The PI

Melody Li, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics
Faculty Member, UCLA Broad Stem Cell Center (bio)
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Melody, a native of Hong Kong, received her B.S. in Biological Sciences from   University of California, Irvine in 2006 and Ph.D. in Microbiology from University of Washington, Seattle in 2011. As an undergrad, she trained with Dr. Bert Semler and ventured into the fascinating world of host-virus interactions. Melody then studied with Dr. Michael Emerman, where she elucidated the functional consequences of human polymorphisms in the antiviral APOBEC3H gene. Melody subsequently completed her postdoctoral work with Dr. Peggy MacDonald and Dr. Charlie Rice at Rockefeller University where she focused on the antiviral mechanisms and regulation of the host interferon response targeting alphaviruses and flaviviruses. She started her own lab at UCLA in fall 2017 to continue studying the mechanism of ZAP/PARP13, a broad-spectrum antiviral ISG, and other members of the poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) family. When she is not doing science, she enjoys hiking, camping, and swimming in the ocean.

PostdocToral Fellows

Zhenlan Yao

Zhenlan Yao is from Shanghai, China. She received her Ph.D. in Molecular Virology from Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University. During her Ph.D. training, Zhenlan focused on the exosome-mediated transmission of alpha interferon-induced antiviral activity into hepatitis B virus-replicating hepatocytes. She is now a postdoctoral fellow in the Li Lab and investigating the role of interferon-induced host factors in viral inhibition and protection of the blood-brain barrier. Outside the lab, Zhenlan enjoys reading, sketching, and watching anime.  

Graduate Students

Pablo Alvarez

Pablo was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. He earned a B.S. in Human Biology with a minor in Chemistry from UC Santa Cruz, where he also worked in the Auerbach-Stone lab investigating regulation of the Yersinia T3SS. Pablo is now a graduate student in the Immunity, Microbes, and Molecular Pathogenesis home program. In the Li Lab, he is identifying host factors that prevent or contribute to viral neuroinvasion. In addition to learning about brain viruses, Pablo enjoys practicing martial arts, dancing, and the company of his cat and ball python.
Erin Kim

Erin lived in California her whole life until she attended Wellesley College in Massachusetts. There, she studied Biochemistry and Music and conducted research on nucleosome assembly and disassembly in the Núñez Lab. Erin is currently a  graduate student in Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology (BMSB) in the Chemistry & Biochemistry department. In the Li Lab, she studies TRIM25 cofactors, especially NME1. Besides lab and school, Erin enjoys reading novels, drinking boba, and making people confused with her twin sister.
Martin Ruvalcaba

Martin is from Wilmington, the heart of the Los Angeles harbor. He graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in Biological Sciences, where he also conducted research as a member of the Aguilar-Carreño laboratory. Under Dr. Aguilar’s guidance, Martin studied the role of various paramyxovirus and coronavirus glycoproteins in viral fusion and entry into a host cell. As a graduate student, he hopes to continue studying the molecular mechanisms of diseases. Outside of academics, Martin enjoys reading, writing, and playing soccer.

ROTATION STUDENTS

Maria Villalba Nieto

María is a first-year graduate student in the Biochemistry, Molecular, and Structural Biology program in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry. She is originally from San Luis Potosí, México, and earned her B.S. in Biology from the Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí. As an undergraduate, María worked in the Comas-García lab, where she studied the assembly of non-infectious Zika virus–like particles. During her current rotation in the Li lab, she is investigating host factors that enable Sindbis virus neuroinvasion.
Bryan Ramirez Reyes

Bryan is a 1st year graduate student in the MBIDP program (Home Area: IMMP) rotating in the Li lab. He earned a B.S. in Biotechnology with a minor in chemistry from Cal Poly Pomona where he conducted research in the laboratory of Dr. Frances Mercer investigating Tritrichomonas foetus. Following his undergraduate studies, Bryan completed a 2-year post-bacc program at OHSU, as part of the Nice lab he investigated the role of homeostatic interferons in preventing rotavirus infection in neonatal mice. During his rotation in the Li lab, Bryan will investigate neuroinvasiveness of chikungunya virus.

Undergraduate Students

Ayush Patel

​Ayush hails from Fremont, California, and joined the Li Lab at UCLA in late 2024 after spending a year studying vaccination strategies against Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus as a freshman in Professor Ting-Ting Wu's laboratory. Under Erin's guidance, he is studying specific TRIM25 cofactors, such as PABPC4, that may be involved in the cellular antiviral response against alphaviruses. When away from the bench, Ayush is probably working on his computational protein design project, baking, or drawing while listening to some of Livingston's latest hits on repeat.
Margaret Sasere

Margaret is originally from Sacramento, but since her father recently moved, she now spends time getting acquainted with Georgia as well. She is a second-year Biochemistry major at UCLA, where she is conducting research on the functional effects of ZAP binding regions and their role in viral inhibition. Outside of her studies, Margaret enjoys reading novels, crocheting, and discovering new TV shows to binge-watch. She also has a passion for learning languages and is currently working on mastering Yoruba.

Past members

  • Serina Huang, Ph.D. student, Summer 2020-Fall 2024, now a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Huai-Kuang Tsai at Academia Sinica, Taiwan
  • Noa Harriott, rotating graduate student, Spring 2024, now a Ph.D. student in the laboratory of Dr. Alexander Hoffmann
  • Jules Girdner, undergraduate student, Fall 2022-Spring 2024, now a Ph.D. student at Duke University
  • Faith St. Amant, undergraduate student, Fall 2022-Spring 2024, now a technician in the laboratory of Dr. Stephen Tapscott at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
  • LeAnn Nguyen, Ph.D. student, Summer 2019-Fall 2023, now a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. John Ray at Benaroya Research Institute
  • Sangeetha Ramachandran, undergraduate student and staff research associate, Winter 2020-Summer 2023, now a Ph.D. student at UC San Francisco
  • Ashley Tang, undergraduate student and lab assistant, Fall 2021-Summer 2023, now an M.D. student at Carle Illinois College of Medicine
  • Bryan Sanchez, rotating graduate student, Spring 2023, now an M.D.-Ph.D. student in the laboratory of Dr. Hung Ton-That
  • Mohammad Alam, rotating graduate student, Winter 2023, now a Ph.D. student in the laboratory of Dr. Oliver Fregoso
  • Dylan Smock, rotating graduate student, Fall 2022, now a Ph.D. student in the laboratory of Dr. Donald Kohn
  • Emily Yang, Ph.D. student, Summer 2018-Spring 2022, now an Assistant Professor of Microbiology at Biola University
  • Kelly Aldana, undergraduate student, Winter 2020-Winter 2022, now applying to medical schools
  • Gloria Bartolo, rotating graduate student, Fall 2021, now a Ph.D. student in the laboratory of Dr. Elissa Hallem
  • Ryan Kan, rotating graduate student, Spring 2020, now a Ph.D. student in the laboratory of Dr. Aparna Bhaduri
  • Carlyn Wisherop, undergraduate student, Summer 2018-Fall 2020, now an M.D. student at Weill Cornell Medical College
  • Anh Phuong Luu, staff research associate, Fall 2017-Fall 2020, now a Ph.D. student at UC Irvine
  • Dana Franklin, rotating graduate student, Spring 2020, now a Ph.D. student in the laboratory of Dr. Hung Ton-That
  • Edgar Perez, rotating graduate student, Fall 2019, now a Ph.D. student in the laboratory of Dr. Steven Dubinett
  • Angela Sun, undergraduate student and lab assistant, Fall 2017-Spring 2019, now a Ph.D. student in the laboratory of Dr. Elaine Reed
  • Yixin Dai, CSST summer program student, Summer 2018, now a Ph.D. student at Tsinghua University, China
  • Jeff Chien, undergraduate student, Fall 2017-Spring 2018, now applying to medical schools
  • Melanie Dimapasoc, rotating graduate student, Spring 2018, now a Ph.D. student in the laboratory of Dr. Jerome Zack
  • Amara Thind, rotating graduate student, Spring 2018, now a Ph.D. student in the laboratory of Dr. Peter Bradley