Theresa Loveless, PhD
PI
I like to make synthetic biology tools that manipulate DNA in vivo in eukaryotes.
Outside of lab, you’ll find me playing with my 8yo and 4yo.
I did my postdoc training at UC Irvine in the lab of Chang Liu, PhD, making DNA recorders in mammalian cells, and got my PhD from the Tetrad program at UCSF, in the lab of Dave Toczyski, PhD. For my thesis I defined the minimal signal that activates DNA replication stress checkpoint signaling in budding yeast and identified ubiquitin ligase substrates in mammalian cells. Before grad school, I studied DNA replication in frog egg extracts as a postbac in the lab of Johannes Walter at Harvard Medical School. I earned my BS in Biological Sciences and BA in Philosophy at Stanford University, working on yeast genome-wide screens in the lab of Tim Stearns, PhD, and glioma cell migration in the lab of Michael Berens, PhD (at TGen in my hometown of Phoenix).
Catalina Dentzel Helmy
Research Specialist II
I hope to make research the focus of my career and to achieve the necessary skills to perform impactful research. I earned my BS in Applied Physics with a concentration in Biomedical Physics and a minor in Biomedical Sciences from the University of California, Irvine. I did some undergraduate research work in Monica Daley’s, PhD, Neuromechanics Lab. I helped to train Guinea Fowl to run on a treadmill to study their bipedal locomotion during speed perturbations. Since graduating I have worked as a Junior Specialist in the Liu Lab for Synthetic Evolution at UCI under the guidance of Professor Loveless. I have gained the required molecular biology, DNA sequencing, and cell culture skills while working on our mutational barcoding project, peCHYRON. I was in charge of testing and optimizing the efficiency of peCHYRON and also of recording the durability of the system. I hope to apply this knowledge to a personal project under the Loveless Lab. I also hope to start a Master’s program in Biomedical Engineering to both open up more career opportunities in the future and to improve my understanding of the field.
In my free time I enjoy spending time with friends, going to Cafes, trying awesome foods, traveling and bouldering.
Matt Demelo
PhD Student
I am interested in developing novel molecular tools for manipulating genomes for medicine and synthetic biology, namely using CRISPR-based gene editing tools. Currently, I am working on using a prime editing-based DNA recorder to understand the causes of cisplatin resistance in cancer cells. I obtained my BS in Microbiology from UC San Diego, where I worked in Professor Rachel J. Dutton’s lab studying molecular interactions between various species in microbial consortia (in cheese!). After graduating, I worked in the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries, spending time at Illumina, Ambrx, and Omniome (now acquired by PacBio). Outside of the lab, I enjoy hiking, camping, cooking, and having long conversations with my opinionated husky, Kayuh.
Sara Ross
Research Specialist I
I graduated with a B.A. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a TX Teaching Certification in Life Sciences from Rice University in 2019. Before graduating, I served as a T.A. for Dr. Beth Beason’s introductory biological research lab studying the jasmonate pathway as a defense response to herbivory in Arabidopsis plants. I also spent summers tutoring physics, calculus, chemistry, and natural science research skills to incoming freshmen as a RESP Fellow under the Rice Office of Student Success Initiatives. Since graduating, I have spent the last four years teaching high school Biology, AP/IB Environmental Science, and Aquatic Science in the greater Houston area. While teaching holds a special place in my heart, I am excited to return to academia and join Dr. Loveless’ lab researching and developing synthetic biology applications!
Outside of the lab, I knit, play clarinet, and go for long walks with my Great Dane, Milo.
Amarachi Moghalu
Student Research Intern
I have an Associates in Sciences and am currently a Rice University student majoring in Cognitive Science with a concentration in Neuroscience. I am currently on the pre-med track and hope to become a pediatric intellectual disability psychiatrist. I plan on doing lots of research in the future, and working in this lab is a great opportunity to learn more about working in a lab environment while executing effective research techniques.
In my free time, I enjoy volunteering, dancing, cooking, and reading.
