February 2025 in front of Briggs Hall’s Magnificent Magnolia Tree

Click here to see Lab Alumni

Principal Investigator

Celina Juliano, Ph.D.
cejuliano[at]ucdavis[dot]edu

Associate Professor
B.S. University of Miami
Ph.D. Brown University
Post Doc Yale University

Lab Manager

Malgosia Bzymek

mbzymek[at]ucdavis[dot]edu

Lab Manager

B.A. Bowdoin College

Ph.D. Brandeis University

I am a molecular biologist with a background in genetic recombination and a broad interest in everything related to Hydra. My current research in the Juliano Lab revolves around optimizing the ways we make transgenic animals and creating genetic tools in Hydra. Outside the lab I love reading, being outdoors, hiking and backpacking, yoga, art, tutoring math and spending time with family and friends.

Graduate Students

Iris Yoshiko Juanico

iyjuanico[at]ucdavis[dot]edu
BMCDB Graduate Student
B.S. UC Davis

I investigate how injury drives regeneration and patterning. I leverage molecular biology techniques, high throughput sequencing, and human cell culture to uncover the gene regulatory networks triggered by injury. Outside of the lab, I love petting cats, strength training at the gym, exchanging letters with my pen pals, and drinking milk tea.

Jennifer Tsverov

jitsverov[at]ucdavis[dot]edu

BMCDB Graduate Student

B.S. UC Davis

My research interests include studying the development and maintenance of the nervous system in Hydra. Outside of lab I enjoy gardening, watercolor painting, camping, cooking and of course running into llamas!

Post-Doctoral Scholars

Ben Cox
bdcox[at]ucdavis[dot]edu
Post Doctoral Scholar

B.S. University of Texas at Austin
Ph.D. Duke University

I am interested in using Hydra to study whole-organism regeneration. Through advances in imaging and anesthesia methods, we hope to capture the entire process of animal regeneration in real time. In tandem, I aim to expand the toolkit of fluorescent reporters in Hydra to more thoroughly describe cell structures. We expect that these advances will lead to unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution of regeneration and reveal individual and collective cell behaviors responsible Hydra’s remarkable plasticity.

Jasmine Mah

jmah[at]ucdavis[dot]edu

Post Doctoral Scholar

B.S. University of Alberta

M.S.C University of Alberta

Ph.D. Yale University

Pronouns: she/her/hers

I am an evolutionary biologist whose research focuses on the origin of animals. I intend to use Hydra to study the evolutionary dynamics between potency, the stem cell identity, and the emergence of multicellularity. In my free time I love dancing at concerts, appreciating a good pen, and eating Korean fried chicken without dignity.

Alexander Stockinger

astockinger[at]ucdavis[dot]edu

Post Doctoral Scholar

PhD University of Vienna

Why can some animals regenerate entire bodies while others struggle to regrow a fingertip? Even closely related species of Hydra show striking differences in this ability. I study the molecular and cellular networks behind regeneration to understand how some species lost this remarkable trait during evolution.
Outside the lab, you’ll find me on the nearest mountain, at a board game night, or checking out the latest neighborhood fast-food spot.

Hannah Morris Little

hmorrislittle[at]ucdavis[dot]edu
BMCDB Graduate Student
B.S. UC San Diego

Ph.D. UC Davis

I am interested in the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms controlling cell-fate decisions during development. My research in the lab utilizes high-throughput sequencing techniques to characterize the Wnt-responsive gene regulatory networks (GRNs) at cell-type resolution in the uninjured, adult Hydra. Characterizing these GRNs in the context of normal development will ultimately allow us to investigate how these pathways are redeployed during regeneration.

Undergraduate Researchers

Zucy Virgen

akvirgen[at]ucdavis[dot]edu

Undergraduate Student, UC Davis

I am a Biological Sciences major at UC Davis with a strong interest in the mechanisms that aid in Metazoan development. I am especially interested in the protein cascades associated with regeneration and how these pathways lead to diverse phenotypes in Hydra. I am a part of the SURP and MARC research programs, which will prepare me to enter a PhD program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology. Outside the lab, I like to play video games, paint my nails, and play with my cat, Lola.

Nick Srisrimal

nsrisrimal[at]ucdavis.edu

Undergraduate Student, UC Davis

I am an Animal Biotechnology major at UC Davis interested in reconstructing gene regulatory networks that govern regeneration in Hydra. My research in the Juliano Lab focuses on understanding the molecular dynamics that dictate the differences in how Hydra species respond to injury and restore lost tissues. Outside of the lab, I enjoy playing video games, exploring restaurants with friends, and staying active through badminton and go-karting.

Navid Le Thi

I am a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major at UC Davis with a strong interest in Hydra and its neural regenerative abilities, especially after injury. I find it particularly intriguing how nerve precursor cells in Hydra differentiate based on their location within the body. Outside of the lab, I enjoy traveling, playing guitar, and baking.

Haska Begovic-Nichols

hbegovicnichols[at]ucdavis.edu

Undergraduate Student, UC Davis

I am a Biological Sciences and History double major at UC Davis interested in understanding the mechanisms for Hydra regeneration. I love the natural world, and spending time in nature. In my free time you can find me painting, dancing, doing pottery, hiking/backpacking, and enjoying moments with my family and friends.