Bryan received his PhD in Genomic and Computational Biology from Duke University where he studied how bacteria evolve when living inside of a host. He then moved to Seattle Children's Hospital and the University of Washington for his postdoctoral work where he characterized interactions between mucosal microbiota and immune cells in infants and cisgender females. At UCR, his group aims to develop and use computational and molecular tools to identify evolutionary consequences and molecular mechanisms regulating interactions between immune cells and bacteria, viruses, and all of the microbes that colonize us! He also enjoys climbing a variety of media, spending time in the Sierra, and thinking a little too much about brewing that perfect cup of joe.

Research Assistant

achow044 [at] ucr [dot] edu

Graduate Student, Microbiology MS program

adeg011 [at] ucr [dot] edu

I received my B.S. in Microbiology from University of California, Riverside. I am fascinated by how our human body systems communicate through complex interactions. I am most curious about gut-brain pathways and downstream effects to our overall human health. Outside of the lab, I love to chill with my cats, travel, and explore different cuisines!

Graduate Student, Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology PhD program

tdham002 [at] ucr [dot] edu

I received my M.S. in Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics from Drexel University, where I studied transcriptional mechanisms regulating breast cancer stem cells. Prior to joining UCR, I worked in cell line development at Sana Biotechnology and Genentech, where I engineered immune and cancer cell models to support the development of cell therapy products.

My research interests center on understanding how immune cells recognize and respond to disease and how these pathways can be manipulated for therapeutic benefit. I am particularly excited about exploring how commensal microbes such as Bifidobacterium can be harnessed to shape the tumor microenvironment and enhance anti-cancer immunity.

Outside of the lab, I enjoy trying new restaurants and exploring new cuisines.

Kathyayini (Kathy) is a physician-scientist who trained as a medical doctor in India, where she cared for critically ill newborns in a neonatal intensive care unit. Her experiences there sparked a deep interest in preventing infections in vulnerable infants, leading her to pursue a PhD in Human Genetics at the University of Pittsburgh. There, she studied how antibodies in breast milk shape the infant gut microbiome and protect against diseases like necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). She continued this work during postdoctoral training at UPMC Children’s Hospital and Caltech, using tools like CRISPR and microbiome sequencing to explore how early-life microbes impact newborn health. At UC Riverside, her research focuses on developing early diagnostics and uncovering how breast milk and gut microbes influence immune development and vaccine responses in infants. Outside the lab, she enjoys hiking local trails with her daughters, reading, and experimenting with recipes from around the world.

Kayla received her bachelor's degree from the University of California, Riverside in Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology. She is anticipating beginning graduate school in the Fall of 2026. Her research interests include the immune system, autoimmune diseases, and stem cell biology. Her goal is to be a stem cell biologist at a clinical research facility such as the City of Hope. Outside the lab, she enjoys reading, learning, going to the beach, and spending time with her family and partner.