2020-2022
Volunteer
George Mark Children’s House
San Leandro, CA

Student Lab Members
Kewei Le

Kewei Le

EDUCATION

2022-2026 (expected)
B.S., Biochemistry
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, USA

PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS

2023- Present
Undergraduate Researcher, Dr. Tanya Stoyanova
Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, USA
2023
Research Assistant, Dr.Zhu Xueliang
Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Shanghai, China
2021
Research Assistant, Dr. Zhuke
Department of Plant Physiology and Ecology
Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences (SIBS)
Shanghai, China
 2020

2019

Research Assistant, Dr. Wuyu
Zhejiang Geneception Biotechnology Co., Ltd.,
Shanghai, China
 2020-Present
Volunteer
Red Cross
Macau, China
 2017-2018
Volunteer
ChangZheng Hospital
Shanghai, China

HONORS AND AWARDS

 2023 Hosmer Stone Award

University of California Los Angeles, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry

Student Lab Members
Khwaish Sethiya

Khwaish Sethiya

EDUCATION

2023-2027 (expected)
B.S., Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, USA

PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS

2024- Present
Undergraduate Researcher, Dr. Tanya Stoyanova
Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, USA
2022 Student Researcher
Dr. Natasha Kirienko, BioScience CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research
Pioneer Academics
Pennsylvania, USA
2021- 2022
Research Assistant,
HCG Cancer Hospital
Bangalore, India
2021-2022 Writer and Editor
Beyond Lavender Bruises, Scienceholic and Genztalkschnge
2019- 2021 Research Assistant
Dr. Jhyostha Rao
iCreast Stem Cell Services Limited
Bangalore, India
2020-2022 Medical Database Manager
The Uncut Team
Chandigarh, India
2020-2022 Volunteer
Karunashraya (Cancer hospice)

HONORS AND AWARDS

2022 Best Project in Innovations in Science & Technology Track I
Yale Young Global Scholars Program
Student Lab Members
Nathan Min

Nathan Min

EDUCATION

2023-2027 (expected)
B.S., Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, USA
2022-2023
San Diego Miramar Community College
San Diego, California, USA

PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS

2024
Undergraduate Researcher, Dr. Tanya Stoyanova
Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, USA
2023-2023 Laboratory Assistant
UC San Diego Research Methodology Training Laboratory (RMTL) Academy
University of California, San Diego
San Diego, California
2021- 2023
Secretary & Treasurer, Tutor
Scripps Ranch High School Peer Tutoring
San Diego, California
2022-2023
Co-Founder
Thurgood Marshall Middle School CyberPatriots
San Diego, California

HONORS AND AWARDS

2023 Semi-finalist
USUSABO
2022 Gold Medal
British Biology Olympiad
2022 All Service Champion
CyberPatriot XIV National
Student Lab Members
Trinity Tran

Trinity Tran

EDUCATION

2023-2027 (expected)
B.S., Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, USA

PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS

2024-
Undergraduate Researcher, Dr. Tanya Stoyanova
Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, USA
2024-
Care Extender
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
Los Angeles, California, USA
2024-
Legislative Ambassador
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Los Angeles, California, USA
2023- Member
PhD and Undergraduate Life Scientists in Academic Research Club
Los Angeles, California, USA
2021- 2023
Intern
Community Health Medicine Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, USA

HONORS AND AWARDS

2023 President’s Volunteer Service Award
2022 Girl Scouts Bronze and Silver Awards
Student Lab Members
Aarthi Raghavan

Aarthi Raghavan

EDUCATION

2024-2028 (expected)
B.S., Bioengineering
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, USA

PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS

2024- Present
Undergraduate Researcher, Dr. Tanya Stoyanova
Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, USA
2024
Student Researcher, Dr. Shujie Yang
Department of Cancer Pathology
Stanford University
Stanford, California, USA
2023
Student Researcher, Dr. Shujie Yang
Department of Cancer Pathology
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa, USA
2022-2023
Student Researcher, Dr. Jeanine Genkinger
Department of Epidemiology
Columbia University
New York, New York, USA
2020- 2024 Volunteer
Akshaya Patra Foundation
2020-2024 Volunteer
American Cancer Society

HONORS AND AWARDS

2024 Samueli Foundation Engineering Undergraduate Centennial Scholarship

University of California Los Angeles, Samueli School of Engineering

2024 Finalist, Columbia University Model Entrepreneurship Competition

Columbia University, Columbia Business School

2024 Innovation Excellence Award

Stanford University, Department of Bioengineering

2022, 2023 Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Award
Student
Reva Patel

Reva Patel

EDUCATION

2023-2027 (expected) B.S., Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology

University of California, Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California, USA

PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS

2024- Present
Undergraduate Researcher, Dr. Tanya Stoyanova
Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, USA
2024-Present
Medical Assistant and Scribe
Rhonda Rand MD, Inc
Los Angeles, California, USA
2022-Present
Research Assistant, Dr. Avnesh Thakor
Department of Interventional Radiology
Stanford University
Stanford, California, USA
2023-Present Volunteer
UCLA Pages for Pediatrics
2022-Present Volunteer
Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation
2017-2020 Volunteer
Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation

HONORS AND AWARDS

2023 National Merit Finalist
Student Lab Members