Chem 147 – Careers in Chemistry & Biochemistry

Chem 147 – Careers in Chemistry and Biochemistry Seminar is a weekly 90-minute seminar with three key objectives:

Share some of the employment and career opportunities available to our undergraduates after they earn their bachelors degree
Share strategies on how to approach the job search
Network with seminar speakers, faculty, and fellow students to develop professional skills and future professional relations

Each week a UCLA alumnus is invited to give a presentation that describes their career path. These alumni span from various sectors such as industry, government, research, development, education, law, healthcare, and more. Our speakers describe how their education in Chemistry and Biochemistry helped them become successful and they share the key skills and knowledge that has helped them advance in their career. Each presentation is followed by a Q&A / discussion and a reception that allows students the opportunity to develop their network amongst their peers, our alumni speakers, and our departmental faculty.

Chem 147 is open to all departmental undergraduates with junior or senior standing. The course is typically offered during the fall, winter, and spring terms and meets on Mondays 5-6:30pm.

A passing grade requires the following:

Attend and sign in at each class meeting, with no more than 2 absences
Participation in a resume-writing workshop & career center visit
Satisfactory preparation of a resume and cover letter

2024-2025

Dr. Cameron Flowers (A.A. Natural Sciences Pasadena City College ’21, B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’23, Ph.D. Biochemistry UCLA ’29) – Graduate Student Researcher
Dr. Christopher Powe McGuire (B.A. Duke 2009, Ph.D. Geology UCLA ’18) – Experimental Physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Elijah Ditterdorf – Owner at Mom’s Computer, Inc . Technology Education for Adult Learners.
Julia Sabin (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’83) – Vice President, Government Relations and Corporate Sustainability The J.M. Smucker Company
Cyril Baida Chidiac (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’07, M.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’09) – Senior Director of Research and Development at Applied Medical
Dr. Sean P. Curran (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’99, Ph.D. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology UCLA ’04) – Professor & Vice Dean of Faculty and Research, University of Southern California
Dr. Bruce Morimoto (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’84, Ph.D. Biochemistry UCLA ’88) – Principal Consultant-Advisor of Drug Development
Kathryn Bremer (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’19, M.S. Biochemistry, Molecular, and Structural Biology UCLA ’19) – ImmunityBio, Inc.
Anthony Nguyen (B.S. Chemistry UCLA ’15, UCD Law ‘19) – Corporate Counsel at Edwards Lifesciences
Dr. Randa Reslan (B.S. Chemistry, Minor Mathematics UCLA ’01, Ph.D. Chemistry UCLA ’15, Prof. Daniel Neuhauser group) – Adjunct Instructor of Chemistry, Glendale Community College
Dr. Alex Bradley (B.S. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology ASU ’14, Ph.D. Biochemistry, Molecular, and Structural Biology UCLA ’19) – Manager at L.E.K.
Dr. Arlene Russell (M.S. ’68, Ph.D. Education ’84) Senior Lecturer at UCLA in both the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and in the Department of Education

2023-2024

Sophia Uemura, Nima Adhami, and Allen Takayesu – UCLA Chemistry and Biochemistry Graduate Students
Dr. Edward Mena (B.S Biochemistry UCLA ’94, Post Baccalaureate UCSD ’95, M.D. Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine USC ’99, EMBA USC ’22) – President/CEO California Liver Research Institute
Dr. Rosemarie Pilpa (B.S. Chemistry CalPoly Pomona ’00, Ph.D. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology UCLA ’08) – Patent Manager at Johnson & Johnson
Kim Nguyen-Yu (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’02, M.S. Public Health USC ’11) – Senior Safety Engineer/Fire Safety Specialist
Dr. Kristine K. Tanabe (B.S. Chemistry UCI ’05, M.S. Chemistry UCSD ’07, P.h.D. – Branch Chief, LSS Los Angeles Laboratory U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Dr. Benson Ngo (B.S. Biology-Chemistry Claremont McKenna College ’06, P.h.D. UCLA ’12) – Chemistry Instructor, Pasadena City College
Prof. Anne Andrews (B.S. Penn State University ’85, P.h.D. Neuropharmacology National Institute of Mental Health ‘ 93, P.h.D. Chemistry American University ’93, Postdoctoral Fellow Neuropharmacology NIH ’97) – UCLA Professor of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, Chemistry & Biochemistry, and Bioengineering
Dr. Amy Wang (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’96, Ph.D. Biological Chemistry UCLA ’03, M.B.A UCLA ’10) – Vice President, Discovery Science and CEO, Capacity Bio
Prof. Heidi McMahon (B.S. Minnesota State University, Mankato ’06; M.S. University of Iowa, ’08; M.S. UCLA, ’11) – Professor of Chemistry, College of the Canyons
Dr. Patrick Yee (B.S. Chemistry UCLA ’13; Ph.D. Material Chemistry UCLA ’19) – Research Chemist at Jacobs at U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
Brian Kim (B.S. UCLA ’08) – Supervising Criminalist, Los Angeles Police Department
Dr. AJ Addae (B.S. Molecular Biology Northeastern University ’20, P.h.D. Chemistry UCLA ’26) – SULA Labs
Dr. Nguyen Pham (B.S. UCLA 2017, M.D. UCLA 2022) – Resident of Internal Medicine, UCLA
Don Tamura (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’80) – Deputy District Attorney, Los Angeles County
Julia Sabin (B.S. Biochemistry ’83) – Vice President, Government Relations and Corporate Sustainability The J.M. Smucker Company
Dr. Brittnee Veldman (B.S. Chemistry UCLA ’04, P.h.D. Physical and Materials Chemistry UCSB ’10) – Assistant Professor, California State University Channel Islands

2022-2023

Julia Sabin (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’83) – Vice President, Government Relations and Corporate Sustainability The J.M. Smucker Company
Mikio Kuroiwa (B.S. Biology UCLA ’19) – Administrative Clinical Care Partner, UCLA Health
Dr. Allison Rhodes (B.S. Chemistry UCR ’07, M.S. Chemistry UCLA ’13, P.h.D. Chemistry UCLA ’13) – Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Cell-Therapy, Kite Pharma
Prof. Gerard Wong (B.S. Physics Cal Tech, P.h.D. Physics UC Berkeley) – Professor, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry; Professor, California Nanosystems Institute
Dr. Andrew Nowak (B.S. Engineering Physics/Applied Physics, Colorado School of Mines ’97, P.h.D. Materials Science UCSB ’03) – Research Staff Member, HRL Laboratories
Annabelle Cantu (B.S. Chemistry CSULB ’17, M.S. Organic Chemistry UCLA ’19) – Senior Synthetic Associate Scientist, Peptide Discovery
Dr. Arlene Russell – (M.S. ’68, Ph.D. Education ’84) Senior Lecturer at UCLA in both the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and in the Department of Education
Dr. David Shia (B.S. Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology UCLA ’15, P.h.D. Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology UCLA ’21, M.D. UCLA Geffen School of Medicine ’23) – Medical Scientist Training Program
Dr. Ramin Salehi-Rad (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’01; M.D./Ph.D David Geffen School of Medicine UCLA ’11, Internal Medicine ’12, Prof. Michael Jung group) – Pulmonology – UCLA Geffen School of Medicine
Dr. Samuel Hernandez (P.h.D. UCLA) – Chemistry & Biochemistry Lecturer, Fresno State University
Anthony Nguyen (B.S. Chemistry UCLA ’15, UCD Law ‘19) – Corporate Counsel at Edwards Lifesciences
Tara Kappel (B.S. Neuroscience UCLA ’17) Cofounder & CPO @RealRoots
Dr. Allison Nguyen (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’16, Doctor of Pharmacy UCSF ’20) – Pediatric Specialty Pharmacist, CHOC Children’s
Dr. Tyler Korman (B.S. Chemistry and Biochemistry UCSD ’01, M.S. Biochemistry ’03, P.h.D. Structural Biology UCI ’08) – Director of Research Development, Invizyne Technologies, Inc
Dr. Justin Banaga (B.S. Physiological Science; Biomedical Research UCLA ’12, M.D. UCSF ’16) – Radiology Resident UCSF
Dr. Heather McFarlane (B.S. Biochemistry UCB ’03, P.h.D Biochemistry UCLA ’12) – Global CMC Technical Writing Strategy Lead, Kite Pharma
Dr. Miguel Lopez (B.S. Microbiology and Immunology UCLA ’05, P.h.D. UCLA ’13, Loyola Law ’24) – Patent Associate, Kite Pharma
Dr. Hosea Nelson (B.S. UCB ’04, P.h.D. California Institute of Technology) – Chemistry Instructor at Caltech

2021-2022

Dr. David Shia (B.S. Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology UCLA ’15, P.h.D. Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology UCLA ’21, M.D. UCLA Geffen School of Medicine ’23) – Medical Scientist Training Program
Ethan Rao (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’16) – Director of Research and Development Silq
Dr. Sabrina Benchaar (B.S. Structural Biochemistry University Claude Bernard Lyon ’00, P.h.D. Biochemistry UCLA ’07) – Senior Principal Scientist Amgen
Kim Nguyen-Yu (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’02, M.S. Public Health USC ’11) – Senior Safety Engineer/Fire Safety Specialist
Dr. Tina Choe – (B.S. Chemistry UCLA ’88, Ph.D. Organic Chemistry UCLA ’94) – Dean, College of Science and Engineering, Loyola Marymount University
Dr. Allison Nguyen (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’16, Doctor of Pharmacy UCSF ’20) – Pediatric Specialty Pharmacist, CHOC Children’s
Julia Sabin (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’83) – Vice President, Government Relations and Corporate Sustainability The J.M. Smucker Company
Dr. Justin Hanes (B.S. Chemical Engineering UCLA ’91, P.h.D. MIT ’96) – Lewis J. Ort Professor of Ophthalmology; Joint Appointments as Professor in the Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Neurosurgery, Oncology, and Pharmacology & Molecular Sciences; Director, The Center for Nanomedicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, John Hopkins University
Dr. Andrew Serino (B.S. Materials Science Penn State ’10, M.S. Materials Science UCLA ’13, P.h.D. Materials Science UCLA ’17) – Director of R&D, Lam Research
Dr. HN Cheng (B.S. Chemistry UCLA ’69, P.h.D. Chemistry University of Illinois Urbana Champaign) – President ACS
Heidi McMahon (B.S. Minnesota State University, Mankato ’06; M.S. University of Iowa, ’08; M.S. UCLA, ’11) – Professor of Chemistry, College of the Canyons
Dr. Debra Milasincic (B.S. Penn State ’86, P.h.D. Biochemistry Boston University School of Medicine ’93, J.D. Suffolk University Law School) – Senior Vice President of Intellectual Property, Moderna

2020-2021
2019-2020
2018-2019
2017-2018
2016-2017
2015-2016
2014-2015

Dr. Roderick Shaner (M.D. David UCLA Geffen School of Medicine) – Chief Medical Officer for Psychiatry City of LA
Dr. Rueben Flores (University of Baja California, P.h.D. Biochemistry UCLA ’00) -Associate Director of Licensing USC
Cynthia Ma (B.S. Chemical Engineering & Atmospheric and Oceanic Studies UCLA ’12, M.Ed. UCLA ’13) – Software Engineer Zendesk
Ethan Rao (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’16) – Director of Research and Development Hydrophilix
Kim Nguyen-Yu (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’02, M.S. Public Health USC ’11) – Senior Safety Engineer/Fire Safety Specialist
Robert Shibao – Faculty El Camino College
Dr. Sabah Bux (B.S. Chemistry Cal Poly Pomona ’05, P.h.D. Inorganic Chemistry/Materials Science UCLA ’10) –Technical Group Supervisor NASA JPL
Dr. Mui Koltunov (B.S. Biochemistry Occidental College ’99, P.h.D. Chemistry UCLA ’05) – Research Scientist and Lab Supervisor Department of Toxic Substances Control – Pasadena
Dr. Tina Choe – (B.S. Chemistry UCLA ’88, Ph.D. Organic Chemistry UCLA ’94) – Dean, College of Science and Engineering, Loyola Marymount University
Dr. David Shia (B.S. Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology UCLA ’15, P.h.D. Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology UCLA ’21, M.D. UCLA Geffen School of Medicine ’23) – Medical Scientist Training Program
Julia Sabin (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’83) – Vice President, Government Relations and Corporate Sustainability The J.M. Smucker Company
Tara Gomez-Hampton (B.S. Molecular Biology) – Medical Affairs Manager Johnson & Johnson
Dr. Nicholas Hertz (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’06, P.h.D. Chemistry and Chemical Biology UCSF ’13) – CSO/Co-Founder Mitokinin Inc
Patrick Zhang (B.S. Chemical Engineering) – Investor Horizons Ventures
Allison Nguyen (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’16, Doctor of Pharmacy UCSF ’20) – Pediatric Specialty Pharmacist, CHOC Children’s
Dr. Billy Tsai (B.S. UCLA 1993, M.S. UCLA 1994; Ph.D. Harvard 1999) – Corydon Ford Collegiate Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology University of Michigan
Justin Banaga (B.S. Physiological Science; Biomedical Research ’12, M.D. UCSF ’16) – Radiology Resident UCSF
Neil Dermchi (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’17, M.S. Biotechnology USC ’19)– Director, Strategy – Consumer Brands Genius Fund

Dr. David Winternheimer (Ph.D. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology) – General Manager, Pacific Star Labs
Dr. Scott Hsieh (Ph.D. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology) – Research Safety Quality Assurance Manager, UCLA Office of Environment, Health and Safety
Dr. Fernando Gomez (B.A. History UCLA ’97, Postbaccalaureate Cellular and Molecular Biology California State University Long Beach ’04, Ph.D. Molecular Biology UCLA ’12) – Assistant Director, UCLA/Undergrad Resources Center Sciences
Dr. Adam Hsu (B.S. Biochemistry) – Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, California Vision and Visage Medical Group
Dr. Randy Schekman (B.S. Molecular Sciences) – Nobel Laureate/Professor, UC Berkeley
Dr. Jennifer Hsieh (B.S. Biochemistry California State University Fullerton ’05, M.S. Biology and Molecular Biology UCLA ’07, Ph.D. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology UCLA ’10) – Professor, Santa Monica College
Dr. Jamil Momand (B.S., Ph.D. Biochemistry UCLA ’89) – Faculty, California State University, Los Angeles
Dr. Troy Walton (B.S. Biochemistry Cal Poly San Luis Obispo ’99, P.h.D. Biochemistry University of Colorado Boulder ’07) – Senior Scientist, Beyond Meat
Dr. Tina Choe – (B.S. Chemistry UCLA ’88, Ph.D. Organic Chemistry UCLA ’94) – Dean, College of Science and Engineering, Loyola Marymount University
Dr. David Shia (B.S. Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology UCLA ’15, P.h.D. Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology UCLA ’21, M.D. UCLA Geffen School of Medicine ’23) – Medical Scientist Training Program
Dr. Ramin Salehi-Rad (B.S. Biochemistry ’01; M.D./Ph.D David Geffen School of Medicine UCLA ’11, Internal Medicine ’12, Prof. Michael Jung group) – Pulmonology – UCLA Geffen School of Medicine
Heidi McMahon (B.S. Minnesota State University, Mankato ’06; M.S. University of Iowa, ’08; M.S. UCLA, ’11) – Professor of Chemistry, College of the Canyons
Dr. Ramin Ebrahami (B.S. Chemistry) – Cardiologist, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
Jamie Lam (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA, M.S. Bioscience Keck Graduate Institute ’17, MBA Golden Gate University ’22) – Regulatory Affairs Associate II, Gilead Sciences
Dr. Richard Julius (B.S. Chemistry UCLA ’03, Ph.D. Chemistry UCLA ’09) – Research Scientist, Microfabrica
Dr. Omar Farha (B.S., Ph.D. Chemistry UCLA ’06) – Co-Founder and CSO, NuMat Technologies

Dr. Patrick Donley (B.S. Chemistry UCLA ’80, M.D. UCLA ’87) – President, Torrance Anesthesia Medical Group, Inc.
Dr. Christoper Kolodziej (Ph.D. Chemistry) – Chemical Hygiene Officer, UCLA Environment, Health & Safety, Laboratory Safety
Wen Bin Zhou (B.S. Chemistry) – Criminalist 1, Santa Clara Crime Lab
Dr. Tina Li (B.S. Chemistry UCLA ’06) – Development Manager, Cabot Microelectronics Corp.
Dr. Cari Meyer Joiner (B.S. Chemistry) – Faculty, Pierce College
Ethan Rao (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’16) – Research Scientist, Hydrophilix
Dr. Robert Shibao (B.S. Chemistry, Prof. Richard Kaner’s group) – Faculty, El Camino College
Dr. Roderick Shaner, Medical Director, LA County Department of Mental Health (retired)
Dr. Kenny Mayoral (Ph.D. Chemistry UCLA ’13, Prof. Thomas Mason’s group) – Scientist II, Beyond Meat
Daniel Maung (B.S. UCLA ’13, M.S. UCLA ’15, Chemistry, Prof. Richard Kaner’s group) – Research Chemist, PPG Aerospace
Dr. Taz Varkey (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’91) – Obstetrician Gynecologist
Kim Nguyen-Yu (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’02) – Hazardous Materials Fire Inspector, City of Pasadena, Fire Department
Dr. Arlene Russell – (M.S. ’68, Ph.D. Education ’84) Senior Lecturer at UCLA in both the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and in the Department of Education
Dr. Matthew Everly (B.S. Pharmacy University of Cincinnati ’01, PharmD University of Cincinnati ’02) – Director, Terasaki Research Institute
Hope Ibarra (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’17) – Scientist I, Manufacturing Sciences, Transplant Diagnostics, Thermo Fisher Scientific
Dominic Larubina – Co-owner Santa Monica Brew Works

Dr. Derek Walter (Ph.D. Chemistry UCLA ’03, Prof. Daniel Neuhauser’s group) – Patent Litigator, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.
Dr. Randa Reslan (B.S. Chemistry, Minor Mathematics UCLA ’01, Ph.D. Chemistry UCLA ’15, Prof. Daniel Neuhauser group) – Chemistry Instructor, Glendale Community College.
Dr. Nguyen Quan (B.S. Chemistry UCLA ’71) – Manager, Regulatory Affairs, Golden State Water Company.
Dr. Wayne Poon – (B.S. Chemistry UCLA ’93, Ph.D. Biochemistry UCLA ’01, Prof. Catherine Clarke group) Tissue Repository Director, UCI Mind.
Dr. Sandy Nguyen (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’06) – Associate Director, Global Market Insights & New Products, Celgene.
Dr. Jeffrey E. Miller (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’87) – Founder, CSO, CEO & Chairman, Invivoscribe.
Dr. Carolyn Vuong (B.S. Chemistry UCLA ’05) – Regional Ambulatory Care Pharmacist, Kaiser Permanente.
Dr. Karen Trentelman – Senior Scientist, Getty Conservation Institute.
Meghan Truax – (B.S. Biochemistry, Minor Science Education UCLA ’16) – AP Chemistry Teacher, Francis Polytechnic High School.
Dr. Steve Kim (Ph.D. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology UCLA ’01, Prof. Harold Martinson group) – JD, Intellectual Property, Patent Law.
Dr. Justine Lee (B.S. Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology UCLA ’99) – Craniofacial and Pediatric Plastic Surgeon, Bernard G. Sarnat Endowed Chair in Craniofacial Biology, UCLA Geffen School of Medicine.
Dr. Ralph Bauer (B.S. Chemistry – Honors ’52, Ph.D. Chemistry ’58, Seaborg Medal Awardee ’92, Mayor of Huntington Beach ’72) – Councilman, Huntington Beach, CA.
Dr. Ruben Flores-Saaib (M.S. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology UCLA ’99, Ph.D. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology UCLA ’00, Prof. Albert Courey group) – Director of Commercialization, University of California, San Diego.
Dr. Troy Walton – Senior Scientist, Beyond Meat.
Dr. Rafael Ortiz (Ph.D. Chemistry UCLA ’93, Orville Chapman group) – Intellectual Property Manager, Michelman, Inc.

Vincent Tse (B.S. Integrative Biology and Physiology, Biomedical Research Minor UCLA ’12) – Senior Research Associate, C3J Therapeutics.
Dr. Jennifer Hsieh (Ph.D. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology UCLA ’10) Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Santa Monica College.
Dr. Scott Hsieh (Ph.D. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology UCLA ’11) Laboratory Safety Division Manager, Environmental Health and Safety, UCLA.
Dr. Gary Fujii (Ph.D. Physical Chemistry UCLA ’91) – Board of Directors, Southern California Biomedical Councel and President/CEO Molecular Express, Inc.
Kathleen Hirano (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’09) – Senior Research Associate, Novozymes.
Dr. Gordon Plotkin (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’82, Ph.D. Biochemistry UCLA ’88) – General and forensic psychiatry practice.
Dr. Tara Gomez-Hampton (B.S. Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology UCLA ’05) – Staff Quality Engineer/Recall Coordinator, Johnson & Johnson.
Dr. Steven Steinberg (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’81) – Regional Chief for Family Medicine, Kaiser Permanente).
Dr. Fariborz (Fred) Mazdisnian (B.S Biochemistry UCLA ’82) – Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaiser Permanente.
Dr. Darryl Palmer-Toy (B.S. Biology and Physics) – Medical Director, Regional Reference Laboratories, Kaiser Permanente)
Dr. Jose Rodriguez (B.S. Biophyics UCLA ’07, Ph.D. Molecular Biology UCLA ’12) – Assistant Professor, UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
Dr. Bryana Henderson (Ph.D.,M.S. Physical Chemistry ’11) – Scientist, Planetary Ices Group, JPL.
Don Tamura (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’80) – Deputy District Attorney, Los Angeles County.
Cynthia Ma (B.S. Chemical Engineering UCLA ’12, M.Ed. Science Education UCLA ’13) – Chemistry and Physics Teacher at Green Dot Public Schools.
Dr. Mel Sahyun (Ph.D. Chemistry UCLA ’63) – Editor, Journal of Imaging Science and Technology
Dr. Elinne Becket (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’08; Ph.D. Molecular Biology UCLA ’12, Jeff Miller group) – Scientist, Zymo Research Corporation.
Dr. Tracy Blois (B.S. Chemistry UCSD ’04, Ph.D. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology UCLA ’10, Prof. James Bowie group) – Director of Alliance Management, Amgen.
Dr. Marisa Joubert (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’97; Ph.D. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology UCLA ’06 Prof. James Bowie group) – Principal Scientist/Group Leader, Amgen.
Jon Low (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’08) – Associate Scientist & Medicinal Chemistry, Amgen.
Dr. Sehat Nauli – (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’98, Postdoc Prof. James Bowie group) Professor, Physical Sciences Department, Santa Monica College.
Dr. Arlene Russell – (M.S. ’68, Ph.D. Education ’84) Senior Lecturer at UCLA in both the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and in the Department of Education.
Dr. Eric Shiozaki (B.S. Biophysics John Hopkins University ’99, P.h.D. Molecular Biology Princeton University ’03, former postdoc, Prof. James Bowie group) – Principal, Novo Ventures (US) Inc.

Dr. Bruce Morimoto (B.S Biochemistry UCLA ’84; Ph.D. Biochemistry UCLA ’89) – Vice President, Scientific Affairs, Celerion.
Dr. Tanya Petrossian (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’05; Ph.D. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology UCLA ’10, Prof. Steven Clarke group) – CEO of EndoCyclic Therapeutics, Mayor Garcetti’s Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR), Principal at Building Blocks Advisory Group.
Alexis Lieberman (B.S. MIMG UCLA ’08) – Technical Consultant, Phenomenex
Dr. Gavin Jones (Ph.D. Chemistry UCLA ’07, Prof. Ken Houk group) – Research Staff member, IBM Research – Almaden.
Jose Alonso (B.S. Chemistry UCLA ’12, undergraduate researcher in Prof. Neil Garg group) – medical student, Drew/UCLA Medical Education Program
Dr. Rusty Blanski (B.S. Chemistry UCLA ’88) – Senior Research Chemist, U.S. Airforce Research Laboratory)
Dr. Sonja Krane (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’95, undergraduate researcher, Prof. Miguel Garcia-Garibay group) – Managing Editor, Journal of the American Chemical Society.
Kevin Ogilby (B.S. Chemistry UCLA ’11, undergraduate researcher Prof. Paula Diaconescu group) – Co-owner Progress Brewing, South El Monte
Dr. Sabah Bux (Ph.D. Chemistry UCLA ’10, Prof. Richard Kaner group) – Technologist III/Senior Member of Technical Staff, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Dr. Christina Baker (Ph.D. Chemistry UCLA ’08, Prof. Richard Kaner group) – Global Materials Technology manager, PPG Aerospace
Dr. Tanya Kruse (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’94; Ph.D. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology UCLA ’00, Prof. Catherine Clarke group) – Head of Manufacturing Sciences-Fractionation, Shire.
Blanca Moreno (B.S. Chemistry UCLA ’10, M.S. Chemistry CSULA ’13 undergraduate student researcher, Prof. Miguel Garcia-Garibay group) – Chemistry Lead Lab Technician, Santa Monica College
Dr. Nohjin Park (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’98, Ph.D. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology UCLA ’04, Prof. Harold Martinson group) – Medical Science Liaison, Sirtex Medical Limited
Serina Tran Dai (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’01, M.S. Biochemistry University of Saint Joseph ’13) – Director of R&D, Aware Products, Cosmetics
Dr. Cindy Fisher (B.S. Chemistry UCLA ’81, P.h.D. Physical Organic Chemistry UC Irvine ’86) – Director, Regulatory Affairs, Vical Incorporated
Daniel R. Kimbell (B.S. Chemistry UCLA ’82, J.D. Law School, Loyola Marymount University ’87) – Attorney at Law, Karish & Bjorgum, PC
Dr. Khin K. Chin (B.S. Biochemistry UCLA ’02; Ph.D. Chemistry UCLA ’08, Prof. Miguel Garcia-Garibay group) – Patent Agent, Bozicevic, Field & Francis LLP

Prof. Alexander Spokoyny (B.S. Chemistry UCLA ’06, Undergraduate student researcher, Prof. Fred Hawthorn group) – Professor, UCLA
Dr. Tina Li (B.S. Chemistry UCLA ’06, P.h.D. Inorganic/Materials Chemistry Northwestern University ’10) – Development Team Leader, Cabot Microelectronics
Dr. Rosemarie Pilpa (B.S. Chemistry CalPoly Pomona ’00, Ph. D. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology UCLA ’08) – Patent Scientist, Knobbe Martens Olson & Beaer LLP
Dr. Ramin Salehi-Rad (B.S. Biochemistry ’01; M.D./Ph.D David Geffen School of Medicine UCLA ’11, Internal Medicine ’12, Prof. Michael Jung group) – Pulmonology – UCLA Geffen School of Medicine
Dr. Sabrina Benchaar (B.S. Structural Biochemistry University Claude Bernard Lyon ’00, P.h.D. Biochemistry UCLA ’07) – Senior Principal Scientist, Amgen
Dr. Tim Geistlinger (B.S. Biochemistry Cal Poly San Luis Obispo ’92, P.h.D. Chemistry and Chemical Biology UCSF) – Vice President of R&D, Beyond Meat
Lindsay Keever (B.S. Biochemistry & Mathematics ’04, M.S. Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, & Biotechnology Georgetown University) – Associate Director, Alliance and Contracts Management, Calico Life Sciences
Leslie Nguyen (B.S. Psychobiology UCLA’13) – Recruitment Associate, Teach for America
Dr. Karen Trentelman (P.h.D. Chemistry Cornell University ’89, Northwestern University ’92) – Senior Scientist, The Getty Conservation Institute
Dr. Christopher Thanos (Ph.D. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology UCLA ’99, Prof. James Bowie group) – Director, New Molecular Entities, Halozyme Therapeautics, Inc.
Dr. Rafael Ortiz (Ph.D. Organic Chemistry UCLA ’93, Prof. Orville Chapman group) – Section Head & Intellectual Property Manager | Fabric & Home Care, Procter & Gamble
Dr. Anna Fisher (B.S. Chemistry UCLA ’71, M.S. Inorganic Chemistry UCLA ’72, M.D. David Geffen School of Medicine UCLA ’76) – Former NASA astronaut who flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-51A.