Rachel Brem, PhD
Principal Investigator
Associate professor in PMB at UC Berkeley
PhD. Biophysics, UC San Francisco, 2000
BS Biochemistry, Brown University, 1994
Abel Duarte
Graduate Student
Bio under construction. In the meantime, please enjoy this picture of a gecko.
Melissa Sui
Lab technician
msui@berkeley.edu
BS Molecular and Cell Biology, UC Berkeley, 2021
I joined the lab right after my graduation in 2021, and I’m currently studying the genetic basis of cellular senescence phenotypes through the natural variations of these traits in mouse species. I’m interested in evolution, infectious diseases, and cellular pathways in response to stressors. In my free time, I like to volunteer for teaching organizations, play with my dogs, and try out new restaurants.
Kaylee Christensen
Lab technician
kayleeec@berkeley.edu
I’m a lab technician at UC Berkeley studying microbiology and marine science. I’m interested broadly in evolution and extremophile studies, and am part of Abel Duarte’s team currently studying phenotypic variation in the yeast Kluyveromyces. Outside of lab, I enjoy collecting houseplants, playing music, and brewing kombucha.
Jun Ting Johnson Wang
Lab technician johnsonwang@berkeley.edu
I joined the lab in 2022. My study focuses on genetic interactions between mitochondrial and nuclear genome in terms of thermotolerance in different Saccharomyces species/hybrids. I am an evolutionay enthusiast and a workaholic. Let’s discuss science and experiments whenever you want! Besides research, I love hanging out with freinds, hiking, playing pool, classical music, cats, etc.
Ping Ling Priscilla Ng
Undergraduate
w10839316@berkeley.edu
I am an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley studying Genetics and Plant Biology major and joined the lab in Spring 2023. I am part of Johnson Wang’s team currently studying genetic interactions between the mitochondrial genome and nuclear genome in Saccharomyces species/hybrids. Outside my studies, I learned about baking recently. I also enjoy reading books and watching videos about mysterious events or murders.
Maceo Powers
Undergraduate
maceopowers@gmail.com
I am an undergraduate student studying Microbial Biology. I joined the lab in the spring of 2023 and am part of Johnson Wang’s team. We are investigating the interactions between mitochondrial and nuclear DNA in different Saccharomyces species/hybrids regarding their impact on thermotolerance. Outside the lab, I enjoy reading novels, hiking, and hunting for mushrooms!
Olusola Ogunyewo
Postdoctoral fellow
shollyt22@berkeley.edu
I joined the Plant and Microbial Biology Department in 2022 as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow. My research focuses on fungal genomics and metabolism wherein I am trying to employ some advanced molecular tools to understand some genes conferring thermotolerance trait to a highly thermophilic fungus. The over-arching goal of my project is to understand the cellular, molecular, and evolutionary mechanisms of thermophily in the fungus M. thermophila which is highly used as host for cellulolytic enzymes in biorefineries. Outside of lab, I enjoy hanging out with friends, listening to music and watching movies.
Brem Lab @ Berkeley Alumni
Noah Simon, PhD
Kyu Chul Chang, MD
Kristina Clemens, PhD
Arjun Sasikumar, PhD
Chris Nelson, PhD
Zhenzhen Ma
Judith Edwards
Taekyu Kang, PhD
Claire Dubin
Tyler Hilsabeck, PhD, MS
Melanie Abrams, PhD
Faisal Al-Zaben
Julie Chuong
Charles Denby, PhD
Anna Flury
Rylee Hackley
Tiffany Hsu, PhD
Joo Hyun Im, PhD
Hana Lee, PhD
Hilary Martin, PhD
Matthew Metzger, MS
Yulia Mostovoy, PhD
Jeremy Roop, PhD
Alex Thiemicke
Jessie Uehling, PhD
Carly Weiss, PhD
Oh Kyu Yoon, PhD